OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Planning Building Zoning and Environment Committee Meeting - August 26, 2026

Committee Meetings — Wednesday, August 26, 2026
BodyLake County, Illinois
SessionCommittee Meetings
DateWednesday, August 26, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 56:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

Good morning, everyone.

0:15

Today is August 26, 2026, and I'm calling the planning building zoning and environment committee to order.

0:24

In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda.

0:32

This meeting is being recorded through Zoom.

0:35

Her county board rules and open meetings act attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons.

0:42

I don't think we have anybody doing that today.

0:45

Okay.

0:48

Okay.

0:48

So we a physical quorum is present.

0:53

And we are going to move to the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:58

Sarah, can you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

1:01

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:17

Can I get a roll call, please?

1:19

Yes.

1:20

Chair Altenberg?

1:21

Here.

1:22

Member Compos.

1:24

Member Frank?

1:25

Here.

1:25

Member Sniznick?

1:27

Here.

1:27

Vice Chair Peterson.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Member Schlick is absent.

1:33

Member Wasek.

1:35

Okay.

1:36

Thank you.

1:37

Is there any addenda to the agenda?

1:39

No addenda to the agenda.

1:41

Okay.

1:42

We have public comment, but we're holding on to that.

1:45

We have five public comment, one online, and four in person, all for item 8.3.

1:50

Okay.

1:51

Great.

1:53

Um I have no remarks today.

1:57

Okay.

1:58

Any unfinished business?

2:00

No unfinished business.

2:02

Okay.

2:03

Um, can I get a motion for the consent agenda?

2:07

Motion by member Kenijnik, second by member compost.

2:12

All in favor.

2:13

Aye.

2:15

Motion passes.

2:16

Okay, we're moving to the regular agenda.

2:21

Okay.

2:22

Can I get a motion, please?

2:24

For 8.2.

2:26

Motion by member compo, second by member Kenishnik.

2:30

We welcome Patrice Sutton, County Administrator.

2:33

Yes, good morning.

2:34

Patrice Sutton, County Administrator.

2:36

Um, this is an ordinance amending the IGA with Swalco.

2:41

Um, they're very minor changes that the Swalco bar board has already approved, but it does require the formal approval of all of the member agencies as well.

2:51

Um, the changes are outlined in the staff bullets on your agenda.

2:56

Um, very briefly, they they changed the fact that the alternate director is no longer required to be a full-time employee in an executive level position, and changes the fact that the chairman of the board also serves as the secretary and treasurer of the board of directors, and uh the chairman of the board is also a voting member of the executive committee.

3:16

So um these changes to the IGA have already been discussed.

3:20

Member Wasick serves on that board.

3:23

So um any question.

3:24

We also have Walter Willis on Zoom if you have any questions, but um staff recommends the approval of these amendments to the IGA.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing████████████████████████████████32%
Public Engagement█████████████████████████████29%
Technology and Innovation███████████████████19%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Safety█████5%
Environmental Protection███3%
Budget███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning Building Zoning and Environment Committee Meeting

This meeting of the Planning Building Zoning and Environment Committee was held on August 26, 2026. The committee reviewed and approved several items including an intergovernmental agreement amendment with SWALCO, a rezoning and preliminary PUD for an affordable housing development (Midlothian Manor), amendments to the unified development ordinance for sustainable energy facilities, and a fee schedule update. Public comments were heard on the affordable housing project, with majority support and one opposition voice.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was moved by Member Kenijnik, seconded by Member Compos, and passed unanimously by voice vote. (No specific items listed.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Paul Virgilio (nearby resident, 37 years in Lake Zurich): Expressed full support for the Midlothian Manor affordable housing development, addressing safety and neighborhood character concerns. Noted existing sidewalks, community amenities, and compatible surrounding uses.
  • Liz Nelson (representing Joining Forces for Affordable Housing): Spoke in support on behalf of residents and organizations. Cited housing needs: 17,700 market-rate and 7,900 affordable units needed in Lake County. Provided examples of local families struggling with housing costs.
  • Sue Kalman: Supported the project, citing critical housing shortage, economic impacts (employers leaving due to lack of workforce housing), and 2023 Lake County Partners housing analysis (73,000 households cost-burdened). Noted Lake Zurich has only 11% affordable housing stock.
  • Gary Shipakassian (Vernon Hills resident): Supported the project, noting 48% of renters and 25% of homeowners cost-burdened, and that HODC exceeded county requirements for stormwater, lighting, fencing, and landscaping.
  • Bruce Boyd (Highland Park resident): Supported the project based on positive experience with inclusionary housing in Highland Park, which made community more vibrant.
  • Tom Mueller (online, adjacent property owner): Opposed the project. Raised safety concerns about dangerous traffic on Lakewood Lane (speeding, lack of sidewalk access) and lack of public transportation for residents. Suggested the project was a convenience for the county to dispose of the property.

Discussion Items

  • Item 8.2 – Ordinance amending IGA with SWALCO: County Administrator Patrice Sutton presented minor changes (alternate director requirements, chairman also secretary/treasurer, chairman voting on executive committee). Member Wasek commented positively. Staff recommended approval.
  • Items 8.3 & 8.4 – Rezoning (R1 to R6) and Preliminary PUD for Midlothian Manor Affordable Housing: Eric Wagner and Tom Shafalow presented. The 2.56-acre parcel (former nursing home, now LCHA offices) is in unincorporated Lake Zurich. Proposed 48-unit affordable rental development using state tax credits (LIHTC). ZBA recommended approval 7-0. Public comments heard. Motion to approve both items combined (moved by Member Kenishnik, seconded by Compos). Members expressed support for affordable housing goals and noted the project's alignment with county priorities.
  • Item 8.5 – Ordinance amending UDO for sustainable energy facilities: Christopher Brown presented amendments required by the Illinois Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SERGA). Introduced energy storage systems as a new principal use, updated public hearing timeline (60 days max), conditional use permit criteria, and landscaping requirements for solar. ZBA unanimously recommended approval. Member Frank asked about definition tightness; Brown confirmed. Member Wasek asked about environmental review; Brown referenced existing protections (EcoCAT, natural resource standards). Approved.
  • Item 8.6 – Joint resolution amending land development fee schedule: Brief amendment to align permit fees for commercial solar, wind, and energy storage with state statute. Approved.
  • Director's Report (Eric Wagner):
    • Data center moratorium: ZBA voted unanimously to recommend approval of the moratorium text amendment; will come to committee next week for full board in September.
    • Housing Lake webinars: Continued stakeholder engagement on four pillars (communications, policy, partnerships, financing).
    • ADU text amendment: Staff plans to bring a resolution directing ZBA to hold public hearings on relaxing accessory dwelling unit rules in unincorporated Lake County (a “bridge amendment” for Housing Lake Phase II).

Key Outcomes

  • Item 8.2: Approved by voice vote (moved by Member Compos, seconded by Member Kenishnik).
  • Items 8.3 & 8.4: Approved by voice vote (moved by Member Kenishnik, seconded by Member Compos). The motion was amended to combine both items. Will go to full county board on September 8, 2026.
  • Item 8.5: Approved by voice vote (moved by Member Wasek, seconded by Member Campos).
  • Item 8.6: Approved by voice vote (moved by Member Frank, seconded by Member Wasek).
  • The committee acknowledged successful ZBA public hearing on data center moratorium and discussed potential future expansion of public notification distances for certain uses. No formal action taken.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today is August 26, 2026, and I'm calling the planning building zoning and environment committee to order. In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda. This meeting is being recorded through Zoom. Her county board rules and open meetings act attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons. I don't think we have anybody doing that today. Okay. Okay. So we a physical quorum is present. And we are going to move to the Pledge of Allegiance. Sarah, can you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Can I get a roll call, please? Yes. Chair Altenberg? Here. Member Compos. Member Frank? Here. Member Sniznick? Here. Vice Chair Peterson. Present. Member Schlick is absent. Member Wasek. Okay. Thank you. Is there any addenda to the agenda? No addenda to the agenda. Okay. We have public comment, but we're holding on to that. We have five public comment, one online, and four in person, all for item 8.3. Okay. Great. Um I have no remarks today. Okay. Any unfinished business? No unfinished business. Okay. Um, can I get a motion for the consent agenda? Motion by member Kenijnik, second by member compost. All in favor. Aye. Motion passes. Okay, we're moving to the regular agenda. Okay. Can I get a motion, please? For 8.2. Motion by member compo, second by member Kenishnik. We welcome Patrice Sutton, County Administrator.

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