 The first item for discussion was a vote on the bicycle trail plan
that is being put together with the help of Farnsworth Group. The
plan was drafted over the last few months. A vote will allow
governing bodies in the county to move out of the initial planning
stages and into actual negotiations with relevant organizations.
For example, county engineer Bret Aukamp said he has been in talks
with the Illinois Department of Transportation concerning bike
trails, specifically those that would be placed near the railways
next to the prison.
"If any accommodations need to be made for bicycles, we need to
have this plan adopted so I can have more weight when I throw those
comments out there," said Aukamp.
The planning commission members present unanimously voted to
approve the trail plan.
Zoning officer Will D'Andrea told the commission that he has
given Brian Bergen, executive director of the development
partnership, the same survey that the planning commission members
have been working on concerning the county's Comprehensive Plan. The
commission hopes to use these results alongside those of other
governing bodies to get a better understanding of priorities they
should be leaning toward.
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D'Andrea also told the planning commission that he will be going
over the document he received at a conference of the state zoning
organization in April. The document provides clarification on new
enterprise zone rules that will go into effect in 2016. D'Andrea
said that if the county wants to reapply to this program, their
deadline is December of 2014.
In the coming months D'Andrea expects to give a presentation
summarizing the new document for the commission.
At the end of the meeting, D'Andrea said that the planning
commission has received funding for the year from their supporters
in the county.
Commission members present were chairman Bill Graff, vice
chairman Jim Fuhrer, Lincoln Mayor Keith Snyder, Bill Martin,
Derrick Crane, David Hepler, Dave Evans and Gerald Lolling. County
zoning officer Will D'Andrea and county engineer Bret Aukamp were
also present.
[By DEREK HURLEY]
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