Addressing Concerns about Special Use Permits

The topic of special use permits often raises questions and concerns among community members. In Barrington Hills, where maintaining the town's rural and residential character is paramount, it's important to understand how special use permits are managed and their impact on the community. This blog post aims to address these concerns by examining the precedents and current uses of special use permits in Barrington Hills and explaining the rigorous process in place to prevent overdevelopment.

Disclaimer: While we are not lawyers, we have dedicated a significant amount of time to reviewing the village code and examining numerous previous special use applications to ensure our proposal is thorough and well-informed. We encourage residents to conduct their own research and participate in this process by voicing their thoughts and concerns. Although we navigated this process with minimal formal guidance, our primary goal is to foster community involvement and transparency, which further motivated us to write this post.

Current Uses

Existing Special Uses: 

Barrington Hills currently has several special uses, all granted under strict conditions to fit the town’s character (e.g., non-commercial event facilities). These uses have been integrated into the community without compromising its residential and rural nature.

Managed Impact:

These existing special uses have not led to overdevelopment or a compromise of the town’s residential and semi-rural atmosphere. They demonstrate that special use permits can be granted in a way that preserves the integrity of the community. This shows that with proper regulations and oversight, special uses can coexist harmoniously with the town's goals and values.

Special Use Application Process

Thorough Review and Community Input:

The special use permit process involves thorough review and community input, ensuring that each case is evaluated on its merits. This prevents the town from being overrun by special uses and maintains a balanced approach to development.

Public Hearings:

Public involvement is a critical part of the process, ensuring that residents have a voice in decisions that affect their community and that there is transparency and trust. This democratic approach helps build community consensus and trust in the process.

Custom Conditions:

Each special use permit can include specific conditions tailored to mitigate potential impacts. These conditions can cover aspects such as traffic management, operational hours, and aesthetic considerations, ensuring minimal disruption to neighbors.

Protecting Residential Community:

The process and conditions ensure that the rural and residential nature of Barrington Hills is preserved. Special use permits are not a blanket approval for widespread change but a carefully controlled measure to allow beneficial uses while maintaining community standards.

Common Concerns about Special Use Permits

Overdevelopment:

Special use permits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that only projects that align with the town's character and goals are approved. Strict conditions and limits are placed on each permit to prevent overdevelopment.

Increased Traffic:

Traffic studies and management plans are often required as part of the special use permit process. These ensure that any increase in traffic is manageable and does not disrupt the community.

Precedent Setting:

Each application is evaluated on its individual merits, and approval of one permit does not guarantee future approvals. The town retains discretion to deny permits that do not meet specific criteria.

Property Values:

Special use permits include conditions to mitigate potential negative impacts, such as noise and traffic. By ensuring that new uses are compatible with the existing community, property values can be preserved or even enhanced.

Environmental Impact:

Environmental assessments are often required to identify and mitigate potential impacts. Conditions can be imposed to protect local ecosystems and ensure sustainable practices are followed.

Pursuing a special use permit for Little Ducky Flower Farm is the result of deliberate consideration and thorough review to ensure alignment with Barrington Hills' zoning laws. Our farm does not qualify under home occupation due to the nature of our operations, which require significant outdoor activities and regular visitor participation. In pursuing this path, we aim to demonstrate that special use permits, when managed correctly, can coexist harmoniously with Barrington Hills' goals and aesthetic values.