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Politics & Government

Carpentersville Continues "Old Town" Planning Project

The Village of Carpentersville, with the assistance of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), is developing a plan for the “Old Town” area that will be a catalyst to spur and guide new development in the “Old Town” downtown area.  As part of that effort, the Village is inviting local residents, business owners, community leaders, and other stakeholders to attend a special community planning event. 

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the Village of Carpentersville will host a public open house for the “Old Town” Area Plan at Village Hall (1200 LW Besinger Drive) from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The “Old Town” Area Plan will guide the growth, development, and preservation of Carpentersville for the next 10 to15 years. 

Draft Plan scenarios will be available for public review and comment. Residents can make public comments online at http://carpentersville.metroquest.com/. This Carpentersville software builds on a regional version of MetroQuest that CMAP used for GO TO 2040 outreach in 2009. Exhibits on display will include preliminary plans for future land use, parks and open space, transportation, and trails.

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Residents are encouraged to drop in at any time between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. For information or to RSVP, contact Cynthia Hernandez (chernandez@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8623).

The “Old Town” Area Plan will include recommendations for future land use and development, infrastructure improvements, economic development, community synergy, and improved public areas and cultural opportunities.  A grant to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is enabling CMAP staff to provide technical assistance to the Village of Carpentersville, including help with public participation and the plan’s development.

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The purpose of the open house is to receive public comment prior to beginning the formal review process with the Village Board. Representatives from the village and CMAP will be available to answer questions and provide clarification. No formal presentation will be given.

 

Planning Process

In the plan’s first phase of development, an existing conditions analysis was completed to verify current land use, study community facilities, and obtain initial public input regarding the issues and opportunities of the area.  The second phase of the process is to present potential development scenarios to the public including property owners and elected and appointed officials to receive input and comment.  Based upon input received from the public open house, the project website, and the previous meetings and studies, a preferred plan will be finalized.  The third phase of the process will be to develop a final Old Town Plan that will include implementation strategies that will assist the Village, residents, and others in undertaking the plan’s recommendations.

 

HUD and CMAP build capacity for local planning

Especially in challenging economic times, many communities have difficulty allocating enough resources to plan as proactively as they would prefer.  At the same time, proactive planning is necessary for economic prosperity and protecting community assets.  The HUD-funded effort is helping fill this gap by making staff resources and grants available to assist with local planning projects that help to implement GO TO 2040, the first comprehensive plan for metropolitan Chicago in more than 100 years.  

The HUD grant to CMAP was announced one day after leaders of the seven-county region, on October 13, 2010, unanimously adopted GO TO 2040.  The region’s plan establishes coordinated strategies that help the region’s 284 communities address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues.  See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.

With the three-year $4.25 million HUD award (http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/press-release-10-14-10), CMAP has begun a new Local Technical Assistance program sponsored by HUD as part of the federal interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. CMAP issued a call for projects in early 2011, prompting more than 220 proposals from over 130 municipalities, counties, interjurisdictional groups, and nongovernmental organizations -- an indication of significant unmet demand for local planning capacity. 

In March 2011, CMAP began partnering with the first wave of 62 local governments, nonprofits, and intergovernmental organizations selected for assistance.  Like the Carpentersville effort, these projects address local issues at the intersection of transportation, land use, and housing, including the natural environment, economic growth, and community development.  Download a full list of projects at http://goo.gl/1nYBM.

CMAP is the official regional planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. 

Media contact:  Justine Reisinger, 312-386-8802 or jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov

Program contact:  Cynthia Hernandez, 312-386-8623 or chernandez@cmap.illinois.gov  

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