County, Pingree Grove Reach Historic Agreement

   The Kane County Board has cleared the way for Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Pingree Grove, extending the county's Historic Preservation Program to the village.  A resolution authorizing the chairman to execute the agreement was adopted April 12.

    Under terms of the agreement with the county, Pingree Grove is allowed to utilize the Kane County Historic Preservation Ordinance and Commission "to protect the historic, architectural, scenic and aesthetic character of landmarks, preservation districts, and road corridors in the part of the village located within the county.

     In partnering with Kane County, Pingree Grove joins Campton Hills, Lily Lake, Maple Park and Sugar Grove in authorizing intergovernmental agreements for extension of the Historic Preservation Program, according to Preservation Planner Julia Thavong of the Kane County Development Department.

     The Historic Preservation Program was created by the Kane County Board in 1988. Since then the voluntary program has added 44 individual landmarks, one historic district and three Rustic Roads. A goal of the program is to assist municipalities within the county, like Pingree Grove, with protecting their historic resources, according to Thavong. Specifically, the county preservation plan is designed to help "maintain the historic character of the county's rural towns and villages while encouraging their development as commercial and cultural centers."

     The intergovernmental agreement marks the return of landmark protection to the incorporated section of Thurnau Road, Kane County's first "Rustic Road."

     The County Board revised its historic preservation ordinance in July, 2000 to allow for road corridors, or "rustic roads," to be added to the county's list of historic homes and landmarks. The main objective of the program is to preserve and enhance the county's rural character while incorporating new development and transportation needs as subtly as possible.

     Pingree Grove has developed a Village and Heritage District Master Plan which anticipates preserving several historic buildings in the historic town center. The intergovernmental agreement allows the village to utilize the county's Historic Preservation Ordinance to achieve its preservation goals, said Thavong. It also is in keeping with what she pointed out is the county's strategy "to develop agreements, procedures and lines of communication between itself and other government agencies to promote a coordinated effort to protect and improve historic sites."

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