 |
|
|
Government Center #M103 Home | Site Map | Contact Us |
|
|
|
|
Government Center #M103 Home | Site Map | Contact Us |
This is the second annual progress report on implementing the recommendations of the McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan.
The Regional Plan provides a framework for continuing regional cooperation in pursuit of socially, economically and environmentally healthy communities. Toward this end, the plan identifies a series of priority strategies which outline supporting actions to be considered by local governments during the years immediately following their adoption of the plan in 2000.
These strategies were developed using a collaborative approach with participation by all levels of government and by a wide range of citizen and private interests.
One of the plan's priority strategies was the completion of annual reports on the progress made toward implementing other key strategies of the Plan. Although the Commission's role in implementing strategies is sometimes limited, the Commission was identified in the plan as the agency to be responsible for coordination and monitoring of progress, including preparation of annual progress reports.
This progress report provides an overview of the plan, including its top priorities and key components of land use, transportation and community facilities. It also summarizes the progress made by all concerned on strategies scheduled to be addressed during the past two years. In addition, this report describes other activities completed during the past year by this Commission. A brief overview of the Commission's finances associated with this work is also included, along with an outline of the principal new planning activities scheduled for the coming year.
PLAN OVERVIEW
The regional comprehensive plan presents a guide for sensible growth through regional cooperation. Sensible growth recognizes the potential benefits of population and economic growth, but sets high standards to preserve and enhance the community for both present and future generations. It involves the building of livable communities that feature distinctive identities with people friendly designs and many social and cultural amenities. It also involves promoting economic growth to provide the jobs and tax base that can help support these amenities. Sensible growth also occurs in harmony with the natural landscape and environment.
The regional comprehensive plan provides a framework for continuing regional cooperation in support of sensible growth. The plan recognizes that many growth issues involve multiple jurisdictions and may require cooperative approaches to achieve optimal solutions. Therefore, a collaborative approach with participation by all levels of government and by a wide range of citizen and private interests was used to develop this plan.
This regional approach was enhanced through the use of citizen committees representing a wide range of public and private interests to focus on the different elements of the plan. More than 100 persons from many walks of life served as an advisory body to the McLean County Regional Planning Commission, drawing upon the work of previous citizen-based visioning committees to help guide the preparation of this plan.
The citizen committees identified goals, objectives, policies and strategies designed to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the McLean County Region. The goals, objectives, policies and strategies were developed for nine elements of the plan as follows:
The plan uses the goals and objectives to assess existing characteristics and trends and to formulate strategies, plans and policies for each element.
The planning process described above resulted in the identification of more than 300 strategies which were evaluated and condensed by the committees into a limited number of top priorities.
The identified strategies were considered in developing plans for land use, transportation, selected community facilities and services, and implementation.
Land Use Plan
The land use plan reflects the growth policies identified in adopted area plans as well as the relevant strategies identified by the citizen committees. Accordingly, the plan provides for a system of interconnected conservation and recreation areas consistent with the McLean County Regional Greenways Plan. It also designates other areas outside of urban growth areas for primary or secondary agriculture, depending upon the general soil and terrain characteristics. The plan provides for relatively compact and contiguous development within and adjacent to incorporated communities, with growth occurring in and around Bloomington-Normal, smaller municipalities in the western two-thirds of the County and in the selected rural growth areas. It also provides for regional service centers in Bloomington-Normal and for sub-regional service centers in the downtowns of the Region's smaller communities, in the neighborhoods of Bloomington-Normal, and at selected highway interchanges.
Transportation Plan
The transportation plan provides for the extension of transportation facilities to serve planned growth areas. The street and highway plan provides for the southward extension of Mitsubishi Motorway on the west side of the urban area and for the upgrading of Towanda-Barnes Road to expressway standards on the east side of the urban area. It also identifies the immediate need for a feasibility study for a freeway bypass connection between I-55 and I-74 on the east side. Other improvements and extensions to the urban classified and the rural road systems are also identified to meet future needs consistent with the Regional Land Use Plan.
 |
 |
The transportation plan also addresses alternative modes of transportation and provides for numerous extensions to the existing trail system in the urban area and throughout the County, including the proposed Route 66 Bikeway. The plan for alternative modes also identifies potential future transit service for planned regional and sub-regional service centers in the urban area.
Community Facilities Plan
The community facilities and services element addresses water service; sewer service; schools; parks and recreation; solid waste; fire, police and emergency services; and, public utilities. The plan incorporates the regional water system proposal from the 1994 County Comprehensive Plan and supports the concept of regionalization of wastewater treatment consistent with adopted local land use plans. It also identifies future park land needs and identifies emergency service area boundaries as well as presenting strategies for each of the facilities and services considered in the plan. Implementation Plan
Finally, the implementation plans identify the actions that will be needed to carry out the Priority One strategies identified for each element of the plan. The implementation plans also identify the responsibilities and approximate time frames during which those actions will be considered. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that some strategies will require further study to determine appropriateness and whether the potential benefits will justify any costs. The implementation plans are designed to lead to these determinations.
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
Progress has been made on all seventeen Priority One strategies identified in the Regional Plan, including a number of continuing and recurring activities. Actions taken to date toward implementing each Priority One strategy are listed in Figure 1. Also listed is a brief description of each strategy, the completion status, and any remaining or follow-up tasks.
While half of these are listed as “complete,” it is important to note that significant follow-up actions will continue to be necessary in order to effectively implement the strategies. This will apply to all strategies as the initial actions identified are completed, because planning is a dynamic process which requires continuous monitoring, evaluation and updating to guide future actions in the desired direction.
OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
In addition to the activities described above in support of the priority strategies of the McLean County Regional Plan, the Commission's Fiscal Year 2002 Work Program includes a number of other activities completed in cooperation with local units of government. Some of these activities are briefly summarized below.
In cooperation with local governments, the Commission participates in a number of other transportation related activities. The Transportation Improvement Program is one of these. This annual work activity updates the transportation improvements programmed for the next three-year period within Bloomington, Normal and urbanizing portions of McLean County. It is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation for purposes of budgeting and coordination.
Commission staff provide ongoing assistance to the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System in the assessment of transit needs, and in continuing efforts to implement recommended system enhancements, including service expansion, increased cooperation with Illinois State University and other local colleges and universities, and the acquisition of new vehicles for both the fixed-route and paratransit services.
Staff also provide support to the transportation-related elements of the Downtown Normal Redevelopment Plan, through assistance with project management tasks, and participation on advisory committees with respect to the multimodal center, traffic circulation and transit.
Geographic Information Systems
Commission staff coordinate the development and management of the McLean County Geographic Information System (MCGIS). MCGIS is a cooperative effort by a number of local government agencies with the common goal of providing an improved base of information with less duplication of effort. Through cooperative resource management MCGIS is developing a countywide geographic information system to better serve the public and to aid decision making in many facets of local government operations, including, planning, engineering, election administration, tax assessment and emergency services.
A map server has been developed on the County intranet to provide the participating agencies joint access to a wide range of data such as digital aerial photography, streets, buildings, addressing, parcel and other information.
A user needs assessment survey has been completed by all participating agencies, and training will begin in the near future. A public map server for the internet is also being considered.
Technical Assistance
Commission staff provide technical assistance to local governments and organizations in McLean County through service on various committees and through responding to information requests. Commission staff participate on a number of committees which address different community issues, including affordable housing, development review, ordinance review, stormwater management, transit, work force issues and traffic calming.
The Commission also provides assistance to local governments in administering the solid waste program and in preparing grant applications to address specific needs.
As a sub state clearinghouse, the Commission also reviews and comments on applications for state and federal funding of eligible capital improvement projects.
Education And Outreach
Education and outreach efforts report on planning issues and concepts to local governments, developers and the public. The intent is to increase understanding and to promote discussion and consideration of alternative solutions to community development problems. Activities include production of newsletters, informational brochures, slide and video presentations and press releases, as well as maintenance of the Commission library and web site.
In the last year, staff have placed additional emphasis on the use of the Commission website as a tool for public information regarding ongoing projects, such as public review of the Transportation Improvement Program. The website is also used to enhance staff activities in providing technical assistance through public outreach, as in the East Side Corridor Transportation Facility Feasibility Study, for which a dedicated section of the website has been created and maintained.
FINANCES
The Commission's revenue of over $1,024,000 was received through a variety of sources as illustrated in Figure 2. Funding is provided by federal and state grants, technical service contracts and regional service agreements.
Regional service agreements with Bloomington, Normal and McLean County support Commission activities and provide matching shares for local, state and federal planning funds.
Commission finances are often significantly impacted by contracts administered on behalf of local governments for technical services. This was again the case in Fiscal Year 2002 (FY 02), as revenue from these types of service contracts exceeded all other sources, followed by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) revenue. Technical service contracts accounted for nearly half of the total revenue. These revenues consist of funds provided by local governments and IDOT for outside consultants to complete projects such as the East Side Corridor Feasibility Study, aerial photography and cadastral (parcel) mapping. Total disbursements of over $1,028,000 included payments to contractors from revenues received in the previous fiscal year. At fifty-two percent, professional service costs comprised the greatest portion of the Commission's disbursements, followed by personnel costs at thirty-eight percent. Professional services consisted primarily of the technical service contracts noted above.
THE YEAR AHEAD
Along with the completion or continuation of a number of FY2002 projects, the following new projects are included in the Commission's work program for the coming year: