2050 Comprehensive Plan 

McHenry County is a special place – a place where the quiet pace of rural and small-town life meets opportunity. Its tight-knit communities, good schools, verdant open lands, and vibrant, charming neighborhoods make it a great place to make a home, raise a family and start a business. These qualities also attract new residents and are the foundation for existing and future economic engines in the County. In the years ahead, McHenry County can preserve what makes it a special place while accommodating growth, strengthening its economy, and enhancing quality of life for residents.

McHenry County experienced steady significant growth over the past 30 years. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated trends that will make lasting impacts on McHenry County, including remote - and hybrid-work. Millennial’s preference for living in small cities and the attraction of retiring in rural and small communities. How does the County accommodate new growth and demands for different kinds of housing while protecting its farmland, open space, and natural environment? How does it meet the needs of newcomers while enhancing the quality of life for all residents? How does it encourage sustainable economic development?

The McHenry County Comprehensive Plan provides insights and guidance for how to answer these questions. The pages that follow present findings and strategies that will set McHenry County on course to realize its aspirations as a premier place to live, work, and explore. By taking full advantage of its assets and sense of community. The plan will ensure McHenry County has the vision, focus, and tools necessary to fulfill its potential. [ More . . . ]

Water Resources Action Plan (WRAP) Update 

The WRAP provides a comprehensive look at water resources in McHenry County.  It uses rich graphics and photos from around the county to show how our water resources work, the threats to the resources, and best management practices that can be used to reduce those threats. [ More . . . ]

2030 & Beyond Plan 

The McHenry County Regional Planning Commission, has concluded that the plan and future land use map need not be rewritten because of slow population growth. The recommendation, adopted by the County Board in October of 2016, provides new data and a fresh perspective meant to enhance the county’s comprehensive plan and focus implementation on those policies that are most important. The report includes four big ideas to guide land use and development and are presented in a manner to remind us that we all have a vested interest in the county’s future and have a role to play in making it happen. [ More . . . ]

2030 Comprehensive Plan

The McHenry County Board adopted the 2030 in 2010 and utilizes it to guide its decisions moving forward and serve as an exemplar of best practices, establishing ground rules that all local governing bodies can operate within to collectively enhance the physical and economic health and quality-of-life throughout the County. The 2030 Plan will also serve to educate residents and create a better understanding of the County’s role in long-term planning for the region’s ultimate well-being. The development community will also be able to utilize plan as a blueprint to help shape the world in which McHenry County residents wish to live in 2030.   [ More . . . ]

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, 2016-2020

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Northern Illinois Region represents a natural evolution of a continued focus on regional collaboration in support of economic vitality. This is the second CEDS for Boone and Winnebago counties, and the first for McHenry County.  Shared industry strengths, transportation assets, and recent regional economic development partnerships form the basis for collaboration. Together Boone, Winnebago, and McHenry counties (collectively called the Northern Illinois Region) are more competitive in the global economy and can better leverage limited local, state, and federal funds to drive job creation and improved quality of life for residents.   [ More . . . ]

Fox River Corridor Plan

The Plan presents a vision for the future of a portion of the waterway that connects eight villages, unincorporated communities, and vast expanses of open space.  The plan reflects a shared vision that the natural environment, economic potential, and enjoyment of the river are interconnected.  It builds on planning initiatives at the community, county, and watershed scales that strive to strengthen the health, vibrancy, and resilience of the Fox River and the area it supports.  The plan is a guide  to provide a long-term framework for making informed decisions about conservation, transportation, and development that will influence the river and neighboring land.    [ More . . . ]

Green Infrastructure Plan

The McHenry County Board adopted the McHenry County Green Infrastructure Plan in 2012. This plan embraces a collection of ideas and practices known as ‘green infrastructure’ and, through maps and policy recommendations, presents a vision for countywide implementation. The plan seeks to encourage green infrastructure concepts in land use decisions and new development, and to establish a network of green infrastructure that runs through every jurisdiction in the county. As such, its success is ultimately dependent upon cooperation and collaboration between the county, municipalities, park districts, land conservation agencies, and residents.   [ More . . . ]

Historic Preservation Plan

The McHenry County Historic Preservation Plan sets the goals, objectives, and strategies to implement the County’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. The objectives, and strategies fall under five broad goal areas: 1) Locate, designate, protect and maintain the County's historic resources;  2) Foster municipal cooperation; 3) Cultivate public knowledge; 4) Maintain the character of the County through cooperation with developers; and 5) Promote economic development. [ Download the Historic Preservation Plan 672 kB. ]

McHenry County Local Food Assessment

The McHenry County Food and Farmland Assessment project aims to support the viability of the local food system and farmland protection in McHenry County.  As a response to significant public input, the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Commission (ACE) formed a local Task Force, which was charged with conducting a comprehensive local food assessment in McHenry County.  Openlands, a regional conservation not-for-profit organization, led the Task Force of local partners and stakeholders including: the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, McHenry County Farm Bureau, the McHenry County Conservation District, Woodstock School District 200, local farmers, county staff from the planning and health departments, county board members, University of Illinois Extension Service, and interested citizens.
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McHenry County Strategic Plan, 2017-2020

The Strategic Plan contains County Government goals and objectives, established by the County Board, covering the following broad categories: 1) Leadership and Governance; 2) Organizational Advancement and Services; 3) Quality Infrastructure; 4) Stable Environment and Sustainability; and 5) Economic and Workforce Development. 

The Strategic Plan Report Card provides the citizenry and leaders with updates and a manner with which to measure our progress in achieving the goals set forth in the Strategic Plan.  [ More . . .. ]  

Water Resources Action Plan (WRAP)