Homer Tree Service annexes Route 12 site into Wauconda

Wauconda village officials have annexed property now used by a tree service, but will require that company to move to a new location with more appropriate zoning.

Homer Tree Service will be allowed to remain in their current home near the southbound ramp connecting Route 12 to Route 176 for six years, but must find a new location in a more industrial area.

Village Administrator David Geary said the goal is to clean up Route 12, and wood chip storage and truck parking location is not the best fit for one of the village’s main roadways.

“They can continue doing their business in their current space, but we’d like to move them,” he said. “We’d like to put more commercial businesses on Route 12, and the board believes this business is better served in a light industrial area.”

The tree service had owned property that was partially in the village, with the remainder in unincorporated Lake County. The company purchased two new parcels located just outside of the village limits and asked to annex all the land into Wauconda, Geary said.

“In order for them to operate inside the village in that location, however, they needed to obtain a permit to store the wood chips they collect,” Geary said. “That’s what the property is used for — it’s a drop off location for wood chips and logs the company uses.”

He said the company met with village officials multiple times to hammer out a proposal that included a “sunset clause” to leave the site. The village board approved by plan by a 6-0 vote Tuesday.

No wood chipping or cutting is done on the Route 12 site, but there have been complaints about dust and noise in the past, Geary said.

“There have been some complaints where they are now about the noise and the way their trucks are refilled,” he said.

Wauconda Police Chief Doug Larsson said code enforcement would ensure the company follows all the required laws if any complaints are fielded.

“We have received complaints in the past, but we have examined all of those issues and took the steps needed to correct them,” Larsson said. “We will continue to do our best to keep the peace here and respond to complaints as they come in.”