On April, 9 2015, a tornado destroyed or damaged almost every structure in the unincorporated community of Fairdale in Franklin Township. Many of the buildings and land uses in that community did not conform with one or more of the current zoning regulations of the agricultural, residential, business and manufacturing districts. As a consequence, efforts to rebuild and replace may be hampered if property owners are compelled to abide by current zoning regulations, or seek individual variations.
In an effort to facilitate the rebuilding of Fairdale, the DeKalb County Board is in the process of amending the zoning of the entire community. The Board’s intent is to rezone the Fairdale community to “Mixed Use Development”. This planned development classification will enable the County Board to tailor zoning regulations to accommodate reconstruction, including as it does the flexibility to waive or eliminate otherwise applicable zoning rules and requirements, without compromising public health, safety, and welfare. The proposed rezoning application will include a lot-by-lot list of what are permitted uses. The application will also include various regulations such as minimum building setbacks from property lines that will be less restrictive than those that are currently in force for Fairdale.
In conjunction with rebuilding plans, environmental health practitioners are evaluating wells and septic systems. The DeKalb County Board and Health Department are addressing a number of issues and exploring all possible options to identify solutions for the property owners. The intent of the rezoning is to make it easier for property owners in Fairdale to rebuild what was there before the tornado struck. To this end, the County has set the following schedule:
May 30: A notice of public hearing regarding the rezoning of Fairdale to be published in The Daily Chronicle
June 18: A public hearing for the rezoning will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the DeKalb County Health Department, 2574 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb, IL
July 1: A special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Committee to consider the rezoning and recommendation of the Hearing Officer, to be held at 6:30 p.m. at the DeKalb County Legislative Center, 200 N. Main St., Sycamore, IL followed by a special meeting of the DeKalb County Board to take action on the rezoning by ordinance, also at the Legislative Center
July 2: Provided the County Board approves the rezoning on July 1, 2015 residents can begin to submit applications for building permits immediately under the new regulations.
Questions? Please contact Chairman Mark Pietrowski (779) 212-0536 or Planning & Zoning Director Paul Miller (815) 895-7188.
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6 Comments
GRANDFATHER…..does this word not mean anything to the government anymore? ???……let them be and let them just rebuild as best they can. …..
It was an act of God. These people have been thru enough. They should be grandfathered in.
May fairness and common sense be the guides here.
Id say I’d move to a different county Dekalb is taxes taxes taxes
As if these people have not been through enough! More bolognie
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July 2 seems too slow for people waiting to get back to their lives.