Lee County hearing draws neighbors’ concern over proposed gatherings at 175 Rocky Ford Road

A petitioner seeking a special-use permit to hold recurring prayer and meditation gatherings at 175 Rocky Ford Road in Sublette told the Lee County Zoning Hearing Office on Sept. 24 that the events would be for "family and friends" and not a public church, but neighbors and the county zoning administrator raised extensive questions about traffic, noise, septic capacity and public-safety oversight.

Petitioner Rosy Tellez said the gatherings are meant for support, meditation and hymns. "The only thing that it is is family and friends get together just to pray and meditate," Tellez said. She told the hearing she expects regular weekend gatherings about twice a month, typically 90–120 attendees and up to about 150 for holidays, with 10–15 people staying overnight.

Zoning administrator Alice Hinkel told the hearing the petitioner’s description was "kind of vague as to what this use actually is" and outlined potential regulatory triggers and risks. Hinkel said the county’s comprehensive plan directs institutional uses to focal areas and subjects them to site-plan review, and she urged that any approval include commercial building, fire and septic inspections and code compliance.

Neighbors raised a range of concerns about the proposed use. Questions from residents focused on late-night singing and noise, traffic on the unstriped township road, where 40–50 vehicles were estimated by the petitioner, parking and whether the existing septic system could handle large gatherings. Several neighbors also asked whether some attendees would be people in recovery or with criminal records, and whether the petitioner or organizers would screen or supervise attendees.

"If there are a 150 people there ... after dark, who knows who they might be or what they might be in possession of?" asked one nearby resident, Robert Stewart. Multiple residents urged the board to deny the petition or to require firm limits, on-site parking, and safety and health inspections before any events occurred.

Hinkel recommended a set of specific conditions if the county board approves the petition, including commercial building inspections of existing structures, fire-district inspections and compliance with the International Building Code and International Fire Code, inspection and possible upgrade of the septic system to meet Illinois private sewage disposal code occupancy standards, compliance with the Illinois State Plumbing Code and the Lee County Health Department, and a requirement that any camping be subject to a separate special-use permit and state licensing.

No formal decision was made at the hearing. The hearing officer said he would write findings and forward a recommendation to the county board; Hinkel said she would aim to have her recommendation within a week. The petitioner said she was seeking the permit so neighbors would "know who I am and what I'm going to be doing," and said she would follow any code requirements identified by county staff.

The hearing included more than a dozen public speakers from surrounding roads including Todd Road, Lemoille Road and Castle Road. Concerns centered on public-safety supervision, noise at night, vehicle access on township roads during inclement weather, on-site sanitation capacity and how the gatherings would be policed or curtailed if non-invitees attempted to attend. Hinkel noted the petition stated the use would not be open to the public and said that would affect whether the county found a public benefit to the request.

The zoning hearing officer closed questions after testimony and public comment and said the body would reconvene Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. for other business. He said he would prepare findings on petition 25P1651 for the county board to consider; Hinkel said she expected to have a recommendation within a week of the hearing.