The Village has released recordings from the March 15th Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing regarding the 2015 official Zoning Map, and the special use permit application from the Barrington Hills Polo Club. A link to the menu of topical recording segments can be found here.
Before opening the hearing, ZBA chair Judy Freeman asked for public comment. One resident, whose voice has become familiar to many, took the opportunity to speak, and his comments can be heard here.
As we previously reported in “Polo politicking – SOS Party style,” Polo Club President John Rosene was requesting a perpetual renewal of the original five-year special use permit previously granted to his club for the LeCompte Kalaway Cup by the Village in 2011. In addition, however, Rosene was asking the Village of Barrington Hills to grant his club expanded use of a private road (maintained by homeowners, not the Village), in perpetuity and this was a topic of concern by many on the Board.
Equally concerning to some members was the lack of information and documentation regarding insurance for the polo event. While the ZBA attorney, Mary Dickson, did mention a private event on private property might not expose the Village to any liability due to accidents or injuries, she did bring up the fact that if our police officers are involved in some form while supporting the event, there might be risk.
A sensible motion to postpone voting on Rosene’s renewal application based on these factors was denied by a 3-2 vote. Pressing forward as though this was a time-sensitive matter (which it was not, of course), member Anderson moved that the term of the permit be granted for 20 years through the year 2035. That motion failed to pass by a necessary majority vote, and now must go before the Village Board for a decision.
We questioned the timing of Mr. Rosene’s unconventional application for special permit renewal when we first published the March Zoning Board agenda (seen here).
Considering Rosene is a committee member of the SOS Party, perhaps it is potentially part of an SOS campaign plan since he, and his fellow committee members, wasted no time alerting residents in social media and mass emails that the [LeCompte] Kalaway Cup was “Killed” by responsible Zoning Board members looking out for the interests of our Village.
All we can tell readers is to expect more unnecessary drama between now and Election Day on April 7th. It only serves to distract voters from the material issues in an important election for all residents of Barrington Hills.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWING BEANS AND UNDOING VBH CODE’S “FAR” REQUIREMENTS . . . ACCORDING TO BENJ. LECOMPTE, NOTHING, THEY ARE BOTH “AGRICULTURE” ENDEAVORS . . . . HUH!
At ZBA meeting Benj. LeCompte plays semantics on Anderson II horse boarding amendment’s impact on R-1 zoning claiming Anderson II falls under newly modified definition of “Agriculture”, permitted use, and therefore does not qualify as a change in 98% of VBH Village Zoning Map from R-1 (5-acre residential) to mixed use, R-1/Restricted Commercial Use.
Prior to Anderson II, the maximum floor area ratio (“FAR”) of all structures (primary and accessory) could total @10,580 sq/ft. The home had to be the “primary” structure and all other structures “accessory” in nature. Thus, on a 5 acre parcel, a barn could be a maximum of @2,700 sq/ft. This is the way it was in VBH for 50 years before Anderson II. Prior to Anderson II, it is these FAR requirements which formed the undergirding of VBH code creating the residential large estate character we enjoy today but with Anderson II can no longer be protected in the future.
Under Anderson II, as long as a landowner boards at least 1 horse on a 5 acre lot, the commercial boarding structure can be in excess of 10,000 sq/ft with the home as small as 250 sq/ft. This opens the door for “modular homes” or “trailer park homes”. The only requirement, the modular or trailer park home be connected to well/septic and have a foundation. [There is no limitation on number of horses, commercial or otherwise on a property, because Anderson II fails to define “boarding”. To get around boarding limitation, the proprietor can implement a “sale/leaseback arrangement with tenants.] VBH has no architectural design requirements, but what kept trailer homes and modular homes out of VBH were stringent FAR requirements.
Benj. LeCompte calls this unraveling of R-1 FAR requirements merely agricultural in nature while I call it a fundamental change in R-1 residential estate zoning. Following Benj. LeCompte’s logic as long as an ordinance, no matter what it says, is slipped in VBH code as a “permitted use” under definition of “Agriculture” (even if it turns VBH code on its head by expanding FAR requirements for “commercial boarding use” by 4x prior allowance without size of the home as a limiting factor) this is similar to growing beans or corn in an open field.
When one of these supersized commercial boarding structures are built next to 5 acre estate homes with unlimited number horses abound, I want Benj. LeCompte to step forward and say to each owner that R-1 zoning in VBH Zoning Map is the same as it always has been. Further inform them that the super sized commercial structures and activities they are witnessing are merely agricultural pursuits, you know, like growing beans or corn in an open field – thus a “permitted use” as defined in VBH Code under Anderson II.
Of course, BHO readers should keep in mind Benj. LeCompte is the same guy who willingly accepted the opinion in the Illegal Abboud-Schuman Letter from VBH (34 days after Benj. LeCompte’s 3 illegal campaign donations to SOS Meroni and Selman as well BOT Messer) stating Oakwood Farm was magically home occupation over night even in the face of two court decisions stating otherwise and in contravention of Benj. LeCompte’s own testimony under oath wherein Benj. LeCompte stated Oakwood Farm could never be a home occupation.
What sayeth you: Anderson II – Agriculture or change in R1 Zoning? and . . . Should VBH Zoning Map be changed to reflect impact of Anderson II in R1 Zoning?
If it wasn’t so damn serious all of this folderol by Benj. LeCompte et. al. would be comical.
I did not attend the ZBA meeting on March 15. Someone alerted me though that the owner of Oakwood Farms testified that I was “opposed to everything.” (ZBA recordings confirmed) As correction to that statement, it may be valuable to emphasize my enthusiastic support of the Village President’s request for an independent investigation of alleged “improprieties” in the Text Amendment process. That’s an excellent idea and one I heartily endorse.
Furthermore, the Save Open Spaces web site posted an article under the heading “Kalaway Cup Killed in ZBA; Future in Jeopardy.” That article submitted by candidates Meroni, Selman and Naumann states that I was opposed to a renewal of the event. Those candidates either spoke untruthfully or did not read the letter submitted and included in the ZBA official packet. The opening paragraph states:
“The Kalaway Cup is a wonderful tradition in Barrington Hills and Dr. and Mrs. LeCompte have been gracious to host this event for many years. While we support the Kalaway Cup and hope that it will continue for many years to come, we oppose the Special Use permit at this time for certain specific reasons.”
The letter continued objecting that the petitioner requested an “in perpetuity” special use permit and that the first 5 year special permit was not completed. The first permit was negotiated in good faith by all parties and should be extended in cooperation with neighbors and the ZBA.
The Village is currently held hostage by an extreme special interest few. We have a unique and wonderful community with special characteristics. Gaining honest governance without abuse of office to favor a select few (like changing decades old Home Occupation laws with 8 year retroactive provisions) will go a long way to renewing a shared common and positive agenda for our future.
Lets just call liars liars!
Meroni, Selman, Naumann and the SOS Campaign committee LIED to the Community when they published the “Kalaway Cup Killed” headline and story. Are they so desperate that they have to grovel in lies? They remind me of the movie ‘Fury’, wherein the retreating Nazis were burning and killing everything in sight in their retreat, knowing the war was over. Frankly, that is how they (and their conflicted BOT and ZBA) have behaved for the last year, trying to do as much damage to the Village while they still had a majority of seats on each Board. If there behavior is predictive, that is, they know they will lose control, then we can unravel all the damage they have wrought after we elect 3 new unbiased Trustees on April 7.
(not the former Plan Commissioner)
must share with our neighbors and make this election transformative!