A Unified Development Ordinance (or a “UDO”) is an integrated set of laws governing the use of land within the corporate limits of the City. The UDO establishes the kinds of land uses that may be permitted, where those uses may be permitted, the process used by the City to consider requests to establish allowable uses, how uses and land development activities may be operated, how sites and site features supporting land uses are to be configured. In addition to the written rules, the UDO also includes the Official Zoning Map, or the graphic distribution of zoning districts (and thus allowable use types).

The Comprehensive Plan is an overall plan adopted by the City to create a future vision and guide the development of the City. It provides goals and actions to be taken by the City in order to implement the vision delineated in the Plan.

The Unified Development Ordinance is the rules and regulations specifically written to guide development in McHenry. It is one of the legislative tools used to implement the vision and actions in the Comprehensive Plan.

The main difference is the Comprehensive Plan is guidance, and the Unified Development Ordinance is law. They are related in that the laws in the UDO are shaped by the guidance provided in the Comprehensive Plan.

The current zoning code is over 40 years old. Since then, changes in community, advancements in technology, and economic conditions have made the existing code less helpful for regulating development. The City is pursuing a new code that will be better at regulating development for today's world. The City also wants to improve the simplicity and ease of use with the UDO.

A zoning code update has implications for all properties in the City. An update to the zoning code will not make existing properties "illegal," and only impacts properties that are being developed or redeveloped in the future. The standards for redeveloping your property or property in your neighborhood will be based on the updated ordinances once adopted. All property owners are encouraged to review the proposed changes to the ordinance to understand how it may impact future plans to redevelop their property.

The zoning ordinance is being updated to make it more easily understood, modernized, and responsive to current economic conditions. The update should make it easier for property owners to redevelop their property in the future and improve the quality of development in the community.

Public engagement is critical to the success of the McHenry UDO. City staff and the consulting team are devoted to making sure that anyone who wishes to be involved and share input or feedback on the project may do so at numerous points throughout the process.

This project web page is built to share information about the project, includes draft work products, status updates, and many other elements designed to keep folks informed about our progress. This webpage will be maintained and updated throughout the course of the project.