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Board approves variance allowing seasonal additional staff at home‑based assessor office despite concerns about precedent
Summary
The board approved a variance (item 10a1) allowing up to three non-family employees seasonally at a home‑office assessor operation; supporters said traffic and neighborhood impact would be minimal while some members warned of a precedent risk for home occupations.
The McHenry County Board approved a zoning variance (item 10a1) that would allow an assessor's home-based office to employ up to three non-family employees for limited months of the year.
Member Smith opposed the request on precedent grounds, saying the county's home-occupation rules have traditionally limited non-family employees and that allowing three could 'set a bad precedent.' Supporters including Von Bergen and Gothenbauer argued available evidence from the zoning hearing showed the requested activity would not create parking or traffic problems, noting employees would work seasonally and many small businesses begin at a home address. "It does not seem to be an ongoing traffic problem," Von Bergen said during the discussion.
After a clerk-monitored vote the motion carried. The variance was approved under the consent/zoning agenda and will be implemented subject to the usual zoning conditions.
