Development committee approves rezoning to allow produce farm residence near Burlington

Kane County’s Development Committee voted Feb. 18 to approve petition 4650, allowing landowner Glenn Wakefield to rezone a parcel adjacent to the village of Burlington from F (farming) to E1 (estate residential) so he may construct a residence on the property to support on-site produce farming. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with committee members voting in favor.

The rezoning moves the parcel out of the county’s F district and into E1 estate residential, which permits a residence on the site. Mark Van Kirkhoff, director of Development and Community Services, said the change “would allow him to construct a new residence on the parcel, because produce farming is very labor intensive and best if you’re living on the same farm.” The parcel was shown on the county’s land-use map as countryside/estate residential adjacent to Burlington.

Why it matters: committee members and staff said allowing an on-site residence would help ensure the labor-intensive produce operation can be maintained and coordinated with existing land uses nearby. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval with stipulations; the committee adopted that recommendation.

Supporting details: staff presentations showed the parcel at the intersection of French Road and Glen Chow Road, outlined on the county map and adjacent to other E1 parcels. Kane County water resources recommended typical stormwater stipulations and land-cash requirements; KDOT requested that the petitioner refrain from installing structures in the future half right-of-way of French Road and be responsible for obtaining required permits. Van Kirkhoff told the committee those stipulations were standard and that water resources and health department coordination would continue as the petitioner proceeds through permitting.

The committee moved to approve the petition on a motion by Arroyo, seconded by Leonard. The clerk called the roll; members recorded as voting in favor included Arroyo, Doherty, Garcia, Iqbal, Tepe, Leonard, Berman and Williams. Committee members wished Wakefield luck as the project proceeds to permitting and stipulation compliance.

The committee packet noted the Zoning Board of Appeals’ recommendation and the land-use designation; staff said they will follow up on the RFP work for coordinated permitting systems and the standard permit review steps as Wakefield seeks the necessary building and stormwater permits.

No further public testimony was recorded on this item. The committee placed the matter on file following the vote.