Lake County PBZE Committee Meeting - November 5, 2025
Lake County PBZE Committee Meeting - November 5, 2025
The Lake County Board's Planning, Building, Zoning, and Environment (PBZE) Committee convened on November 5, 2025, via Zoom to address a single consent agenda item and one new business item regarding the Wanish Park Planned Unit Development. The committee proceeded with a quorum of remote and in-person members, elected Member Paul Frank as Chair Pro Tem following the absence of Chair Altenberg and a delayed Vice Chair Peterson, and adjourned with no public comment or executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Item 8.1: Minutes from the October 8, 2025, meeting were approved unanimously upon a motion by Member Wasick and second by Member Schlick.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received; no members of the public spoke.
Discussion Items
- Item 8.2: Amendment to Agreement for Wanish Park Planned Unit Development
- Proposal: Deputy Director Christa Brown presented a request to extend the development agreement for the Wanish Park PUD by two years, pushing the expiration date to December 31, 2027. The project, originally suspended in 2010, has remained inactive with no new construction or sales.
- Key Specifications & Constraints:
- Since 2017, the agreement required the project design to be updated to meet current rainfall data and drainage regulations upon re-initiation.
- The project is designated for residents aged 55 and older.
- Financial assurances must be posted using updated engineering and construction cost estimates.
- Positions and Concerns Expressed:
- Member Wasick expressed interest in the timeline of negotiations, specifically asking how far the developer had progressed with the Stormwater Management Committee (SMC) regarding code compliance. Member Wasick noted the staffing constraints at SMC and raised a question regarding the requirement to ask developers about school district impact fees, noting the project is 55-plus.
- Member Campos expressed curiosity regarding the 15-year duration of the extension, seeking to understand why third-party proposals failed to pass due diligence. Member Campos requested information on specific property issues preventing sales, positing that the owner/developer should be able to articulate the feasibility concerns to the committee.
- Member Schlick expressed concern regarding the potential for outdated building codes to apply to a project that has seen no progress since 2010. Member Schlick stated a desire for assurance that all future permits would be subject to current building codes, citing past experiences with PUDs and sprinkler systems.
- Member Wasek (spelled Wasick/Wasek in transcript) inquired generally about tree inventory requirements for wooded properties, noting the site appears heavily wooded.
- Staff Responses:
- Deputy Director Brown clarified that the project design currently relies on 2008 data but must be recalculated and potentially redesigned to meet current UDO and WDO stormwater standards before any re-initiation. No in-depth review has occurred since 2008.
- Staff confirmed that while no in-depth review is happening now, any future permit application will be held to the building codes and standards in effect at the time of application.
- Regarding school fees, Staff reported that a modification was worked out at the time of approval resulting in reduced impact fees, and presumed no current fees are required due to the 55-plus designation.
- Addressing the 15-year delay, Staff attributed the stalls to market fluctuations, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a failure to secure a buyer, noting that external forces often cause projects to stall without specific property defects.
- Staff confirmed that a tree inventory is required as part of the site plan review under the current UDO, which typically requires protecting 70% of identified natural resources.
Key Outcomes
- Motion Approved: Item 8.2 was approved unanimously. The agreement for the Wanish Park PUD was extended for two years.
- Directive: The developer must secure a buyer and, upon readiness to move forward, will resubmit plans for staff review to ensure compliance with current stormwater management standards and building codes.
- Adjournment: The committee adjourned with no other business. The next meeting is scheduled for December 3rd.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Today is Wednesday, November 5th, 2025. I called order the Lake County Board's planning, building, zoning, and environment committee. Our meeting is being held through Zoom per County Board Rules and the Open Meetings Act, attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons. As long as a majority of committee members are physically present. We've been noticed, notified in advance by members Campos, Member Campos that he was to participate electronically due to qualifying reason, which is due to work, and member Kenishnik due to qualifying reason, which is due to illness. As a reminder, members attending remotely, please ensure your committee uh cameras on at all times. Also wish to note that Vice Chair Peterson has been delayed. She intends to be here, but we're going to start without her. And that's why you have me speaking. Member Schlick. Thank you. I would like to nominate uh Member Paul Frank as chair pro tem for this committee, please. Second. Second by member Wasek. Any discussion? All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Can we have a roll call, please? Chair Altenberg, absent. Member Campos. Member Frank? Here. Member Kniesnik. Vice Chair Peterson. Member Schlick? Here. Member Wasick? And ex official member Hart. Here. Thank you, Chair. We will proceed. We have any public comment? No public comment. No chair's remarks. Any unfinished business? No unfinished business. New business consent agenda item 8.1. I apologize. We neglected to the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's do that. Please rise. And public. Yes. For all. Okay. Now we're moving on to 8.1 committee action approving PBZ and E committee minutes from October 8th, 2025. Motion by Member Wasick, second by Member Schlick.
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