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Consultant presents UDO diagnostic; council stresses clarity and retained oversight
Summary
HDR presented a diagnostic report recommending consolidation and reorganization of McHenry's development code into a Unified Development Ordinance to improve clarity, predictability and walkability; council members welcomed readability improvements but cautioned against removing elected oversight or making non-enforceable expectations.
Parker McDowell of HDR presented a diagnostic report to the McHenry City Council on Jan. 20 outlining next steps toward a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
McDowell said HDR’s review identified that McHenry’s development regulations are scattered and text-heavy, noting the city currently has 23 zoning districts. HDR recommended reorganizing content, consolidating some districts, creating a central use table, and using graphics and tables to make the code easier to navigate for residents and applicants. The presentation emphasized aligning the UDO with the comprehensive plan and downtown plan, encouraging mixed-use and walkable neighborhoods, and giving staff clearer administrative tools to maintain the code.
Council feedback: Aldermen praised the goals of clarity and accessibility but repeatedly warned against removing council authority or delegating decisions that residents expect the elected body to make. Alderman Glab said, “development expectations that are not included in the ordinance are not enforceable,” and cautioned the council against unintentionally reducing its role. HDR responded that recommendations are optional and that the council can strike or modify any provision it does not want to pursue.
Engagement and next steps: HDR described planned community engagement including pop-up events, online surveys and ZIP-code filters to prioritize resident feedback. Council members requested HDR provide raw interview summaries (anonymized) and hold outreach events west of Route 31 to ensure equitable participation. HDR said it will produce a first draft and hold a workshop with council and the planning & zoning commission for detailed review.
Quotes: "We wanna make sure that the code uses more tables and graphs...make it easy to read and digest," Parker McDowell said during the presentation. Alderman Glab warned, "Development expectations that are not included in the ordinance are not enforceable."
Where this goes next: HDR will provide summary notes from stakeholder interviews to staff and prepare a draft UDO for workshop review; multiple community engagement opportunities will follow before any code changes are finalized.
