Homer Township Request for Zoning Change to Welter Property

Thank You to the Village of Homer Glen, for passing the text amendment to allow farming on the Welter Property. On October 11th the Board will most likely be approving changing the Zoning from E1 Estate Homes ( passed in 2001 by a vote of the Village of Homer Glen Board) to OS-1 Open Space.

The Welter property, has been allowed to be farmed because Homer Township had a legal non-conforming right to farm since A1 was always the use before the Village rezoned it to E1. By Homer Township requesting a zoning change to Open Space the legal non-conforming right to farm is removed because farming is not allowed on Open Space without a Special Use permit.

60ILCS 1/115-5

Any space of land or water of an area of 50 acres or more can be Open Space. Its use is very broad excluding matters like homes, warehouses, strip malls, etc. As we now see, farming is not an allowed use for Open Space. The uses are active and passive recreation, enhancement of conservation, preserving the flora and fauna, implementing a plan of development adopted by the planning commission of any government body, and promoting orderly urban or suburban development. https://homertownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Homer-Township-Open-Space-Program-Mission-Statement-11-05-01.pdf

The Brusseau Plan was an architect company design for all the property that was to be considered Open Space. This plan included numerous sports fields, a swimming pool, walking paths, tennis and basketball courts, activity buildings, a community building, nature watch areas, and other Active and Passive activities. It was never implemented because there was too much cost for the Township to absorb.

The Welter Property was never recorded Open space at the County and there is nothing on the deed showing any restriction. At the Planning Commission Supervisor Steve Balich was asked why now, what is the reason for this change in zoning. Balich said ” We are a representative Democracy and the Homer Township Board recognizes the people believe that the Welter Property is Open Space. Most people also believed that farming is Open Space. The Homer Township Board wants to fix what was told to the people going back as far as 1998. The Homer Township Board is fixing a problem from over 25 years ago by getting this zoning changed to what the people believed it always was.” Balich went on to say “the Township must have a permitted right to farm the land or the Twp. Would be forced to back out.”

Thank You Village of Homer Glen for passing the text amendment to allow a special use permit to farm on the Welter Property after it is designated OS-1 hopefully October 11th.