:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/7VPOU7Z7Z5BYJG6GTFGRBKXFJA.jpg)
Another self-storage facility could be coming to the Crystal Lake area, but the plans could get derailed by the McHenry County Board.
The board is expected on Tuesday to take up the question of whether to approve a zoning change to allow for the new storage building. Months ago, the board delayed a vote on the issue to try to give the developer and city of Crystal Lake time to work through issues.
The unincorporated property is right next to Crystal Lake city limits, and the city filed an objection to the self-storage business saying, among other things, that such developments should take place in municipalities and noting the property is a “gateway” into the city.
If approved, the storage building would go on the former Flowerwood Nursery property near the intersection of Routes 176 and 14 near the west side of Crystal Lake. Flowerwood still owns the property, but Prairie Enterprises LLC is the developer who is under contract to purchase the property, according to county documents.
The city’s objection means 14 of the 18 county board members would need to vote yes for the zoning change to pass. Board member Joe Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake, said when the self-storage facility first came up that he would have to recuse himself because the property owner is a client of his. With Gottemoller’s recusal, only three board members can vote against it for it to pass.
Two board members explicitly said Thursday during a committee of the whole meeting that they plan to vote against the enterprise on Tuesday evening.
Board member Brian Sager, R-Woodstock, pointed out the County Board has “lamented” that when it comes to solar farms, the state has “superseded” the county’s planning authority. Sager, the former mayor of Woodstock, said coming from a municipal background, he didn’t appreciate when the county came in and “in my mind, superseded” city planning efforts.
Sager said Crystal Lake officials had made their objections and points clear.
“I have a hard time as a county saying, ‘Too bad, we’re going to make this decision,‘” when it falls in the city’s planning area, Sager said.
Board member Gloria Van Hof, D-Crystal Lake, said the decision was personal for her as a Crystal Lake resident. She also said she would be voting no.
Several of the board members, however, expressed their support of the self-storage enterprise.
Board member Michael Skala, R-Huntley, said the current zoning is not appropriate for the comprehensive plan, but the proposed zoning is.
“It’s about the zoning,” Skala said.
Skala also had an issue with Crystal Lake’s objection and the fact it forces a three-fourths majority approval. He said the “burden” Crystal Lake put on the county board through the objection was “disingenuous.”
Board member Matt Kunkle, R-Algonquin, said he supported the proposal when it first came up and continues to think the developers should be allowed to move forward with the project. Kunkle said Crystal Lake had 20 years to do something with that property and didn’t.
“We as a county can’t be held hostage by what they think they might want to do in another 20 years,” Kunkle said.
Those from the public who commented Thursday, many who have ties to the industry, were also strongly in favor of the storage business.
The proliferation of self-storage facilities have caused controversy recently in some McHenry County towns, including Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake, which both floated proposals to impose a new tax on such businesses. Crystal Lake officials also raised objections about a separate such proposal.
The county board is expected to vote on the issue Tuesday evening. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and takes place at the county administration building at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock.