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Council approves zoning amendments to allow drive‑thrus as permitted uses in commercial districts, with protections for adjacent residences
Summary
The council amended the City of McHenry zoning ordinance to make drive‑thru facilities an allowed use in C3 and C5 commercial districts without a conditional use process, except where proposals are adjacent to residential zoning. Staff said only one drive‑thru conditional use had been denied in 35 years (a Hardee’s in 1990).
The McHenry City Council approved zoning text amendments to the City of McHenry Zoning Ordinance that make drive‑thru facilities an allowed use in the C3 and C5 commercial districts without requiring a conditional use permit, while retaining conditional use review for any drive‑thru proposed adjacent to a residential zoning district.
Director Ross Polarecki explained staff’s review of other communities and the local history: drive‑thru conditional uses had been routinely approved over the past 35 years and the only denial Polarecki cited was a 1990 Hardee’s proposal next to residential property. He said staff’s intent is to streamline development in the commercial districts while preserving council and public review where residential neighbors could be affected.
Several aldermen opposed removing council-level review for drive‑thrus in non‑residential locations, saying the multi-step review process historically allowed more scrutiny and community input. Supporters said the change speeds up development where commercial uses are already clustered and that staff and engineering reviews remain in place to assess lane widths, stacking requirements and other safety issues.
The vote on agenda item 7C passed on roll call. Motion to approve was made by Alderman Sainci and seconded by Alderman Miller.
