Zoning Board of Appeals - Zoning Hearing, 7-30-26

The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals held a zoning hearing on July 30, 2026, to discuss proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The meeting focused primarily on housekeeping changes to the ordinance, including language cleanups and appendix renumbering. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the classification and regulation of off-site service businesses (OSBs) in agricultural zoning districts (A1). The board debated whether to allow OSBs as conditional uses in A1 zones, with concerns raised about potential impacts on farmland preservation, enforcement challenges, and the broadness of the current OSB definition. The board also discussed fence definitions, particularly the distinction between "privacy" and "solid" fences, and agreed that clearer definitions and standards were needed. Motions were passed to approve the housekeeping amendments while tabling the OSB and fence definition issues for further staff review. The board requested staff to develop clearer standards and categories for OSBs and to propose refined fence definitions to better guide future zoning decisions and enforcement.