[JULY 11, 2005] Inch by inch the new Logan County Comprehensive
Plan is making its way into reality. At the monthly meeting,
chairman Bill Glaze filled Logan County Regional Planning Commission
board members in on this month's progress.
The plan has long been recognized as a valuable component in the
growth of Logan County, but more community governments becoming more
competitive in drawing businesses and changes in federal government
standards has made it a critical need for any significant economic
development to happen here.
Information in the plan not only leads future developments in
Logan County, but it also protects the interests of the residents.
It does this by assembling current information, plans for the future
and provides that information for businesses and individuals looking
to expand or locate here.
General purpose of plan and how it
will be developed:
Evaluates what we have now.
Provides structure for our intended development and business
or population growth (integrates questionnaire results, task
force and individual communities' information)
Maintains quality of life.
To be used by businesses and individuals who are considering
expanding or locating here.
Provides a platform for showing our calculated preparations
for growth and thereby helps us gain state and federal grant
funds, some of which are not available to us now.
Progress to date:
While there is not much to show for it, critical components for
the startup phase are nearing completion. Soon the actual work on
the plan will begin. It was decided to allow someone who has done
this before and is similar in character to lead the way through the
myriad of factors that need to be addressed. The costs and how to
fund it have been determined as well. Cost to develop the plan with
the aid of a McLean County Planning Commission team has been
established at $55,000.
Funding commitments in the sum of $47,000 are nearly in place.
Communities' commitments were based on population size and are
anticipated to be completed in July.
Glaze announced that Keith Ray has offered to take charge of
raising the remaining $8,000 in funds that are still needed. Ray
believes he will easily be able to raise those funds through private
and business donations. There are a number of people out there who
fully realize its value and are willing to support it, he has said.
When commission member Pat O'Neill asked, "What if you don't
raise that $8,000?" Glaze paused and thought, then responded, "We
don't have a plan B!" which raised chuckles from around the room.
A group of planners from McLean County has been chosen to lead
the development process. Paul Russell heads that group. Glaze, Logan
County planning and zoning director Phil Mahler, county coordinator
Dewey Colter and any other interested people were to meet with
Russell on Thursday to tour Atlanta and Lincoln and also to start
brainstorming what is to be done and how. It is intended to tour
other towns at another time.
Glaze said that there would be a number of special-interest focus
groups of eight-10 members formed -- for example, from school boards
-- to contribute information.
It was determined at the Thursday meeting with Russell that a
steering committee will be formed to meet monthly with the McLean
experts. They will review what has been done and what to work on in
the next month. Glaze said that he has a list of people to ask to
sit on that committee, and they are being contacted. It is planned
to begin those meetings by the end of July.
Public interest important
One audience member said he is concerned because the people he
talks to don't seem to know what the comprehensive plan is. He
suggested that Glaze ask Russell if McLean County had that problem
and what could be done about it.
Glaze responded that he had heard from Russell already that
McLean County has a similar problem. It is more an apparent lack of
interest, but he agreed that it is important and he would bring it
up with Russell.
Public involvement is needed for the plan to reflect the wants of
the people who live here. The first and most important action anyone
can take is to complete the short 20-question study. The results of
that study will be used to steer our plan.
The online version has received about 300 responses so far.
Atlanta mailed the study out to its residents and has gotten back 12
percent; only 10 percent was expected.
The poll will be available through the end of July. Then it will
be determined if there are a sufficient number of responses or if it
needs to run another month.
One of the primary goals of this comprehensive plan is to improve
land-use information. One example of work to be done is simplify
zoning in the region. It would be beneficial if all government
entities used the common zoning codes, Glaze said. If a B-1 meant
the same in Atlanta as in Lincoln and in Logan County, it would
easily be understood. It would also save time, as any property
annexed from city to county or visa versa would not have to be
rezoned if it was for the same use. This process alone could take 18
months to get all the communities on board and approved, Glaze said.
If funding is sufficient, the new plan will have an added benefit
in planning for the expansion of outdoor recreation areas in Logan
County. Amy Madigan with the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources would like to assist us in finding programs that would fit
into a new greenway plan. During the planning process the plan will
identify areas to be set aside for parks and trails. Bicycle and
walking trails are established both to the north and south of Logan
County. Sangamon and McLean counties would like to have us connected
to them.
