You like your neighborhood. Maybe some things about your neighborhood you don’t like so much.
Zoning probably has something to do with that. Not everything, of course; the people make a big difference. But the underlying zoning determines much of what you see: dwelling units per acre, building line setbacks, building heights, etc.
So why are so few residents paying attention to the Comprehensive Plan meetings that are now underway — two so far, with almost another year to go? The second meeting held March 23 was witnessed by just six residents, one of whom was an elected village commissioner. Where were all the residents who protested about land-use issues on 63rd Street, on Fairview Avenue, tear-downs, affordable housing, etc.?
If you are concerned about stormwater… or trees… or teardowns… you should be paying attention to this.
If you care about your neighborhood, you should be paying attention to this.
If you live within a block or two of a major commercial street – 63rd Street, 75th Street, Belmont Avenue, Fairview Avenue, Ogden Avenue – you should be paying attention to this, because the planning process could make recommendations that change the character of your neighborhood!
Not only should you be paying attention, you should be attending these Comprehensive Plan meetings and speaking up. Because this committee is going to recommend the issues and publish the report that will affirm or change future Downers Grove zoning. And your neighborhood!
The village and their consultants are doing a good job of making information available to you. Take it.
Meeting agendas and minutes are online at the village web site (link here)
The consultants’ draft materials (link here)
Here’s what the consultants have provided to the committee so far (these large files may open slowly):
- Introduction
- Existing Plans, Studies and Reports
- TCD3 Summary
- Market Analysis
- Existing Land Use, Development & Zoning
- Community Facilities
- Existing Transportation
- Open Space and the Environment
- Sub-areas
Interesting background reading.
If you care about your neighborhood, do you homework and show up/speak up at the Comprehensive Plan meetings. The next one is Tuesday, April 27.
See you there.
John Schofield is a regular reader of DGreport and chairs the Coalition for Managed Redevelopment, a citizens group working “to maintain our rich cultural, architectural, and natural heritage while promoting growth and economic prosperity.”
Thanks John for posting the files. I wonder how many people I speak for when I say it is very difficult to make a weekday evening meeting. Train ride home, dinner, kids, blah-blah-blah.
The economy has effectively squashed the rhetoric surrounding Affordable Housing (it’s ALL affordable now..) and tear downs.
Anything they do along Ogden would be an improvement, just leave Los Burritos Tapitios alone, love that place.
So affordable, I almost thought for a second of returning home but the rest of my family is happy where we are at. For what it’s worth, I still love Downers Grove and of course DGREPORT.COM the only attention I get now days.
Our neighborhood is getting a detention pond between 55th and 8th Street.
John, we attended meetings for flooding, sidewalks, sewers, more sewers, streets, ponds; we met with mayors, village managers, public works heads, the Stormwater Commission. After the last meeting a lot of us left shaking our heads the village let things get so bad. Not mad or angry, just disappointed it got to where they’re buying homes to demolish.
Comprehensive Planning? About time. But you probably won’t see many of us there-we’re meeting’d out.
Thanks John. This process will effect the entire village for many years to come. Consider attending one or more meetings, asking questions, and keep informed.