Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 60, gives townships the right to develop comprehensive plans through township plan commissions. Marengo township began this process in 1997 by establishing the Marengo Township Planning Commission. The current Marengo Township Planning Commission consist of members appointed by the Marengo Township Trustees for two year terms and a non voting Township Trustee Liaison. The current members members are:
- Marianne Wayne
- Eric Warmbold
- Robert Levin
- David Bzowy
- Sheri Cantenero
The largest industry in the Township is Agriculture and most of our efforts on the Township Planning committee are directed toward Farmland Preservation. Our second largest industry, running closely behind, is Gravel Mining. The Township is participating in, and working closely with the McHenry County Gravel Advisory Council whose informational brochure can be seen HERE (PDF).
The Land Use Plan is a general guide for proposed developments with potentially significant impact to the Township. The Plan is to be used as a whole; no one part is meant to be used alone. The Land Use Plan provides for the orderly development of commercial, industrial, and residential land uses while protecting the resources of Marengo Township. Without the Plan, unrestrained private development could result in a haphazard patchwork of incompatible uses and inappropriate development. The goal of the Land Use Plan is to assure the future development is in harmony with the character of Marengo Township and that it will enhance the beneficial aspects of its uniqueness.
The same holds true for the Land Use Map. The Map is meant to be a visual representation of the written Land Use Plan.
This Plan and Map are dynamic documents that may be revised periodically as necessary to address issues which were originally unforeseen during early plan development.
While the Plan and Map is a policy document, it does not directly regulate the use of land in the Township. Formal regulation and zoning classification is implemented through the enforcement of ordinances, such as the McHenry County zoning and subdivision ordinances, and the decisions of the County Zoning Board of Appeals and County Board. For more information contact planning@marengotownship.org.