“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” — Albert Einstein
Comprehensive Plans are supposed to be good for up to 10 years, in some cases even 20. They’re not supposed to be static documents, instead being updated at regular intervals. Our village Comprehensive Plan is 44 years old and unchanged. There’s a saying in the planning profession I’ll paraphrase as I remember CP booster Martin Tully say: “If you fail to plan, in reality what you are doing is planning to fail.”
ITEM RES 00-04019 Comprehensive Planning Ad Hoc Committee authorizes the creation of a Comprehensive Planning Committee and appoints members to the committee.
A Comp Plan is the overarching document that sets course for where we go in the future. Almost everything else flows from it. Comprehensive planning is tied at the hip to the economic prosperity of our village, to traffic, zoning, everything. Each section of the plan deals with particular elements, contains descriptions of existing conditions, a discussion of issues and general goals, and policies to guide actions. Each of the sections also looks at specific strategies along with recommended actions for implementing each strategy.
You can read our current 44 year old plan at the Library up on the second floor; 1965 predates computers and on-line documentation. Last time I checked the parchment rolls were still there.
A good Comprehensive Plan will have fiscal benefits for us all, whether residents or businesses. It’ll save taxpayers money and help preserve and grow what’s good about Downers Grove, so it’s critical to get the best plan we can.
Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Bill White (also D99 BOE member) will chair the CPC. ZBA member Marge Earl is also a member, as well as three Plan Commission members PC Chair Alan Jirik, PC members Audrey Hamernik and Greg Beggs, Transportation and Parking Commission member John Wendt, and two residents at large, Paul Jacobs…and me, Mark Thoman.
One of the big tasks of a Comprehensive Plan update is gathering information. Remember last years TCD3 was all about gathering information? Now that will be a crucial source of information about what the community wants to see in an updated Comprehensive Plan.
I know some of the other nominees, and I think it will go well, I hope it will go well, and I will do what I can to help it be so.
-Mark Thoman
Good luck to you Mark.
Good luck MT, at least we know the tree’s in Downers Grove will be safe with you at the controls! LOL
LOL. Trying to contribute, you mean? You know better than I from your own experience on the Ad Hoc Housing Committee.
Just bustin your chops MT!