Friends and Neighbors,

I’m pleased to share that the original petition for seven conditional use permits and one variance for the Ridge Road property has been withdrawn. This is an important step—but the fight is far from over.

We must continue to raise awareness and galvanize our opposition to any future commercial development on Ridge Road. Projects of this nature and scale have no place within the bounds of our Village.

I’m truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we’ve received so far. Please keep the momentum going:
✔️ Share the petition
✔️ Talk to your neighbors
✔️ Reach out to county and local officials

Together, we can protect the character, safety, and spirit of Barrington Hills.

🔊Please continue to spread the word and sign our petition: change.org/PreserveBH

📞Write or Call County and Local Officials: McHenry County and  Barrington Hills

Since the petition was withdrawn from Wednesday’s agenda, I’d like to share the public comment I had prepared for the McHenry County Staff Plat Review Committee. While the immediate threat has been delayed, our concerns remain, and it’s important that our community’s voice continues to be heard.

Good morning. My name is Kate Orlowski, and I live just two miles west of 11719 Ridge Road. I'm here today with my two-year-old son, Henry, to respectfully ask the McHenry County Staff Plat Review Committee to reject the conditional use permit and variance requests associated with this property.

The Village of Barrington Hills has long-upheld strict zoning principles that preserve the peaceful, rural nature of our community. Commercial operations have never been allowed within the village. The proposed development is undeniably commercial in nature—including a restaurant, large-scale event venue, day classes, short-term rentals, and a farm store to name a few uses—and will place an undue burden of noise, congestion, and disruption to everyday life on our Village residents. 

If this development moves forward, it will bring an estimated 300 to 600 additional cars per day onto our quiet, 25 mph village roads—roads never designed for that volume of traffic, especially after events where alcohol is served. These are the same roads where my son rides his bike, where I walk our dog, and where my husband jogs or cycles—roads shared by families, children, equestrians, cyclists, and pedestrians who count on their safety.

This proposed development violates not only the spirit but also the long-standing precedent set by our village and respected by residents for decades. The lack of public awareness and absence of visible hearing notices on the property is deeply troubling to the community. And this land, originally sold by Hill 'N Dale Farm to Citizens for Conservation under the express condition that it remain permanent protected open space, was never meant to become a commercial venue.

Yes, this property falls under McHenry County jurisdiction, but it is entirely surrounded by the Village of Barrington Hills. By keeping the property unincorporated, the former owner was able to avoid Village oversight and the community standards observed by all surrounding neighbors. That technical boundary should not now be used to justify development that conflicts with the character, expectations, and values of the surrounding Village—nor set a precedent that puts profit ahead of resident safety and integrity.

Since Friday, more than 179 concerned residents and neighbors have signed our online petition opposing this project. We are not against thoughtful development or shared public spaces; we are against developments that threatens the very reason we live here and is out of character for our peaceful village.

We are counting on you—our county officials—to help us preserve the residential character of Barrington Hills and we urge you to please reject this proposal. Thank you for your time and consideration.