Title
Ordinance amending Chapter 151: Unified Development Ordinance of the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances relating to the enhanced planting and protection of native tree and plant species in unincorporated Lake County.
Staff Summary
• Previously, Planning, Building and Development Department staff engaged with the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment (PBZ&E) Committee in a discussion series on various proposed text amendments to the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances focused on the enhanced planting and protection of native tree and plant species in unincorporated Lake County.
• Following a recommendation by the PBZ&E Committee, the Lake County Board directed the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to hold a public hearing to consider the proposed text amendments. At the conclusion of the public hearing on June 20, 2024, the ZBA unanimously recommended approval of the proposed amendments as presented in the ZBA Resolution attached.
• The recommended amendments have been formatted into a document ready for codification as reflected in “Exhibit B”. The Ordinance will become effective upon County Board adoption of “Exhibit B”.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board adopted the Unified Development Ordinance of Lake County, Illinois on April 11, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board incorporated the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance into the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances as Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances on February 10, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Code requires periodic review to maintain relevancy and address changing conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building and Development Department prepared draft ordinance text amendments related to the enhanced planting and protection of native tree and plant species in unincorporated Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee was of the opinion that necessary steps should be taken by the Lake County Board to initiate the public hearing process to facilitate public engagement and evaluation of the proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board directed the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals on April 9, 2024, to conduct a public hearing on the proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals conducted a public hearing on the proposed amendments on June 20, 2024 pursuant to the Statutes of the State of Illinois on the petition of the County of Lake, which seeks to amend the text of Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, your Zoning Board of Appeals, after reviewing the testimony presented at the public hearings on the aforesaid petition, has submitted its report thereon to the County Board and recommends by a vote of 5 - 0 that the proposed text amendments specified as Exhibit A be approved; and
WHEREAS, your Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee duly considered the proposed text amendments aforedescribed and recommends that the text amendments as specified in Exhibit A be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the amendments to Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois Code of Ordinances as attached in Exhibit B be adopted and made effective immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Clerk of the County Board shall keep a record of this action.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on August 13, 2024.