FAQ

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The Tree Preservation Ordinance establishes tree preservation standards for development and redevelopment in the City in order to preserve mature trees as an important public resource, enhancing the City's natural character and heritage.  The Tree Preservation Ordinance was adopted in 2001 and has continually been updated as part oft he City's current ordinances.  There are properties that are exempt from the Tree Preservation Ordinance, they are:

• Single family residentially zoned parcels that are less than 3 acres in area and were subdivided prior to the July 17, 2001 ordinance adoption date;
• Commercial nurseries or orchards;
• Properties for which a landscapeing or tree preservation plan was approved, or pursuant to terms of an annexation agreement, special use permit or other agreement or ordinance (these properties are required to adhere to the approved plans or ordinances);
• Parkway trees; and
• Property owned by the Crystal Lake Park District, City of Crystal Lake, McHenry County College, School Districts 47 and 155, the McHenry County Conservation District and utility companies.

All other properties are subject to the Tree Preservation Ordinance.  Please review the requirements prior to removing trees from any property.

Parking lot setbacks are based on the fronting roadway type and the number of total parking spaces in the lot.  Local streets require less of a setback than major arterials.  Also parking lots with over 200 spaces, require a greater setback for landscape buffering.  The setbacks and landscape requirements are listed in Article 4 of the UDO.

You can contact the Planning and Economic Development Department at planning@crystallake.org to request Zoning Verification for a site.  You will need to pay a $25 processing fee and provide staff with the site location and the information that you are requesting; i.e. zoning district, land use district, approved variations, etc. to be included in the response letter.  If you are requesting any documents or copies of approvals, it is necessary to complete a Freedom of Information Act Form and submit the request through the City Manager's Office.

If your existing or proposed use is not listed in the Permitted Uses Table in Article 2, Land Uses of the UDO, the Zoning Administrator shall determine whether a substantially similar use exists in the table. Please provide detailed information about the operation of the use to assist the Zoning Administrator in determining similarity.  In order to start the process for an existing building, submit an Occupancy Application to the Building Division which will be passed on to the Zoning Administrator.  For a new use or one which requires any zoning request, submit the use information along with the zoning request submittal package. 

Approved Street Trees list.

Article 4 of the UDO outlines the landscape requirement between uses, buffering parking lots, foundation base around a building and parkway trees.  The Landscape Requirements handout is an abreviated version illustrating what a typical commercial site may look like after the required landscape is installed.

Home occupations are permitted in the City.  There is a use criteria for Home Occupations listed within the UDO and if the use meets the criteria then it is a permitted use.  If the use does not meet the criteria, you will need to proceed with a zoning request for a Special Use Permit.

You are able to determine your zoning district by finding the location of your property within the Zoning Map.  The legend lists the zoning district designation associated with the color or hatching pattern over your property.  The definitions, uses and requirements of each district are located within Article 3 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).