The Daily Herald recently reported, “After 8-year fight, judge says Barrington Hills horse boarding law is constitutional.” We’ve learned before that article was published, another commercial horse boarding related suit was filed in Cook County on April 25th, and it can be found here.
Ordinance 16-22, referred to in the filing, can be found here. Audio recordings of the Trustee’s discussions prior to approving that ordinance can be heard here.
The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold a, “Park Board & Decennial Committee on Local Government Efficiency,” meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Topics on their agenda include:
On August 22, 2018, the Illinois State Commemorative Dates Act was amended to include:
Sec. 195. Day of the Horse. The fifth day of March of each year shall be designated as the Day of the Horse, to be observed throughout the State as a day to encourage citizens to honor and celebrate the role of equines in the history and character of Illinois, and to recognize the benefits of the equine industry to the economy, agriculture, tourism, and quality of life in Illinois.
For the benefit of those who may be new to our Village, we’d like to provide a list of a few Village Codes applicable to the keeping of horses in Barrington Hills. In no particular order, they are:
APPLICATION FOR LICENSE: As a condition to his or her use of the equestrian trails located in the village, every owner of a horse shall file an application with the village clerk or his designee, setting forth the name and address of the applicant and a description of the horse for which the license is desired. The annual fee to be paid for an equestrian trail license is ten dollars ($10.00). All such licenses issued under this section 8-5-2 shall expire on April 30 following the date of issuance.
MANURE PILES: It shall be unlawful to: (A) Pile manure from horses or ponies, or permit it to accumulate, closer than one hundred feet (100′) from the property line of the property on which a horse is kept. (B) Permit a pile or accumulation of manure for more than one week except in the months of December through March inclusive at any location within three hundred fifty feet (350′) of the nearest dwelling house of another.
BOARDING AND TRAINING OF HORSES: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this subsection (D), the boarding of horses in a stable and the training of horses and their riders shall be a permitted home occupation; provided, that no persons engaged to facilitate such boarding, other than the immediate family residing on the premises, shall be permitted to carry out their functions except between the hours of eight o’clock (8:00) A.M. and eight o’clock (8:00) P.M. or sunset, whichever is later, and further provided that no vehicles or machinery, other than that belonging to the immediate family residing on the premises shall be permitted to be operated on the premises except during the hours of eight o’clock (8:00) A.M. and eight o’clock (8:00) P.M. or sunset, whichever is later. (Ord. 16-22, 12-7-2016)
Lighting for outdoor activities, including: pool areas, tennis courts, paddle courts, hockey and/or skating rinks, horse arenas; provided such lighting shall be extinguished by eleven o’clock (11:00) P.M.
Questions, comments or concerns can be directed to the Village Equestrian Commission here, or to the Trustee Liaison to the Commission, Laura S. Ekstrom, here.
Palatine resident Joelle Kern and her children, Luke, 6, and Levi, 3, bought chickens but recently found out they were prohibited in Palatine. New rules, she said, are too restrictive. (Courtesy of Joelle Kern)
Palatine has opened the window a crack for residents who wish to keep backyard chickens.
Chickens are still prohibited in the village. But now, thanks to action taken last week by the village council, residents can apply for special use zoning approval following criteria added to the village code.
Owners must buy an annual license costing $50 the first year and $75 in following years. They also need an Illinois Department of Agriculture Livestock Premises registration.
Owners can have a maximum of six chickens, and roosters are prohibited. Requirements also include a solid 6-foot fence around the rear yard, a fenced chicken run and a coop located in the rear yard.
The coop itself must be set back 15 feet from the side and rear yards and 10 feet from any primary structure. Chickens must be confined to the coop or the run at all times.
Backyard chicken ownership is limited to single-family residential zoning.
Permission also must be obtained from abutting property owners.
The Barrington Hills Park District will be hosting a special meeting tonight with the Cook County Forest Preserve District to discuss the Master Plan for the Horizon Farm property. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the Riding Center located at 361 Bateman Rd, and will also be available for participation via Webex remotely.
The meeting agenda for the Forest Preserve District portion of the discussion includes:
Open trails
Ongoing improvements
Then, the 2023 Horizon Farm master planning priorities follows including:
Track
Barn 11
Other amenities (parking lots, comfort stations, signage, etc.)
Maintenance of future Horizon trail system
Spring Creek trail system
Conspicuously absent from the agenda are topics such as hiking and walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and birding.
After this portion of the meeting, Park District Commissioners will vote on the proposed (and clearly confidential), “Combined Budget & Appropriations Ordinance 2-08-2023-01.”
A copy of the agenda can be viewed here, and instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.
The Barrington Hills Park District will hold a public hearing this evening at 6:45 PM regarding their, “Combined Budget & Appropriations Ordinance 02-08-2023-01.” As has been the case in previous annual hearings of this type, no, “Budget & Appropriations,” documentation has been provided by the District for taxpayers to review and comment on prior to the hearing.
Since it’s likely some members of the Riding Club and Trainers played a significant role in the drafting of the ordinance, they’ll have copies, and some might even share with those requesting a one (for a nominal fee, of course).
To view what little the District has posted in advance of the hearing, click here.
The Park District will host a meeting with the Cook County Forest Preserve District to discuss a Master Plan for the Horizon Farm property. The public is encouraged to attend in person or via Zoom (check back here for a link to the meeting.) Meeting Date: Feb. 8th, at 7:00 p.m. Meeting Location: 361 Bateman Rd. Barriington [sic] Hills, IL, at the Park District’s Riding Center Meeting Room.”
The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold their regular monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Their agenda reads as follows:
Call To Order
Recognition Of Commissioners
Recognition Of Visitors
Approval Of The December 2022 Park Board Meeting Minutes
Approval Of The December 2022 Treasurer’s Report
Advisory Committee Report
Facility Rental Requests
Trainer Registrations
Facility Maintenance
Action To Be Taken On Discussed Items
Old/New Business
Adjournment
In other words, pure boilerplate. Not even a heads up on the public hearing scheduled next month. However, the way they operate, practically anything can be discussed and voted upon tonight.
A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.
Public can enjoy miles of trails for walking, biking, equestrian use and more
The Forest Preserves of Cook County has fully opened Horizon Farm preserve in Barrington Hills for public use, including the introduction of several official trails available for pedestrian, biking and equestrian use. In 2023, the Forest Preserves will continue to gather input and present a long-term comprehensive plan for the nearly 400-acre site.
The northernmost section of Horizon Farm, approximately 40 percent of the property, has been open to visitors since November 2021. Since gaining full possession of Horizon Farm in 2019, the Forest Preserves has created new trails and addressed maintenance and safety issues for public use, including demolition of more than 20 buildings that were beyond their useful life—in some cases in deep disrepair.
“Every decade for more than 100 years, the Forest Preserves of Cook County has added to its holdings of public lands that are a home for native plants and wildlife and a resource for the people of Cook County. We are pleased to announce that now, the public can fully explore Horizon Farm. Our long-term plans for the site are still a work in progress, but now visitors can go further and do more,” said Arnold Randall, General Superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County
A former equestrian estate, the Horizon Farm property is the largest purchase of land by the Forest Preserves since 1968. The site features meadows, wetlands and small streams, as well as open habitat for grassland birds. As of December 30, 2022, Horizon Farm is available sunrise to sunset for activities like hiking, birdwatching, photography, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
In addition to opening the southern section of the property, the December 30 opening includes a new 1.2-mile loop trail and a spur connection to the Riding Club of Barrington Hills trail to the west. With the introduction of official Forest Preserves trails, equestrian use is now allowed in Horizon Farm. Some segments of the site will occasionally be closed for further trail improvements in 2023. The buildings that currently remain on the property include a garage for Forest Preserves maintenance needs, a barn at the main parking lot and a small corn crib that was once used as an office by a previous owner.
The Forest Preserves process to create a master plan for Horizon Farm will reconvene with key stakeholders in early 2023 with the goal of completing a draft for presentation to the public in the summer of 2023. The master plan will include plans for the remaining facilities on the site and a completed trail system, as well as strategies for investment in visitor amenities, promotion of ecological restoration efforts, and how to expand and deepen partnerships with local stakeholders.
A case of highly-contagious 
