Champaign County Board Environment and Land Use Committee Met August 6

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella

Sep 25, 2020

Champaign County Board Environment and Land Use Committee met Aug. 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Committee Members

Present Absent

Aaron Esry (Chair)

Connie Dillard-Myers

Jodie Eisenmann

Stephanie Fortado

Jim Goss

Kyle Patterson

Eric Thorsland (Vice-Chair)

County Staff: John Hall (Zoning Administrator) and Mary Ward (Recording Secretary)

Others Present: Giraldo Rosales (County Board Chair) and Brad Uken, Manager, Champaign County Farm Bureau

MINUTES

I. Call to Order

Committee Chair Esry called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.

II. Roll Call

A verbal roll call was taken, and a quorum was declared present.

III. Approval of Agenda/Addendum

MOTION by Mr. Patterson to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Thorsland. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

IV. Approval of Minutes

A. May 7, 2020

MOTION by Ms. Fortado to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2020 meeting, seconded by Ms. Eisenmann. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

V. Public Participation

Brad Uken, Manager, Champaign County Farm Bureau spoke briefly about the letter submitted by the Farm Bureau and remained in the meeting to answer any questions the committee might have.

VI. Communications

There were no communications.

VII. New Business: Items to be Recommended to the County Board

A. Zoning Case 972-AT-20.

Part A: Amend the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance to add definitions for the following types of adult-use cannabis businesses: Dispensing Organization; Infuser Organization; Processing Organization; Transporting Organization; Craft Grower; and Cultivation Center.

Part B: Amend the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance to add requirements for adult cannabis businesses only within 1.5 miles of a home rule municipality with more than 20,000 population.

MOTION by Ms. Eisenmann and seconded by Mr. Esry.

Ms. Eisenmann stated she had not received a copy of the Farm Bureau letter. The letter was posted on the screen and Mr. Uken gave a brief synopsis of the Farm Bureau’s position.

Mr. Thorsland stated he had asked previously about how our zoning proposed ordinance would jibe with the Right to Farm Act we have in Champaign County. He agrees with Farm Bureau’s position that this is indeed agriculture and is regulated by the state. Hesitant about this case as it is very restrictive and 973-AT-20 also has restrictions. Ms. Eisenmann stated that she would be voting in favor of this amendment.

Upon vote, the MOTION FAILED.

B. Zoning Case 973-AT-20.

Part B: Amend the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance to add requirements for adult cannabis businesses only within 1.5 miles of a home rule municipality with more than 20,000 population.

Part C: Add requirements to authorize the following adult cannabis businesses except within 1.5 miles of non-home rule municipalities and except within 1.5 miles of a home rule municipality with a population of 20,000 or less and except within 1.5 miles of a residential zoning district located more than 1.5 miles from a home rule municipality with more than 20,000 population.

MOTION by Mr. Thorsland and seconded by Mr. Patterson. Discussion followed about the possibility of adding friendly amendments to Part B and Part C. No amendments were added at this time. If this motion passes, the committee can do another motion in the future to amend the ordinance to fix issues relating to the Right to Farm Act.

Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. Other Business

There was no other business.

IX. Chair’s Report

There was no Chair’s report.

X. Designation of Items to be Placed on the Consent Agenda

There are no items to be placed on the Consent Agenda.

XI. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/ELUC/2020/200604_Meeting/200604%20Minutes.pdf

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

Champaign County Board Environment And Land Use Committee