Residents tell McHenry County board to deny Sunbury Farms slaughterhouse permit, citing safety and lack of local benefit

At the Jan. 15 McHenry County Committee of the Whole meeting, several residents urged the board to honor a recent Zoning Board of Appeals denial and reject a conditional use permit and related variances for a proposed slaughterhouse at Sunbury Farms.

Susan Smith, who said she lives on Crabapple Lane in Deerpath Subdivision, told the board she strongly opposes the proposal and asked the county to "accept and honor the vote of the zoning and appeals group," which she said had previously voted the petition down 6–1. Andrea Zynga said the county "does not stand to benefit from this in any way," arguing there would be no new jobs, no sales tax revenue and little property tax benefit because the owner would sell meat online and to existing farms.

Speakers raised public‑safety concerns about access to the land (a single‑lane gravel easement), the potential need for multiple fire departments in an emergency, and the proximity of homes in long‑established subdivisions. Several residents said the petitioner had not engaged neighbors or local township bodies before pursuing county approval.

The Zoning Board of Appeals' 6–1 denial and letters of opposition from Greenwood Township and local homeowner organizations were cited repeatedly by residents as reasons for the county to deny the petition. The board was told the matter is expected to come before the county in the coming month.

No formal petition was decided at the Jan. 15 committee meeting; residents asked the board to consider ZBA findings and protect neighborhood safety when the matter returns to the full board.