ABSTRACT
DeKalb County, Illinois is a prime example of competition between urban and rural uses of land in the face of the growing urban five o'clock shadow of commuters desiring inexpensive land and rural lifestyles. This chapter considers DeKalb County's current comprehensive land use plan and assesses its effectiveness before looking at a recent legal challenge and the resultant legislative actions. The effectiveness of DeKalb County's comprehensive land use plan was tested in a study of farmland value. The study used multiple regression techniques to assess the effects of various factors on the price of DeKalb County farm-land non-contiguous with municipalities and villages. In spite of its comprehensive land use plan, it is expected that DeKalb County will experience intense growth pressure in the near future. As a result, conflict regarding development patterns and zoning ordinances is expected.
