(a)

Purpose and intent. The purpose and intent of Ag, agricultural district, is to help implement the goals and objectives of the Village of Stillman Valley Amendatory Comprehensive Plan. The long-range goal for agricultural land use in the village is to preserve the most valuable of natural resources, that of fertile land, for agricultural pursuits and to protect the land best suited for farming from premature urbanization and the encroachment of incompatible land uses which would hinder farm operations and irretrievably deplete agricultural lands. The agricultural district regulations are, therefore, designed to regulate the use of land and buildings within areas of the village where soil and topographic conditions are best adapted to the pursuit of agricultural land uses. It is essential that scattered, indiscriminate urban development within areas best suited for agriculture be precluded and that orderly urban development be facilitated. It is hereby declared the legislative intent in the purpose of Ag district that land in the village which is productive should remain in productivity until such time as natural growth of the village precludes preservation thereof.

Other specific purpose for which this district is established include:

(1)

To preserve woodlands and wetlands associated with farms which, because of their natural physical features, are useful as water retention and ground water recharge areas, and as habitat for plant and animal life; and which have an important aesthetic and scenic value which contributes to the unique character of the agricultural district and the village as a whole.

(2)

To provide a basis for land tax assessments which reflect its existing agricultural nature and owing to these regulations, its limited use for other purposes.

(3)

To prevent the conversion of agricultural land to scattered non-farm development which, when unmanaged, unnecessarily increases the cost of public services to all citizens and results in the premature disinvestment in agriculture.

(Ord. 1001, § 5, 9-12-2022)

In the Ag, agricultural districts the following regulations shall apply:

(a)

Uses permitted. In the Ag, agricultural district the following uses and there accessory uses are permitted outright:

Agriculture;

Apiculture (bee keeping);

Areas of natural, historical/cultural, geological, educational or research significance;

Dwelling unit, farm;

Egg production, commercial;

Farm;

Farm buildings;

Farm drainage and irrigation systems;

Forest preserve;

Game refuge;

Governmental buildings;

Grazing and forage;

Greenhouses, wholesale;

Home occupations;

Landscape waste composting facilities located on farms that are not required to have an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) permit, provided such uses are operated in compliance with all IEPA standards pertaining to on farm landscape composting facilities pursuant to 35 Illinois Administrative Code Subtitle G, Part 830;

Livestock management facility, provided such use(s) are operated in compliance with all Illinois Environmental Protection Agency rules and regulations pertaining to agricultural related pollution;

Nursery, plant;

Single family dwellings;

Sod farms;

Stable, private;

Stable, public, but not including indoor riding arenas (shows), riding instructions and tack shops;

Tree farms;

Value added agricultural activities.

(b)

Special uses. In Ag districts the following uses and their accessory uses may be allowed by special use permit in accordance with the provisions of section 5B-11-9 of this title:

Aircraft service and repair;

Aircraft or aircraft landing field;

Animal hospitals, kennels or pounds, provided no building or pen housing any animals shall be located nearer than 1,000 feet to any residential district, or to a dwelling other than the dwelling of the lessee or the owner of the site;

Banquet facility;

Bed and breakfast establishments;

Boarding houses;

Campgrounds;

Churches, temples, synagogues or other places of worship, provided towers and steeples associated with such uses shall not exceed 75 feet in height, and the main building shall not exceed 35 feet in height;

Commercial kennels, provided no building or pen housing any animals shall be located nearer than 1,000 feet to any residential district, or to a dwelling other than the dwelling of the lessee or the owner of the site. Where a commercial kennel is conducted exclusively from within a completely enclosed building that is designed and constructed (or altered) so as to minimize animal noise escaping from the interior of the structure to the outside, and no outside kennels or animal runs will be provided, then said commercial kennel building may be located not less than 500 feet to any residential district, or to a dwelling other than the dwelling of the lessee or owner of the site, provided the animals, at all times, are kept within said completely enclosed building except when in transit to and/or from commercial kennel facility, or during brief periods of time for cleaning and/or maintenance of said building;

Conversion of existing single-family farm dwelling into a two-family dwelling, when not less than one dwelling unit will continue to be occupied by a person and the family thereof, owning, operating, or employed full time in farming operations on the premises;

Essential public service and public utility uses and structures;

Ethanol and biodiesel production facilities;

Family care home for developmentally disabled;

Greenhouses, retail;

Golf courses, regulation size, but not including "par 3" golf courses, commercially operated driving ranges, or miniatures golf courses;

Indoor riding arenas (shows), riding instructions and tack shops accessory to public stables;

Radio and television towers, commercial;

Recreational camps or retreats which may include any of the following: dining hall, meeting hall, picnic sites, staff and guest lodging quarters, chapel (religious), areas for tent and recreational vehicle camping;

Sales yards, wholesale or retail, for agricultural products including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, flowers (fresh or dried), plants, etc.;

Self service storage facility;

Single-family dwelling, when constructed on a lot divided and set aside from a farm as defined herein. Lot area shall not be less than one acre and the lot width shall not be less than 150 feet;

Solar farm;

Tack shop including halters, bridles, saddles, harnesses, wearing apparel and equipment used in the raising and training of horses;

Truck parking areas, the principal use of which is loading and shipping of farm products, livestock, fertilizer, etc.

(c)

Accessory uses.

(1)

Those uses customarily accessory to the pursuit of agriculture.

(2)

Roadside stands for the sale of products grown or produced on or in the immediate area of the premises, but not including live animals; provided, however, that such stand shall contain not more than 600 square feet of gross floor area and be set back from the road or street right-of-way not less than the required set back in the district. Each roadside stand shall provide parking for at least five cars for each 50 square feet of structure, and such parking facilities shall be consistent with the requirements of chapter 8, "Off Street Parking and Loading Requirements". Sales shall be permitted from March 15 ^th through November 15 ^th .

(3)

Accessory building or use incidental to the foregoing principal use, including private garages (either attached or detached), shed or building for private domestic storage, private greenhouse.

(4)

Guest house for non-paying guests incidental to the foregoing principal use, subject to the following:

a.

The guest house shall be used for an occasional housing of guests of the occupants of the principal building to which the guest house is accessory, and not for permanent occupancy by others as housekeeping units.

b.

The guest house shall be designed and constructed as one dwelling unit.

c.

The guest house may not be separated from the zoning lot on which it is constructed unless all resulting lots/parcels are zoning lots meeting the minimum lot size/width required for the zoning district.

d.

Not more than one guest house shall be allowed per principal dwelling to which it is incidental and accessory.

e.

A guest house must not exceed 800 square feet in total living area.

(d)

Dimensional standards. In Ag districts the following dimensional standards shall apply:

(1)

Lot area requirements.

a.

Every farm dwelling hereafter shall be erected on a tract of land defined as a "farm," pursuant to section 5B-1-3 of this title. The minimum lot width measured at the building line shall not be less than 300 feet.

b.

The lot size for a special use permit may be designated in the permit granting the special use unless specified as a minimum herein.

(2)

Yard area requirements.

a.

Building setback line (front yard). Every building hereafter erected or enlarged shall provide and maintain a front yard in accordance to the following requirements:

1.

Adjacent to tollways, freeways and limited access highways, all buildings shall be set back not less 60 feet from the property line adjoining a tollway, freeway, or limited access highway. The setback shall be measured from the established front property line (right-of-way line) adjoining such tollway, freeway or limited access highway.

2.

Adjacent to federal or state highways not less than 80 feet from the front property line (right-of-way line) adjoining such highway.

3.

Adjacent to a county highway not less than 60 feet from the front property line (right-of-way line) adjoining such highway.

4.

Adjacent to a township road or municipal road not less than 40 feet from the front property line (right-of-way line) adjoining such road or street.

b.

Side yard. All buildings shall have side yards not less than 25 feet. Where a side yard adjoins a road or street, the minimum width of such side yard for all buildings shall not be less than the established above for front yards.

c.

Rear yard. All buildings shall have rear yards of not less than 50 feet. Where a rear yard adjoins a road or street, the minimum width of such yard for all buildings should not be less than the established above for front yards.

(3)

Off street parking and loading requirements. Off street parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required by chapter 8 of this title.

(4)

Sign regulations. Sign regulations are set forth in chapter 7 of this title.

(Ord. 1001, § 5, 9-12-2022)