Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
McHenry County Zoning Board denies conditional‑use permit for small animal‑processing facility at landlocked parcel
Summary
After hours of testimony and two rounds of votes, the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals approved staff conditions but rejected a conditional‑use permit and two variances for a proposed on‑farm slaughter and processing facility (petition Z250068), denying the petition 6–1 on concerns about access, traffic data, and neighborhood compatibility.
The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny petition Z250068, a request for a conditional‑use permit to operate food processing with animal slaughter and two variances (frontage from 330 feet to 0 and reduction of the 500‑foot residential separation to 217 feet), after extended public testimony and board deliberation.
The board accepted five staff‑recommended conditions by unanimous vote before considering the petition. Objectors’ counsel Thomas Birney urged denial in closing, arguing the petitioner had been "inconsistent" and lacked credibility: "There is no legitimacy to it whatsoever," Birney said, citing a PowerPoint his clients submitted documenting conflicting testimony about inspections, uses, and projected numbers. Birney told the board the site is effectively hidden from view, that the petitioner had not obtained easement owner approvals, and that neighbors faced traffic, health and safety, and property‑value risks.
Petitioner counsel Mister McKenna responded that the proposal is a small, agriculturally…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
