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Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center

June 4, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie adds her voice to that of 45 others criticizing a proposal for the rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property at Higgins Road and Route 59 for a possible data center before the Hoffman Estates plan commission Wednesday night. | Eric Peterson/epeterson@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily herald

Hoffman Estates plan commissioners voted 4-2 Wednesday to recommend against rezoning the 186-acre Plum Farms property to manufacturing for a possible data center proposal.

The vote was called after 46 members of the public unanimously urged rejection of the request for an unspecified development by landowner Karis Critical of Florida, which saw a data center proposal in Naperville rejected in January.

Speakers opposed to the rezoning urged the board’s rejection of the proposal without knowing what would go there. They complained a data center would create environmental issues.

Most speakers were from Hoffman Estates, South Barrington or Barrington Hills. But independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett of Palatine, Democratic state Rep. Nabeela Syed of Inverness and Democratic candidate for state representative Maria Peterson of North Barrington were also drawn by the chorus of discontent.

South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie said her village and Hoffman Estates have had a long history of understanding that what happens in one community affects the other. She found the rezoning request out of sync with their mutual development of retail uses in that area.

“I’m not a resident of Hoffman Estates but we should be strategic partners,” McCombie said.

The full article can be found here.

Related: “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development“

Posted in AI, BACOG, Clown Car, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, Dinky, Hoffman Estates, Plum Farm development, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes | Leave a Comment »

Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project

June 4, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Charlie De Mar | CBS News

After Naperville recently rejected a proposed data center in its community, the same company proposed a facility in Hoffman Estates, but their request for a zoning change was voted down by the village’s Plan Commission.

Most of the people who spoke at a nearly three-hour Hoffman Estates Plan Commission meeting on Wednesday opposed the project. In a 4-2 vote, the Plan Commission voted against rezoning the land sought for a new data center.

Construction is already underway at two data center sites in Hoffman Estates, and a data center developer has set its sights on a third facility. The company appeared before the Plan Commission, requesting to rezone the proposed site at Higgins Road and Route 59.

A packed meeting that spilled into the hallway was filled with residents who were overwhelmingly against the rezoning.

“They shouldn’t change zoning unless it benefits the community and it’s in the public interest, and I don’t believe that this is,” Meg Myalls said.

“This is not what the citizens want. We already have the other two data centers,” Doreen Gibrich said.

Lawmakers in Springfield didn’t have the votes during their spring session to approve new legislation that would restrict data center water and energy use in Illinois.

Report continues including video here.

Related: “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

 

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Data Center, Ethics, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, News Media, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Village Code | Leave a Comment »

Special Equestrian Commission (Riding Club) meeting tonight

June 4, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The Equestrian Commission/Riding Club will be meeting this evening at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • RECOGNITION OF EMILY MCHUGH, FIRST EQUESTRIAN COMMISSION CHAIR
  • HORSE/LARGE ANIMAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN – DISCUSSION
  • JULY 4 AMERICA250 CELEBRATION: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ROLE OF HORSES IN THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION*
  • REGISTER NOW: LAND WE LOVE RUN AMERICA250 5K/10K OR 2-MILE WALK ON JUNE 28, 2026

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here.

Posted in Agendas, Animal Welfare, Aunt Blabby, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Bicyclists, Big Red, Commercial Horse Boarding, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), E-bikes, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, Horizon Farm, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Simple Minds, Unions, Village Director of Administration, Well Water Quality | Leave a Comment »

JB’s Bears excuse(s)

June 3, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Eric Allie/Illinois Policy Institute. View more of Eric’s work via Instagram here.

Posted in Commodius Maximus, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield | Leave a Comment »

Driver left injured, trapped after forklift falls off back of semi-trailer and strikes his SUV in Barrington Hills

June 3, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Police shut down Route 68 east of Bateman Road in Barrington Hills for several hours to investigate a crash involving a forklift that struck another vehicle and left the driver injured Tuesday afternoon. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A driver was hospitalized and had to be extricated after a forklift fell off a semi-tractor-trailer and struck his vehicle while driving in Barrington Hills Tuesday afternoon.

The Barrington Hills Police Department, East Dundee Fire Protection District and Carpentersville Fire Department responded around 4:14 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Route 68 and Bateman Road in Barrington Hills for a vehicle crash with injuries and entrapment.

Fire crews arrived on the scene and reported finding a forklift that fell from a truck and struck a car, causing heavy damage.

Police shut down Route 68 east of Bateman Road in Barrington Hills for several hours to investigate a crash involving a forklift that struck another vehicle and left the driver injured Tuesday afternoon. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Barrington Hills Police Department Media Relations Officer Bill Walsh said the incident occurred on Route 68, also known as Dundee Road, east of Bateman Road.

Firefighters worked to extricate the driver and sole occupant of a 2010 BMW X5.

Paramedics then transported him to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin with non-life-threatening injuries, Walsh said. His exact condition was not released.

Police shut down Route 68 east of Bateman Road in Barrington Hills for several hours to investigate a crash involving a forklift that struck another vehicle and left the driver injured Tuesday afternoon. | Photo: Nick Rusin

A preliminary investigation showed a 2006 Kenworth semi-tractor-trailer with a forklift attached to the rear, commonly referred to as a piggyback forklift, was traveling east on Dundee Road.

Report continues here.

Posted in Accidents, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Traffic, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »

Cell-phone ban, loosening foreign language requirements among education bills to pass

June 3, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Peter Hancock | Capitol News Illinois

Article Summary

  • Several educations measures were among the hundreds of bills that cleared the General Assembly before it adjourned on June 1.
  • Schools will have to adopt policies next year banning cell phones in the classroom under a bill Gov. JB Pritzker says he will sign.
  • Another measure allows students to fulfill foreign language requirements by taking career and technical education courses.
  • Lawmakers also expanded in-state tuition and amended child care licensing laws.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Read the full article here.

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Education, School Districts, Springfield, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Gov. JB Pritzker’s multiunit housing (BUILD Act/Plan) plans for Illinois stall in Springfield’s spring session

June 3, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Olivia Olander | Chicago Tribune

Illinois will not broadly allow multiunit housing on single-family residential lots, at least for now, after a package of housing ideas championed by Gov. JB Pritzker failed to pass during the General Assembly’s spring session.

Faced with concerns about usurping local control of zoning issues related to housing, the governor’s office and its allies this weekend punted on the plans, which were among the governor’s most ambitious policy proposals this year, after they couldn’t round up the necessary support among lawmakers.

“I’m going to continue to fight for it, because we need more housing in the state,” Pritzker said at a post-session news conference in his ceremonial Capitol office Monday. He noted that some of his biggest legislative goals have taken longer than a year to come to fruition, including his school cellphone ban, which the General Assembly passed over the weekend.

Still, deferring negotiations over increasing so-called middle housing across the state to a later date is a mark against the governor’s record in Springfield this election-year spring session — one that will likely be remembered most vividly for the legislature’s inability to pass a Bears stadium deal.

Despite the housing package being presented in a year when Democrats have sought to prove they’re the party of affordability ahead of the November midterm elections, Pritzker indicated he didn’t see its failure as a political liability. The plan showed voters his priorities, he suggested, even if they couldn’t be enacted.

“Are you kidding me? I think — the question is, do you want to elect somebody who’s actually for building more housing, or somebody who doesn’t have any plan at all?” Pritzker said when asked about the politics of the housing issue.

The governor is up for reelection to a third term this fall, in a race against former state lawmaker Darren Bailey, the long-shot Republican candidate. On social media Sunday, Bailey railed against Pritzker’s so-called BUILD Illinois plan as a “full-scale assault on Illinois suburbs.”

Article continues here.

Related: “Why McHenry County officials could ask voters for home rule powers,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie provides an update of Pritzker’s proposed BUILD Act,” “Village of Barrington President shares perspectives on Pritzker’s BUILD plans,” “(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers,” “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”

Posted in BACOG, Chicago Tribune, Commodius Maximus, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Immigration, Land Use, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, Springfield, Unions, Village Code | Leave a Comment »

Forklift falls onto vehicle, leaving person hospitalized in Barrington Hills: fire officials

June 2, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By ABC7 Chicago Digital Team

BARRINGTON HILLS, Ill. (WLS) — A forklift fell onto a vehicle in the north suburbs on Tuesday afternoon, injuring one person, fire officials said.

The East Dundee & Countryside Fire Protection District responded to the scene near Dundee and Bateman roads in Barrington Hills just before 4:15 p.m.

Apparently, the forklift fell from a flatbed onto the vehicle.

Crews extricated one person from that vehicle, stabilized them, and took them to Sherman Hospital in Elgin. Their condition was not immediately known.

No other injuries were reported. The roadway was temporarily closed as authorities investigated.

Report continues here.

Posted in Accidents, News Media, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »

Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials

June 2, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Date/Time:     Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Location:         1900 Hassell Road, Hoffman Estates
Agenda Item:  “Rezoning from the C-MU (Commercial Mixed Use) and TN (Traditional Neighborhood) districts to the M-2 (Manufacturing) district for the property located north of Higgins Road between the Canadian National Railway and New Sutton Road (Plum Farms)”
Documents:

The agenda can be found here.

This meeting is not available via Zoom or YouTube. Written comments can be sent to PLANNING@HOFFMANESTATES.ORG or, of course, one can attend the hearing and speak.

Related: “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cell Towers, Cellular Service, Cook, County, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, OMA, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic | 3 Comments »

Illinois lawmakers give raises to diversity commissioners they criticized

June 2, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Alexandria Wilson, executive director of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion, was grilled by lawmakers during a budget hearing, April 15, 2026. | Photo: Jared Strong / The Center Square

By Jared Strong | The Center Square

State lawmakers failed to reform the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion this legislative session despite bipartisan criticism of its performance and calls to disband it.

Moreover, the seven highly paid commissioners who lead it are getting raises along with numerous other executive branch appointees, and their requested $5.6 million budget was approved.

The budget allocation and pay increases were included in the early Monday morning votes to ratify a new, $55.9 billion state budget.

And they belie the considerable critiques that lawmakers aired during public budget hearings in recent months. House lawmakers initially said they intended to summon the commission’s staff for a third hearing to continue their questions, but that didn’t happen.

Lawmakers have seized on The Center Square’s investigation of the commission to question their salaries of about $150,000, given that they are allowed to work side jobs for extra pay and have overseen a sizable decline in the number of businesses owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities that are certified by the state.

Certified businesses are preferred for state contracts. The primary goal of the commission — which was created in 2022 — is to increase the amount of state contract money that is awarded to the businesses.

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, a Shelbyville Republican, said it was wrong to approve more money for the commissioners without further review. He is among those who want to eliminate the commission.

“Lawmakers were asked to fund an agency without receiving the additional scrutiny and answers that many members believed were necessary,” he told The Center Square. “In a state facing significant fiscal challenges, that is not how responsible budgeting should work.”

No Republicans voted to approve the new budget.

Report continues here.

Posted in 220, 300, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | Leave a Comment »

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