Illinois counties develop wetlands ordinances
Three Illinois counties have stepped in to protect 150,000 acres of wetlands that the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled could be opened to development. Lake, Kane and McHenry counties are writing ordinances that will protect the land formerly under the auspices of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the land became an issue after a January court ruling that wetlands that had developed in abandoned gravel pits did not constitute protectable areas. Calling them “isolated wetlands,” the court ruled that they did not fall under federal protection. Legislation that would have granted the state regulatory authority over the area failed, so the counties took action.
A number of Illinois counties Ñ including Will and DuPage Ñ already have wetlands protection regulations or ordinances on the books, some of which are tougher than the old Corps regulations.
Developers have expressed concern that individual county ordinances constitute a patchwork of regulations that could affect any future development. Consequently, most are reluctant to proceed with any development of the land.