The Zoning Board of Appeals will be holding a public hearing next Tuesday, September 9, at Countryside School beginning at 7:00 PM. The purpose of the hearing is to hear two recently submitted text amendment proposals regarding horse boarding regulations in Barrington Hills.
Unlike the previous amendment proposals (Oakwood and Riding Club), the two new recommendations would keep horse boarding businesses classified in R-1 zoning. They also define and address small and large-scale boarding operations.
A copy of the Drury text amendment proposal can be downloaded here, and a copy of the Hammond proposal can be downloaded here.
The next step after the hearing is for the Zoning Board to meet again two days later in another special session on September 11, to consider and possibly vote on recommending one of the four proposals to the Village Board. We find it curious, however, that one step included in the Oakwood and Riding Club process has not occurred with these two new proposals.
The Equestrian Commission held a special Friday evening meeting to review the Oakwood and Riding Club text amendment proposals. Yet that same commission canceled their regularly scheduled September meeting to have taken place earlier this week without reviewing the two latest proposals.
Needless to say we find this disturbing since there seems to be no documented process being followed regarding very important matters that have eluded any definitive conclusion for too many years.
A copy of the September 9 Zoning Board hearing agenda can be downloaded here, or it can be viewed via the Village Google calendar here.
I’m sorry but Judy Freeman (ZB Chair) has no idea what she’s doing, only the goal she and other RC members on the zoning board want to achieve which is next to no restrictions on boarding. The last thing in the world is to implement any procedure here except the absolute minimum required IF THAT!
We need to have any amendment decision tabled until after the next election. Let the residents speak to who they want to represent us first. This is too important of a decision to trust to the ZB board at this time.
Process for the commercial boarding discussion is lacking. Oakwood Farms needs a quick text amendment change in order to avoid a cease and desist order and the investigation that will likely ensue after the Illinois Supreme Court denies hearing the LeCompte v. Drury case.
In 2010/2011, healthy discussion took place on the ZBA (Chairman Knight) allowing commercial boarding while retaining Home Occupation and inserting special use standards for large scale operations. Bob Abboud and Joe Messer stopped the discussion at that time, not liking the outcome and stating that there were no problems in the Village (That’s when Bob Abboud asked for the termination of Joseph von Meier as attorney to the ZBA). At that time, the first court opinion favored Oakwood Farms with alleged inappropriate support from the Village (“Schuman letter”).
However, circumstances changed this summer as the latest Appellate Court ruling denied Oakwood Farms Home Occupation. Joe Messer then personally started the commercial boarding discussion and attempted to submit changes to the ZBA. He backed off after realizing that his approach as a Board Trustee was improper. That’s when Ms. Freeman took up the charge to quickly accommodate changes that would protect Oakwood Farms and create unrestricted commercial boarding. Mr. LeCompte’s text amendment actually requests a “retroactive” fix in order to attempt to circumvent the courts.
Three significant problems emerged from the rush to fix Oakwood Farms. First, the Village clearly failed process. David Stieper requested that the ZBA first determine an appropriate process for commercial boarding discussion and definition of a text amendment. Ms. Freeman ignored the request and embarked on her own created process that may be improper. Second, the Village is exposed since the timing and actions are clearly attempting to favor Oakwood Farms in the midst of ongoing litigation.
The third issue is most dangerous. Given the lack of sound process and measured legal opinion, the proposed changes to the Code have negative impacts on the legacy of our residential zoning and stand to destroy our commercial code protections. Also, the lack of limitations coupled with the opening of commercial boarding will label our Village as the desired destination for commercial boarding throughout the area. Establishing this new precedence, our Home Occupation standards which protect the rights of neighbors are blown away.
The Equestrian community who owns property in our Village and who may even board with neighbors do not want to see their Home Occupation rights voided. They are central to our unique and beautiful Open Space community. These people who provide and enjoy our wonderful trail system do not want to create BH as a commercial destination. But, the loud extremes of the Riding Club have their own agenda. Equestrian loving owners who favor Home Occupation and Special Use remain silent in order to avoid being cast out of the “club” of equestrian extremes. They should speak up.
The process is tainted and conflicted. Yes, we need clarification to our code regarding commercial boarding to allow it with proper restrictions and special use, and without disrupting our open spaces R-! zoning protections. Our Home Occupation standards work if properly administered by an unbiased BOT and ZBA.
Any smell of Village involvement in the Oakwood Farms litigation will only fuel further exposure. The process is tainted. The ZBA membership is in question. As the Observer points out, how does the Equestrian commission justify being asked to comment on the LeCompte and Riding Club proposed amendments and avoid discussion of the other two? How does an illegally appointed member of the ZBA also sit on the Equestrian commission and not recuse himself from one or the other discussions?
At the most recent ZBA public hearing, it’s clear that we are a house divided on these issues. It will take disciplined process and negotiation to build a viable position that protects our heritage while allowing limited commercial boarding. There is a way to accomplish common goals, but not in the current lack of good process and rushed manner.
Thank you Observer for creating a forum for discussion. Any contrary opinion or correction to the comments herein are welcomed.
It’s high time that other text amendments are brought forward by residents who do not have horse are part of the equestrian tapestry of the village. The greatest fear is allowing the ZBA board to have the final word. The biggest threat is that all of us residents will impacted greatly by what decisions are made. I’m glad that we have residents who are thinking about the whole of the village and not special-interest groups.
Residents should come out and speak in support of these amendments because it’s the right thing to do! The village board should not be comprised by those serving on other boards or committees. Messer and Harrington feel quite comfortable referring to the temporary counsel as a “conflict of interest when in fact he himself is a “conflict of interest” by serving on a board who supposed to be a reflective of all residents.
Totally correct. That Messer and Harrington are concerned about the intentions temporary counsel and not concerned with their own intentions that smacks of impropriety is astounding. Look in the mirror. That a deposed village president still calls the shots for Messer, Harrington, Meroni, Spelman and Gohl is illegal. We voted him out. But he’s not out, he lives through his minions. And they are concerned about impropriety?
Not concerned about impropriety in the slightest when they rammed 33 appointments through last year, and talk about the “process” when there was no process needed to approve all these appointments!! It’s time to reclaim the board, for the residents. That our President has to be undermined in this fashion disgusts me! Trustee Selman has no right to lecture the President in discussions about Mr. Bond and vetting the “right” and qualified” candidates. Skip G had all the credentials, and Trustee Selman is seated on the board. What a joke!
The Trustees spoke about having the “appointment” of temporary counsel forced on them. Now you get a sample of your own medicine!
Follow the money!
I invite landowners on the Barrington Hills Riding Trails to join me in SUSPENDING ALL RIDING PRIVILEGES ACROSS THEIR PROPERTY until that time when a diverse and unbiased group of residents are appointed to develop a fair and equitable text amendment pertaining to commercial horse boarding in Barrington Hills. You are a landowner if you received an invitation to this Saturday’s Kalaway Cup Polo Event from the Riding Club of Barrington Hills. It is time to push back!
I think it’s a great idea to suspend riding activity on the trails, it is time to push back in a big way! They haven’t gotten the message, so perhaps this will bring the message home.
If Commercial boarding goes through my trails will become a long narrow corn field decorated with no trespassing signs!