 CMAP Launches ON TO 2050
Kickoff event for the next regional plan calls for big ideas
Last week the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning hosted a
launch event to formally kickoff the process of developing the next regional plan, ON TO 2050. In his opening remarks, CMAP Executive Director Joe Szabo noted that ON TO 2050 was not merely an update to its predecessor, GO TO 2040, but would be an entirely new regional plan to address changing realities. While the new plan would build upon many of the focus areas of GO TO 2040, it will also explore a variety of new issues through a series of snapshot reports and strategy papers.
The launch event was principally organized in a workshop format which included a series of displays highlighting the successes of the previous plan as well as stations featuring some of the new focus areas to be addressed in the future plan. Guests were asked to illustrate their big ideas for the new plan on a wall with sticky notes - one of a series of activities for soliciting input from the attendees. Although largely attended by planners, the event drew practitioners from a range of public and private sector fields. In conjunction with CMAP's ONTO 2050 Plan, the Kane County Planning Cooperative will be hosting local opportunities for Kane County stakeholders to provide initial input on the plan. There will be two meetings scheduled in Kane County in the coming months hosted by Planning Co op Staff. This is an opportunity to provide input on issues and topics that are important to Kane County to inform the regional plan. The Kane County Planning Cooperative will be sending out invitations to these input sessions in the coming weeks.
If you would like any additional information on the upcoming stakeholder meetings, please contact Jennifer Becker, Kane County Division of Transportation at beckerjennifer@co.kane.il.us. For more details and updates on the new CMAP regional planning effort, visit the project's webpage.
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Chicago Regional Growth Initiative
Economic development collaboration discusses progress, explores opportunities
Kane County was the host of the latest meeting of the Chicago Regional Growth Initiative (CRGI). The CRGI is a three-year-old collaboration between the city of Chicago and the seven collar counties that gathered March 1st at Wabaunsee Community College in Sugar Grove for updates on current programs, like Metro Chicago Exports, and to discuss what direction to take in the future.
Metro Chicago Exports is a program that assists small and mid-sized companies increase exports that can support regional job growth, according to its website. Last year, 11 Kane County companies applied to the program.
A regional approach to economic development was pioneered 30 years ago by Denver and its collar counties following a steady decline in its business climate. Tom Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, who spoke at the meeting, said the Denver group consists of city offices, chambers of commerce and businesses using private funding.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle asked the steering committee to present ideas or options on how the group should proceed. The group meets again in July in McHenry County.
Content for this article was provided by the Chicago Tribune. For more information on the Chicago Regional Growth Initiative, contact Chris Toth with the Kane County Development and Community Services Department.
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KCPC Hosts Beekeeping Town Hall Meeting
Beekeepers and community representatives meet to discuss local beekeeping practices and regulations
The Kane County Planning Cooperative hosted a beekeeping town hall meeting on February 11th to discuss the county's role in supporting healthy bee populations and working with the region's community of beekeepers. The meeting was organized in part as a response to isolated incidents of swarming on residential properties. Kane County staff highlighted some of the beekeeping ordinances administered by neighboring counties and local municipalities to further discussion of possible modifications to the county's beekeeping regulations. Among the meeting's 44 attendees, many agreed that the addition of an annual fee would discourage many from beekeeping or from registering their apiaries with the state.
Many of the beekeepers in attendance expressed a desire to improve channels of communication between beekeepers and neighboring property owners. Certain agricultural pesticides can be harmful to bee populations. Apiary owners can add their hives to a state registry at no annual cost, which allows farmers and other land users to identify beekeepers in close proximity to their operations. Bees require access to water and flowering plants - prairies and undisturbed grasslands are among the most suitable habitats.
To provide input on Kane County's development of reasonable regulations on this issue, please contact Spencer Kroning or Karen Miller with the Development and Community Services Department. For more information on beekeeping, including educational programs and resources for active beekeepers, visit the Fox Valley BeeKeepers Association website.
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Fox Valley Sustainability Network Kickoff Meeting
Region's sustainability advocates invited to attend launch event
Calling all municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in the Fox Valley-join us for the launch meeting of the new Fox Valley Sustainability Network! You are invited to be part of creating a healthy, sustainable Fox Valley by working together with other local organizations to advance sustainability programs throughout our region.
The Fox Valley Sustainability Network seeks to reach across boundaries and bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to create a healthy and sustainable Fox Valley. Fox Valley Sustainability Network Launch Meeting Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 9:00 am -11:30 am Hickory Knolls Discovery Center 3795 Campton Hills Drive St. Charles, IL 60175 Attend the inaugural event and learn about local organizations' efforts to improve their communities and the lives of employees, peers, neighbors, family and friends. Hear about recent sustainability projects from community leaders such as the City of Batavia, the City of Elgin, the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, Judson University, and the Sierra Club. The event will feature a presentation from the Kane County Development & Community Services Department on how community leaders can work together to implement Kane County's Green Infrastructure Plan. The second portion of the event will include group brainstorming sessions on developing new joint projects in the areas of energy, waste, green infrastructure, water, transportation, local food/healthy communities, and economic development.
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Transit Oriented Developments in Chicago's Emerging Zoning Landscape
Join the Real Estate Investment Association for a panel discussion on Transit Oriented Developments (TODs), Chicago's latest zoning method. There will be insights from every aspect of a TOD from finding a location, to development of the project and everything in between. We will close with a question and answer session.
Moderator: Daniel Pikarski, Partner, Gordon and Pikarski and REIA Director
Panelists: Mark Sullivan, President, Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson
Frank Campise, Principal, JAB Real Estate Inc.
Thomas Pikarski, Partner, Gordon and Pikarski
March 24, 2016
7:45 am
Maggiano's Little Italy
111 West Grand
Chicago, IL
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