by Conor Brown on February 8, 2010
McHenry County, like most counties, is going through the routine of updating its land use plan and map. Land use plans and maps are intended to guide future growth in a community. McHenry County is currently operating on its woefully outdated 2010 plan and map. An attempt to do a 2020 plan was successful stopped through REALTOR® action when it became increasing clear that it did not favor a balanced growth approach. It sought a restrictive no-growth policy that was both unrealistic and impractical considering the county was one of the fastest growing in the country since the early 1990’s.
Starting from square one, a solicitation to all county residents interested in applying to be on the new county planning commission went out. Two were to be selected from each of the six county board districts. A county board member was to serve as liaison bringing the number of commission members to 13. In the end, we were successfully in placing two REALTORS® as well as adding an appraiser, a real estate attorney, and a retired developer. This institutional knowledge brought important depth and balance to the commission. This was also helpful in advancing key REALTOR® issues.
Like most land use planning processes, consultants were used, words on policy were minced, and public input was sought and given. In the end, the most critical and controversial element discussed and debated was the map. This truly is where were the rubber hits the road.
Historically speaking, 90% of growth in McHenry County occurred within municipalities—either through annexation or redevelopment. The remaining 10% occurred in unincorporated parts of the county, where residents sought larger tracts of land, privacy, and rural lifestyle. Like it or not, the county cannot legally object to municipal growth. It is important to take municipal plans into consideration and see what is realistic. Those factors may include, the age of the plan, competing municipal plans, and did the municipality over plan by simply plan up to the full mile-and-a-half of its planning jurisdiction.
Now with the remaining 10% environmental and agricultural considerations were taken into account. Was a particular area in prime agricultural soils? Was it over sensitive recharge areas? Did it include hydric soils or oak savannahs? If these were to all be used as constraints, than there would be no development options available in the county. This is where balance comes in play. Look at the surrounding land uses, the infrastructure, and examine how densities can be pushed a little higher to maximize land usage.
It is important to always keep in mind private property rights and market forces. Planners may have the best of intentions, but not always the best outcome. It is important to get involved in planning processes early and bring experts in the field of real estate to the table. This maximizes the success of the plan and its longevity.
by Sharon Gorrell on February 5, 2010
As a REALTOR® you are a huge asset to your community. Housing plays a major role in economic development and you are the professional who can potentially be the “go-to” person for expertise and data that can help position your locality as a desirable community for business to locate and grow. Being part of your local chamber of commerce or economic development council are great avenues to share your expertise.
In order to be in this position you need to be the “expert.” While doing a comparative market analysis for a home is second nature, a comparative market analysis for an entire town is a whole other matter. Companies have this down to a science, but many local officials do not. Housing data and sales statistics are part of the picture, however some of the other things that companies look at are intellectual capital and the pool of labor in addition to the local competition. Having this information in the back of your mind helps when engaging both cities and/or potential businesses that may want to locate in your market area, some resources that you can tap into are:
• Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov
The Bureau of Labor Statistics can help you understand what the current labor demands may be in your area and help understand what the demand for housing might be.
• U.S. Census Data – www.census.gov
Census data gives great demographic and housing data that can provide a framework for discussion of what future trends and opportunities could be.
• Economic Development Administration – www.eda.gov
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo
The Economic Development Administration and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity can provide you research and data that can help you analyze the cost of new business development that can help you with both your commercial clients and also as a resource to your local community chamber of commerce or economic development council.
This type of background work and research is relatively easy and should only take an afternoon of your time. This is intended to be coupled with your background and expertise that you’ve acquired from your real estate experience in the community. This extra time and volunteer activity could result in extra business that will make the research and volunteer commitment pay off.
by Mary Schaefer on February 4, 2010
Thank you to REALTOR® Sherry Liang from Baird & Warner in Olympia Fields for calling me to clear up a fact from my HOME START + tax credit post.
According to the IRS, if you meet all of the requirements for the long-time homeowner tax credit, the law does NOT require you to “sell or otherwise dispose of your current principal residence to qualify for a credit of up to $6,500 when you buy a replacement home to use as your principal residence.”
Also, according to the IRS, you do NOT have to own a home at the time you make your new purchase but you “must satisfy the criteria for having owned and lived in a home as your primary residence for a five-consecutive year period that falls somewhere within the eight-year timeframe that ends on the date you buy the home on which you are claiming the credit.”
Here is a link to an updated flyer you can use with buyers who want to use the long-time homeowner tax credit. IAR also has a downloadable one-page flyer on the first-time homebuyer tax credit at www.illinoisrealtor.org/taxcredit.
If you have specific questions, contact a tax professional or the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Also check out the extensive Q&A section of the IRS website.
by Julie Sullivan on February 3, 2010
Here it is, Wednesday morning and still no finals on either the Democratic or Republican candidates for Governor in these amazingly tight primary races. So much for the thought of your vote not counting!
IAR Advocacy funds were spent to educate voters on three home rule referenda in Sammons Point, Hometown and Midlothian. The voters rejected home rule in Sammons Point and in Hometown and approved it in Midlothian in that community’s second effort to secure approval. We hope to have final election results, or perhaps an announced recount, in the Friday State Capitol Report, so watch for that emailed report.
The Illinois House is in session today and committees are scheduled to begin work on 2010 spring session legislation. IAR lobbyists will take off our political hats and put on our legislative hats as we head to the Capitol. Senate back to join the House next week.
McHenry County, like most counties, is going through the routine of updating its land use plan and map. Land use plans and maps are intended to guide future growth in a community. McHenry County is currently operating on its woefully outdated 2010 plan and map. An attempt to do a 2020 plan was successful stopped through REALTOR® action when it became increasing clear that it did not favor a balanced growth approach. It sought a restrictive no-growth policy that was both unrealistic and impractical considering the county was one of the fastest growing in the country since the early 1990’s.
