Title
Resolution opposing the inclusion of certain properties within the Army Corps of Engineers' Des Plaines River Phase 2 Flood Mitigation Plan.
Staff Summary
· As part of its Des Plaines River Phase 2 Flood Mitigation Plan, the Army Corps of Engineers has recommended the conversion of the Didier Farm and adjoining Hoffman property to a flood mitigation reservoir.
· These properties are currently used for local food production, agricultural education and agricultural tourism, consistent with the Lake County Board's Strategic Plan policy of supporting local food.
· The Army Corps Plan is also in direct conflict with the Lake County Regional Framework Plan's future land use map and the Buffalo Grove Comprehensive Plan for future development of the properties.
· The Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) has previously submitted comments to the Army Corps recommending alternative sites and engineering methods in lieu of conversion of the subject properties for flood mitigation.
· The attached County Board resolution objects to the Army Corps' flood mitigation plan for the subject properties, supports the SMC plan to further study alternatives, and requests that the public comment be extended to ensure that the County Board resolution be made part of the public record.
Body
WHEREAS, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission "Commission" is a unit of local government created statutorily pursuant to ILCS (55 ILCS 5/5-1062); and
WHEREAS, the Commission has a long history in the Des Plaines River Watershed, of flood mitigation planning, engineering and construction activities providing benefit to the residents and businesses in both Lake County and downstream; and
WHEREAS, the Commission, along with Kenosha County, Wisconsin; Cook County, IL Dept of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps); are all partners in the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries, Illinois and Wisconsin Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment, which is being lead by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and
WHEREAS; the Corps has identified in its Plan an area comprising approximately 95 acres and generally bounded by Buffalo Grove Road to the west, Aptakisic Road to the south, Brandywyn Lane to the north and Weiland Road to the east (Didier Farms) for use as a flood mitigation facility; and
WHEREAS, contained within the Corps Plan is a proposal to convert Didier Farms from its existing uses to a 550 acre-foot storage reservoir, so noted as Aptakisic Creek Reservoir (NED ACRS08), Buffalo Grove, (Plate 17) in the plan; and
WHEREAS, the Commission has previously commented at a public meeting and in writing to the Corps, that the Didier Property lacks local government support for use as a flood mitigation facility, and its planned present and future land uses conflict with the Corps Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Didier Property is presently used for agricultural, agricultural education and agricultural tourism purposes and provides an oasis of sustainable local food, consistent with the Lake County Board's Strategic Plan policy of promoting sustainable agriculture and locally grown food initiatives and consistent with the Livable Communities theme of the GOTO 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan published by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP); and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Framework Plan Future Land Use Map designates the properties as Agiricultural and Residential and the Village of Buffalo Grove's comprehensive plan designates the future development of the properties for residential, park and open space and commercial land uses, all of which are inconsistent with the Army Corps proposal to convert the properties to a flood mitigation reservoir; and
WHEREAS, the proposed conversion of the Didier Property and Hoffmann Property to a 550 acre-foot reservoir would have a deleterious effect on adjoining properties, the essential character of the locality and would frustrate both local food policy and comprehensive planning efforts; and
WHEREAS, the Commission has previously identified in writing to the Corps, alternative flood mitigation sites and engineering methods to the use in-lieu-of the Didier Property; and
WHEREAS, the USACE has opened a 30-day public comment period on the Plan, and has requested comments to be submitted to the Chicago District, Army Corps of Engineers but has not provided sufficient time for public comment or local governmental deliberation on a Plan of this magnitude, the drafting of which has spanned the past eleven years; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board supports and works in close partnership with the Commission and its municipalities on policy formation in such matters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the County Board of Lake County, Illinois that the County Board does not support the conversion of the Didier Farm and the Hoffman Property because the current use of such properties for local food production, agricultural education and agricultural tourism purposes is in direct conflict with the County Board's Strategic Plan, and because the Corps' proposal is inconsistent with local future land use plans; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Board supports the Commission's plan to amend its work program to develop its own study of Aptakisic Creek in close coordination with all local governments in the watershed to develop cost effective flood mitigation to the flood problem areas that exist and are affected by both the Aptakisic Creek and mainstem Des Plaines River; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Board requests that the Corps extend the public comment period so that that this resolution be made part of the public record; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution, upon adoption, be submitted as a comment to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries, Illinois and Wisconsin Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment.