The Kane County Agricultural Committee on Aug. 21 voted to authorize an amendment to the agricultural conservation easement on the Peterson Farm that will allow a five-acre parcel to be subdivided so the current operator’s nephew can renovate a home and move closer to the farming operation.

Sarah, a county staff member, said the Peterson property — first protected under the county program in 2002 — qualifies as a centennial farm with more than 100 years of family ownership. She said the Petersons excluded 1.7 acres from their original easement in 2002 and are now seeking a five-acre subdivision that overlaps part of the easement; the nephew is the current operator and intends to renovate one of the existing houses.

Sarah cautioned that the subdivision still would have to go through zoning to create two zoning lots; she described this step as outside the committee’s purview. Committee members asked clarifying questions about which areas would be subdivided and whether the family intends to buy the remainder of the property later; Sarah said this is step one and that the family understands the easement terms prohibiting new construction within conserved (yellow) areas.

The committee moved and seconded Resolution TMP 251011, “approving an amendment to the deed of agricultural conservation easement for the Peterson Farm through the Kane County Farmland Protection Program.” The motion passed on a roll call recorded in the transcript as Alan (I), Leonard (yes), Penisis (yes), Williams (recorded as "William, Jess"), Ralph/Ross (yes), and Juby (I). No no-votes or abstentions were recorded in the meeting transcript for this motion.

Why it matters: the amendment lets an operating family put one parcel under separate ownership for residential renovation while keeping the agricultural easement restrictions in place. The committee reiterated that zoning approvals and formal lot creation are separate processes beyond this committee’s authorization.

Next steps: zoning review and local permitting to create two zoning lots and any required building-permit work for the house renovation.