Lakemoor is updating its comprehensive plan to help guide development, land use, and decision-making in the Village for years to come. 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: the Comprehensive Plan Visioning Workshop.

The Visioning Workshop is the second public meeting of the planning process, which is designed to build on the initial efforts and gather ideas for ensuring that community values and assets are preserved into the future. This interactive meeting will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2012, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Village of Lakemoor Public Works Building, 333 Wegner Road, Lakemoor, Illinois 60051. Sign-in for the event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/lakemoor. To RSVP, please contact Cynthia Hernandez at 312-386-8623 or email chernandez@cmap.illinois.gov.

The Lakemoor Comprehensive Plan will include recommendations for future land use, community character, natural resources, open space, housing, transportation, and economic development. 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 Lakemoor, including help with public participation and plan development.

On January 19, 2012, over 30 residents and stakeholders attended the first public meeting and identified key issues and opportunities for the Village. Todd Weihofen, Village President, set the stage for why Lakemoor is focused on updating its comprehensive plan. Mr. Weihofen stressed the importance of the project as the Village reviews future development-related decisions. Jason Navota, CMAP Senior Planner, stepped through the elements of a comprehensive plan and the project's timeline. Navota then asked each participant to identify the greatest asset as well as the greatest challenge facing the village. Participants mentioned a range of assets, from the surrounding lakes and natural areas to the transparent village government and small town character. Attendees identified a number of challenges as well and a desire to bring in diverse retail businesses within a walkable central area. Preparing for future development with the extension of infrastructure to serve new businesses and residents was also discussed. Attendees also had a chance to locate the community's strengths and challenges on maps of Lakemoor.

Planning Process

In the plan's first phase of development, an existing conditions study was carried out to examine current land uses, community facilities, and economic conditions, as well as to obtain initial public input regarding issues and opportunities for the area.  The second phase of planning will be kicked off at the April 19^th meeting and will create a shared vision for the community with specific goals and recommendations to help achieve the community's vision.  The third phase of planning will include development of an implementation strategy 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, CMAP began partnering with the first wave of 62 local governments, nonprofits, and intergovernmental organizations selected for assistance.  Like the Lakemoor 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:  Pete Saunders, 312-386-8654 or psaunders@cmap.illinois.gov