McHenry and Kane Release County Plans

Kane and McHenry Counties are facing the future with two long-range plans that strive to manage fast growth and preserve open space.

McHenry County's plans are based upon an estimated population growth of 70,000 people and a plan to concentrate new residential development in outwardly radiating population nodes. According to Planning and Development Principal Planner Jim Hogue, the county recommends that any annexation of county land by cities and towns occur in a "compact and contiguous manner."

When considering its next step, the county recognized that transportation was intrinsically bound to land use. Its Unified Plan, now undergoing review, would focus development where transportation systems, such as rail and bus lines, already exist.

McHenry County, however, does not control incorporated areas, and annexation is a "big stick" that municipalities carry. The county acknowledges that it cannot implement this plan alone and wants to partner with towns. "If we all work together," Hogue says, "we can be much more effective in maintaining quality of life. The environmental component is a strong part of that."

Kane County faces similar challenges, but with a different geography and growth patterns. Its initial 2020 plan sliced the county into three vertical strips: the eastern Urban Corridor, the central Critical Growth Area, and the western Agricultural third.

That plan sought to keep half of the land in agriculture or open space. "We emphasize green infrastructure connecting water resources, natural areas, forest preserves, cultural and historic sites, and communities," says Executive Planner Christy Sabdo. The county seeks to incorporate its green infrastructure into the regionwide Northeastern Illinois Greenway Plan.

The newly approved 2030 Plan has basically been layered on top of the old, but it has been expanded, with different boundaries, and calls for a 50-50-50 strategy. That is, 50 percent of the county can be saved for farming and open space if 50 percent of the future growth is confined to the Critical Growth Area and another 50 percent to the Urban Corridor, in towns like Elgin, Aurora, Geneva, St. Charles, and Batavia.

According to Janice Hill of the planning department, transportation is also factored into this. And like McHenry County, Kane hopes to foster "planning partnerships" with municipalities.

— Elizabeth Riotto