The Mahomet Village Board of Trustees is set to review two significant zoning developments at its study session this Tuesday, December 9. The agenda includes a proposed 12-acre residential subdivision south of Thornewood Drive and a change to village ordinances that would tighten restrictions on keeping farm animals in agricultural zones.

Both items come with a recommendation for approval from the Plan & Zoning Commission (PZC), which met on December 2 to hear public testimony and review the proposals.

The board will consider a request from Lane Evans Design Build and Dalco Design Build to rezone approximately 12 acres of land from R-1A (Large Lot Single-Family) to a mix of R-1B and R-1C (Single-Family Residential).

The property is located on the south side of Thornewood Drive, about 650 feet east of Lombard Street. While the current request is technically only for rezoning, the developers have submitted a preliminary layout for a subdivision that would include approximately 35 single-family homes.

During the December 2 PZC meeting, several residents voiced concerns regarding traffic on Thornewood Drive, potential drainage issues, loss of trees, and the impact on local schools, which have said they are overcrowded for years.

Village Planner Abby Heckman addressed these concerns, noting that the R-1C zoning does not allow for townhomes or duplexes—only detached single-family homes. Regarding drainage, she explained that developing the agricultural land would actually trigger village stormwater management ordinances, requiring detention basins that could improve current runoff issues.

The board will also review a text amendment to the village’s zoning ordinance that would fundamentally change what is allowed on agriculturally zoned land.

The change was prompted by a concurrent rezoning request from the Living Word Omega Message Church, which sought to rezone nearly 14 acres of its property to “AG” (Agricultural). While the church indicated it simply intends to continue using the land for standard crops like hay, consistent with its prior use, the lack of a specific long-term plan created uncertainty among residents.

Neighbors expressed concern that under the current code, the broad definition of “Agricultural Activity” would grant the church—or any future owner—the right to establish commercial animal operations, such as pig or poultry farms, without further approval.

To address this “unknown” factor, village staff proposed splitting the current definition of “Agricultural Activity” into two separate categories:

• Agricultural Activity, Plant: Growing crops, orchards, and gardens would remain a permitted use (allowed by right).
• Agricultural Activity, Animal: Keeping livestock or poultry would become a conditional use. This means any landowner wishing to keep farm animals in an AG district would need to go through a public hearing process and receive specific approval from the Village Board.

This approach allows the church to proceed with its intended crop farming immediately while ensuring that any potential introduction of animals in the future would trigger a public review.

A final component of the proposed text amendment affects the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial district. The change would add “Commercial Outdoor Recreation” as a conditional use and remove a ban on recreational vehicles (RVs) in the definition. This update is intended to pave the way for future campground developments within the Village to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Village Board of Trustees will discuss these items at the study session on Tuesday, December 9. A final vote is expected at a subsequent regular board meeting.