Knock! Knock!  It’s Nunda Neighbors!

By Lori McConville

 

This small civic committee called “Nunda Neighbors” is working hard for you to protect the quality of life you enjoy here in your corner of Nunda Township, McHenry County. 

 

Our objective is to keep business in the business district

 and homes in the residential district. 

 

We oppose the rezoning of the 15 acre parcel

 (located next to the Burton’s Bridge subdivision on Route 176)

 from residential zoning to zoning that will allow retail businesses.

 

 

Why is this our Position?

 

1.          It is an intrusion into an established and dense residential area. 

 

2.          We are a small unique community that does not want or need consumer services within it’s boundaries.  Our needs are met sufficiently with the consumer services provided in surrounding municipalities.

 

3.          Traffic, traffic, traffic!   Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous!

 

4.          There is no money allocated by the State for improvements along Route 176 in our Township.  It does not take an expert to understand the dangers of continuously adding to an already overburdened highway.  Just travel this route at the current speed limits during rush hours or at any hour for that matter. 

 

5.          One person will benefit at the expense of hundreds.

 

6.          Inappropriate development will lower the quality of life. 

 

7.          Flooding will be a concern for current homeowners in Burton’s Bridge if the parcel is paved and there is no open land to handle and absorb rainwater. 

 

8.          This parcel is low lying and lighting will pollute the dark sky and alter the views of current and proposed residential and Estate developments.

 

9.          Possible decline in home values as the negative points are compounded.

 

10.     Limited police protection from the County and a burden on Prairie Grove to respond outside its borders to a potentially crime-inviting development.

What Can You Do?

 

1.      Attend the County Board Meetings.  Step up and show your support!

 

Tuesday, June 5, 2007  -  9 AM

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 7PM

 

Administration Building, Ware Road

www.co.mchenry.il.us/default.asp

 

Be at one or both, but be there!

Sign in and show your support for this committee,

it’s efforts and your community!

 

    1. SIGN a LETTER of OPPOSITION.  Pick one up at my house – You know me – Lori McConville at 1807 Blossom Street, Burton’s Bridge Subdivision.  Stop in between now and June 18th to sign an already prepared letter or write one of your own.  We’ll even deliver it for you.  How convenient is that.  You can bring it to the Board meeting if you’ll be there too.  Call me 815-382-2731 – I’ll have a letter ready for you.

 

    1. UNDERSTAND that this is important to act on NOW!

 

    1. Be PRESENT at the next two County Board Meetings!  Your Board members are listening.  Your District 3 representatives and members in other districts too.  They are seeing a strong and persuasive civic group in action.  Be part of this. 

 

    1. Be POSITIVE and PROVACTIVE.  I have confidence that our voices and opinions are being heard and considered carefully by the McHenry County Board, especially our District Members.  They want to make decisions that build strong communities that provide for a healthy, economically sound and safe County.

 

    1. KNOW that this committee is smart and prepared.  We have facts on our side and we are not afraid. 

 

 

 

There is but one chance left to halt a self-serving developer.  If you think this doesn’t affect you, think again.

 

Our defense is unity.  “Nunda Neighbors” is prepared to present well-researched and accurate information supporting our position to the County Board.  All you have to do is show up at a meeting.  Be Present!  Raise your hand when we ask who is at the Board meeting that is opposing the rezoning. 

 

Our strength is in our numbers and our commitment.  The Board is listening, but you have to be present to be heard.  Don’t’ think there is another chance or that someone else will do it, because this may very well be the last chance.  Don’t say, I wish or I should have, just be there on Tuesday, June 5th or June 19th.   Make time.  It is so very important.

 

 

 

Some History for You if You are New to our Mission

 

Can you Imagine!

 

This small but powerful civic group was formed in April 2006 to fight a developer who bought property in our neighbor with the intention of building a 50 - 70,000 sq. ft. commercial building (the size of a Jewel) to lease to building contractors.  His main objective was to provide storage for huge construction equipment – back hoes, excavators, low-boys, etc.  Can you imagine!  We did, and we asked our neighbors to imagine that too.  Too big, too intense, too much control by a wealthy bully developer, whose reputation follows him.  We learned about the proposed development for the triangle shaped land set in the middle of our community,  and we didn’t like what we discovered.   We weren’t going to take it!  

 

After getting official notices from McHenry County about changing the zoning on the property and a phone call from my neighbor, Marcia Millman, the two of us got into action and alerted our neighbors.  With divine guidance (or luck, if you want to call it that) we began to gather information and pictures and soon a committee was formed. 

 

Together, this committee researched and educated ourselves, our neighbors and even the McHenry County Zoning Board members and the County Board.  Our hard work and diligence paid off when the Zoning Board voted unanimously to NOT RECOMMEND changing the zoning of the parcel from residential to Business-3 Regional Business.  We stopped the change before it even went to the County Board.

 

But here we are again one year later in the Spring of 2007, fighting commercial business zoning.  This time the property owner wants Business-1 zoning so he can build a consumer retail and office strip mall.  Yes, it’s less intense than construction equipment, but still an intrusion into our neighborhood. 

 

This time the Zoning Board recommended the land-owners request to change the zoning from residential to Consumer Business.  Our job now is to convince the County Board that there is a specific area for business in our community, and a specific area for homes.  We are asking the Board to protect the family oriented, quiet rural atmosphere of our neighborhood.  We want protection from unreasonable developers, and support from our government to preserve the rural feel of our community. 

 

We are fighting to protect and define the neighborhood we live in and the decent and good quality of life we enjoy in our corner of Nunda Township.  We are telling the McHenry County Board to respect the current Land Use Plan which was written to protect the character of our community and prevent hungry greedy developers from overstepping their boundaries and interfering with the healthy and well-planned progress in this corner of McHenry County. 

 

This is what government does, protect the rights of its people.  The people in this corner of Nunda Township who live in Burton’s Bridge, Bayview Beach, Highview Estates and the surrounding subdivisions and communities are looking to their government for support.

 

And, we, the hundreds of residents who care for their homes and participate in their schools and local governments, want to define the integrity and character of our neighborhood.  We are hard-working, respectable and involved members of our community.  Our opinion against this developer is supported with accurate and well-researched facts and clear objections why a business strip mall is not appropriate on this specific piece of land.  The people living here have the right and the obligation to decide the character of their community, not “1” developer whose intention is profit in the name of detrimental “progress.” 

 

Thank you to all who support our efforts and gratitude that keeps us involved and moving forward.  This is not easy, but it is very worthwhile.

 

Sincerely,  Lori McConville