Friday, Sept. 13

 

County board hears objections to country home zoning request

[SEPT. 13, 2002]  A request by Bradley Lee Luckhart to rezone 13.452 acres to a district for country homes got tentative approval at the Logan County Board meeting last night, even though several nearby residents protested and many board members agreed that there are problems with the ordinance that permits country homes.

Luckhart is asking that the acreage on 840th Avenue, in the north half of Section 28, West Lincoln Township, be rezoned from agricultural to country homes use.

He showed the board a preliminary plat with two five-acre lots, 11 one-acre lots and two lots slightly larger than one acre. He said, however, that he is planning to change the plat. The two five-acre lots are not part of the rezoning request.

Nearby resident Mike Leslie objected because he believed that building more homes in the area might cause a water shortage and leave homeowners with dry wells.

"During dry spells the water table drops, and I can’t run a sprinkler and my kitchen faucet at the same time," Leslie told the board.

He said Luckhart had originally planned only five-acre lots in his subdivision, but with a possible 15 new residents digging wells, area homeowners could end up hauling in water. A test well would not be a good enough indicator that the aquifer would serve that many residents, he said.

 

Leslie also objected to language that said 65 percent of the landowners could vote to change the covenant. He said that would allow tents, trailers or manufactured housing to be put in the subdivision and decrease the value of neighboring homes.

Another neighbor, Eric Spanton, also objected, saying the board has known there were problems with the country home designation for many years but has not changed the ordinance yet. He said that when he built a subdivision 10 years ago, he was required to have R-1 zoning and put in curbs and gutters. He also cited the possibility of a water shortage.

Tom Hickman, county engineer, said he was aware that many people do not like the country home designation, but it is still in effect and Luckhart has met the specifications of the existing ordinance.

He said he was looking into the question of water supply and was waiting for an expert opinion from the State Water Survey about how many homes the aquifer will support.

The language that says 65 percent of the landowners may overturn the covenant is ‘"standard boilerplate" in the ordinance, not new or dangerous, he said.

 

He pointed out that rezoning the land is merely the first step in building the subdivision, and that before any work could begin he would have to approve the final plat, which would then go back to the Logan County Regional Planning Commission for approval and finally would have to be approved by the county board.

Board member Rodney White, who says he is opposed in principle to country home zoning, agreed, however, that Luckhart has met the specifications of the ordinance.

"He’s meeting our rules," White said. "These rules were written over 30 years ago and need to be addressed. There are so many loopholes. The city of Lincoln’s housing ordinances are not like this. They say, ‘Do it our way or don’t do it.’"

 

Country home zoning is "somewhere between" residential and farm zoning, White said. He believes that designation should be abolished and rural subdivisions should all have to meet R-1 zoning requirements.

Board president Dick Logan agreed that the zoning ordinances are old and very unclear. "Six different people read it and they get six different interpretations," he said. The county board is in the process of rewriting these ordinances, and a committee has been meeting monthly, Logan said.

 

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White, chairman of the finance committee, suggested the board allocate some funds in next year’s budget for professional help in rewriting the zoning ordinances.

Board member James Griffith pointed out Luckhart’s new development could bring in $45,000 in new property tax. "If he’s met the rules and regulations, what’s the problem?" he asked.

Luckhart has already had his request for rezoning approved by the planning commission, 8 voting for it and 3 abstaining, and by the zoning appeals board, with two yes votes, one no vote and one abstention, Hickman said.

He has also built 980 feet of new road to serve the proposed subdivision. The road has been dedicated and accepted by West Lincoln Township, according to Walter Miller, Logan County zoning officer.

In a straw vote, the county board voted 8-5 to approve the zoning change. The official vote will be taken at next Tuesday’s voting session.

In other business, board member Roger Bock reported that the airport committee is making progress on replacing the 11 windows in the building. Some will be sliding windows and some solid windows.

 

Clifford Sullivan reported that a new sign is being made for the front of the Animal Control building, which sits far back from the street. He also reported that employee Polly Farmer will drop from a full-time to a part-time employee, and another part-time employee will be added. Farmer will drop her insurance coverage, and the cost to the county will be the same.

Terry Werth reported that on Saturday, Sept. 14, more playground equipment will be installed in Scully Park, which will then be 50-60 percent complete. He asked for volunteers to help with the project.

Paul Gleason distributed copies of a tourism magazine, "Illinois Weekend Adventure Guide," marking the nine places where Lincoln or Logan County is mentioned. This publication is given to motorists at Illinois Welcome Centers. Gleason also said that at least once visitors have come to see the Heritage in Flight Museum and no one could be found who had a key to the museum. He also told the board that filming will begin Monday on the tourism video.

 

Rodney White announced the next meeting of the budget committee and said the committee hopes to complete its work by the end of October. He said the request for the loan of $600,000 from the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Committee will not be put in the budget until a formal request is received.

Lloyd Evans, administrator of the Logan County Health Department, reported that flu vaccine will be available Oct. 7 both at the department offices and in the Rural Health Van. He also noted that a presentation about a new parish nursing program will be given on Sept. 24 at 12:30 p.m. at the Mount Pulaski Methodist Church. The Health Department, CIEDC and Oasis will be there to explain their services.

Dale Voyles reported that the increase in the county’s liability insurance premium is about 28 percent, for a total cost of $108,575.

[Joan Crabb]

 


Volunteers needed to install playground equipment beginning 7 a.m. Saturday

[SEPT. 13, 2002]  Volunteers are needed to help install the first batch of playground equipment for Scully Park in downtown Lincoln Saturday morning. The equipment will include a fire station with a plaque commemorating the victims and rescue workers of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A new swing set will also be installed. The work will begin at 7 a.m.

Equipment for the second phase will be purchased later this fall. Local businesses, clubs and individuals have been very generous in contributing to this project, noted Dick Logan, chairman of the Logan County Buildings and Grounds Committee and a member of the playground committee.

For more information, contact Logan at 732-2323 or the Main Street Lincoln office, 732-2929.

[News release]


Articles from the past week

Thursday:

Wednesday:

  • LCHS students remember 9-11

  • Terrorism preparedness, homeland security

  • City responds to athlete death

Tuesday:

  • Gov. Ryan, state officials present update on homeland security in Illinois

  • Officials announce new Navy Pier marine safety and rescue station

Monday:

Saturday:

  • NFL football comes to central Illinois (Sports)

  • Locals have a swingin’ time with the Aussies down under (Sports)

  • Gov. Ryan announces Illinois Arts Council grants

Friday:

  • Wastewater plant readies for expansion

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