State's Attorney Roger Gerlach said the board should move ahead with the latest draft. But some commissioners said proposed amendments received from opponents should be incorporated into the ordinance.

"We need time to review this," said board chairman Marc Dick, who cast the deciding vote. "We can't just go straight from getting this to voting on it."

The decision angered supporters of the town who said commissioners have had ample time to consider the ordinance.

The proposed town - to be called Laurent - would cater to deaf and hearing-impared people. Backers already have options to purchase land about three miles south of Salem.

County Zoning Administrator John Knox said changes made to the latest draft were based on commissioners' input from a work session last week.

Dick noted that the draft must contain a clause that the commission's decision could be referred to a public vote.

Todd Epp, a Harrisburg lawyer representing the McCook Citizens United group opposing the development, also gave commissioners a list of changes the group would like included in the ordinance.

"These are ways to improve the bill and compromise to bring both sides together," he said. "If it takes longer to do it this way, so be it."

M.E. Barwacz, one of the Laurent partners, criticized commissioners for the delay.

"To keep tabling this is a huge disservice to your people," she said. "How seriously are you taking this when we're offering to bring a multi-million-dollar project to McCook County? We've worked in good faith so this can go forward for our good and the good of the entire county."

Laurent needs a new zoning ordinance because the county's use-based zoning does not allow for construction of a new town. A planned development project would foster organized, controlled growth in the county.

From Associated Press

Followup:
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/06/planning_panel.html
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/03/designers_share.html
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/03/town_designed_f.html