Comp Plan Steering Committee Minutes 2015 01-22-15Page 1 of 4
APPROVED 5/21/15
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
COMP PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, January 22, 2015 6:00pm
Yorkville City Hall, Council Chambers
800 Game Farm Road
In Attendance:
Committee Members
Joel Frieders, Alderman
Amy Cesich, Park Board
Bob Delo, Windett Ridge Homeowners' Association
James Weaver, Plan Commission (arr. 6:25pm)
Mary Shilkaitis, Rush Copley Hospital
Tom Kozlowicz, Chamber of Commerce
Reagan Goins, Zoning Board of Appeals
Adalma Stevens, Resident
City Officials
Krysti Barksdale-Noble, Community Development Director
Mr. Chris Heinen, City Planner
Other Guests
Nick Kalogeresis, Lakota Group
Justin Weidl, Lakota Group
Zach Lowe, Goodman Williams Group
Jim Considine, T. Y. Lin
Welcome
The meeting began at 6:10pm and Nick Kalogeresis from The Lakota Group welcomed everyone.
Lakota will be the prime consultant for the Comprehensive Plan Update with assistance from two other
firms (listed below). He said the Steering Committee will help develop and create this update which
should take 1.5 to 2 years. He presented a handout of the overview of the roles and responsibilities of
the committee.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken.
Citizen Comments None
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New Business
Introductions & Consultant Team
Mr. Kalogeresis and Justin Weidl of the Lakota Group will be spearheading the update. Lakota is based
out of Chicago and has been in business about 25 years. They have worked on many other comp plans
and will be charged with updating the last Comp Plan done in 2008. They will be working on land use
planning, streetscape and many other facets. The finished plan will be used as a tool in future
decision-making.
Jim Considine of the T.Y. Lin Co. has been a planner for about 38 years. T.Y. Lin is an engineering
firm in business for 20 years. His focus will be transportation planning and collaborating on other
projects with Lakota.
Zach Lowe, Senior Consultant with the Goodman Williams Group will work on the market
research/analysis and residential aspects of the plan. Linda Goodman will focus on the commercial and
retail portion.
Roles and Responsibilities
Mr. Kalogeresis said the role of the committee members is to help develop the plan. Lakota has done
interviews of stakeholders, data gathering and conducted workshops (including interactive
presentations) and meetings to determine community desires.
Project Schedule/Timeline
Two major documents will be produced:
1) State of the City report regarding infrastructure, downtowns, subdivisions in about 4-5 months,
2) Comp Plan draft in about 8-10 months. Committee will meet 3-4 times during the process.
A handout was given to illustrate the number of meetings/workshops and project schedule. The
planning process was actually begun in September and many notes were taken. These notes will be
shared with committee members when compiled.
A speakout will be scheduled for February with smaller meetings planned later. Topics of discussion
will be presented in the first workshop and plan concepts will be presented in the second one. In the
second half of 2015, Lakota will begin the vision phase and hold another community meeting in the
summer. In 2015-2016 the comp plan will be documented and then adopted by the City Council in
2016. The next meeting for the steering committee will be late March, then again in May, September
and February 2016.
Mr. Delo asked for a copy of the 2008 plan. Ms. Barksdale-Noble said it is available on-line and she
will also send the link to all members. Ms. Shilkaitis asked about accomplishments of that original
plan as a starting point. Lakota will compile a report with this information and Mr. Weidl added that
the 2008 objectives will be audited with the community to determine if they have been accomplished or
are still desired.
Steering Committee Members
The committee members then each introduced themselves and stated their background and interest in
the community. Mr. Kalogeresis asked for emails from all as the way to communicate with the
steering committee.
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A postcard was included in the handouts to the committee. It contains a link to a website for a
community survey. The committee was asked to complete the survey to provide demographic
information. The link is: www.surveymonkey.com/s/theyorkvilleplan. The website is also live now
and can be found on the City's website. Comments can also be posted.
Issues and Opportunities
Each committee member then shared their thoughts about the most pressing issues for the Comp Plan
update:
Bob Delo
He and his wife live on the south side and own a property management company and manage
Homeowners' Associations. One item frequently mentioned is the need for an alternative grocery store
on the south side. He is pleased to see a movie theater and noted the many good restaurants downtown
and on south side. The Rt. 47 improvement is a plus as well.
Amy Cesich
Ms. Cesich said she represents the Park Board on this committee. She has served on an HOA
committee, County Board and has been very involved in local government. She also attends many city
meetings. She wants to see the City move forward at an appropriate pace after the downturn of a few
years ago. She agreed there are not a lot of businesses on the south side and during construction many
people may have shopped in Oswego due to the difficulty of getting across the bridge. A second bridge
across the river is vital for growth and there is a proposed bridge across Eldamain Road in the 2020
County plan. An effort is being made to use some of the Prairie Parkway funds for this project. (See
also her comments regarding parks under Regan Goins).
Adalma Stevens
She feels an important mission is to maintain and safeguard property values using high standards
during the resurgence of home-building. She wondered if standards would be diminished to attract
builders. Ms. Barksdale-Noble said the City has Appearance Standards and briefly discussed past and
current requirements. Ms. Stevens said Rt. 126 is the most beautiful of the City entrances and that
entrances make an impression on visitors to the City. She also said that Elburn has done a good job of
maintaining a small-town feel.
James Weaver
Mr. Weaver said transportation is a high priority for the community. He said Metra trains specifically
would improve the area and encourage building. He said the schools did a great job on the expansion.
Mr. Weaver said downtown attractions have to be set up beyond the Rt. 47 corridor because it's not
conducive to walking in the downtown area.
Tom Kozlowicz
Mr. Kozlowicz said access to the I-88 corridor is a very important issue. He commended the schools
for being great stewards of the tax dollar.
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Joel Frieders
Alderman Frieders cited four issues that he feels are important. 1) A secondary route across the river.
Referring to a transportation map, Mr. Considine said that IDOT is currently working either on studies
or construction. Metra is also doing planning to extend their lines and work will be done on Rt. 47
from Caton Farm Road to I-80. 2) Would like a more centrally located police station, expand city hall
and move it to a main artery. 3) Future water needs. 4) Desire for vigorous business and residential
growth in the area east of Menards and north of Blackstone Restaurant. Regarding downtown, Mr.
Frieders said the east side of Rt. 47 should be torn down as it is visually unappealing during festivals.
Mary Shilkaitis
As an employee of the Rush Copley facility and YEDC, she feels it is important to be involved in the
community planning for healthcare needs.
Reagan Goins
Ms. Goins would like to see more park space on the south side of town, improved park equipment and
possibly a splash park. Development of the riverfront area is also desired. Ms. Cesich added that there
is a plan for the riverfront to be completed by 2016 and that an OSLAD grant was also received.
More development of Rush Copley is also desired. Regarding the downtown, she received a comment
that the area is very unattractive and that person did not wish to visit downtown.
Mr. Considine discussed the transportation map which originated in 2008 and the changes which have
occurred. He commented that bike trails do not have good connectivity at this time and they are costly.
Many communities now have biking on the streets. Along with the growth of the area, Ms. Cesich
asked Mr. Considine to discuss water issues on the map. He said the aquifier is a State issue and that
the last water study was done in the 1990's, however, planning is underway.
A retail study is now being done on the south side of town. That study/plan will dovetail with the
Comp Plan revision, said Ms. Barksdale-Noble.
A summary of all existing plans and studies will be compiled and provided to the committee. In
addition, Ms. Cesich volunteered to be Chairman of this committee.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:24pm.
Minute respectfully submitted by
Marlys Young, Minute Taker