Winfield zoning plan under fire

Several Winfield residents urged the village's plan commission Wednesday to drop a proposal to create an overlay zoning district in parts of the village.

More than 100 residents packed village hall to learn more about a plan initiated by village board trustees to create a secondary zoning classification for some residents living on the southwest side of town.

The zoning classification, which calls for roughly one-acre property lots, would apply to the affected neighborhoods in addition to the traditional zoning classification, which provides for lots half that size.

The dual zoning codes would, in effect, prevent property owners from subdividing land to any size smaller than just under an acre.

Several residents blasted village officials for doing a poor job in communicating the proposal and its impact to affected residents prior to Wednesday's meeting.

"For the past several weeks, I've experienced a good deal of confusion, consternation and lack of information," said Jeff Davis, a homeowner in the affected area located near Winfield and Roosevelt roads.

Several properties in the neighborhood include single lots as large as two and four acres in size.

Davis, who has applied to subdivide his property in response to the village's proposed new zoning classification, complained that the new overlay district would affect his property value and unfairly limit what he could do with his land.

"By changing this designation, you're preventing people from having equal protection of their property rights," Davis said.

The village's plan commission will host another public hearing on the new overlay zoning district at its Dec. 5 meeting.