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On top of making the Village of Matteson an
environmental pioneer, the Village Hall and Green are saving taxpayers serious
money. Local officials chose native prairie species for landscaping these sites,
which will require less fertilization, irrigation, pesticide-use, and mowing —
and save 52 percent in installation and maintenance costs. One of two dozen
examples, the Village Hall is featured in the Campaign for Sensible Growth’s
guidebook Sustainable Development: Meeting the needs of today’s communities
and protecting the needs of the future
,
released today.
Sustainable development is an approach to urban and
suburban growth that emphasizes preserving environmental resources, providing
opportunities for residents at all income levels, and stimulating economic
activity.
The
guidebook
praises communities across
northeastern Illinois for successful and sustainable projects, and provides
models and resources to spark future efforts.
LaGrange is featured as
an example of a growing trend among suburban municipalities trying to be more
for residents than ‘bedroom’ communities. A redevelopment effort focused on its
downtown business district has resulted in new restaurants and shops — for a
total of more than 300 — in the area around its Metra station. This type of
development stimulates the local economy, and makes the community a pleasant
place to stroll and shop, improving local quality of life.
The Campaign for Sensible Growth endorses
sustainable development because it accommodates growth while providing
environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits to all residents, said
MarySue Barrett, co-chair of the Campaign and president of the Metropolitan
Planning Council. “It furthers the goals of the Campaign, which are to promote
infill development and redevelopment, while protecting natural resources and
providing opportunities to all residents of the region.”
Innovative housing trends, such as Chicago’s Historic
Bungalow Initiative, are featured prominently in the guidebook. Geothermal heat,
linoleum made with natural materials, and recycled drywall do not usually go
along with an affordable price tag, but the program provides financial
incentives to help residents buy and
restore
Chicago Bungalows,
which not
only preserves the environment,
but also
offers potential homeownership opportunities for many who otherwise might not be able
to purchase a home.
The Campaign and the Northeastern Illinois Planning
Commission (NIPC) worked together to produce both this guidebook and a longer
series,
Building Sustainable Communities
. “The fact sheet series provides
decision-makers with the knowledge and ideas to do these kinds of sustainable
projects,” explained Ronald Thomas, Campaign co-chair and NIPC executive
director. The guidebook, which serves as the executive summary of the series,
highlights examples of sustainable development around the region, profiling
local initiatives where development protects the natural environment, keeps the
economy strong, and provides opportunities for residents across the economic
spectrum.
The guidebook was unveiled at a panel discussion
today moderated by John McCarron,
Chicago Tribune
urban affairs columnist
and instructor at Northwestern University, and featuring Pam Daniels-Halisi,
senior vice president, community development at the LaSalle Bank; Jason Navota,
senior planner and project manager for Building Sustainable Communities at NIPC;
Ksenia Rudensiuk, director of water protection, manager of the Blackberry Creek
Watershed Program, and legal counsel, the Conservation Foundation; and Mark
Steger, partner, Holland & Knight LLP.
The Campaign for Sensible Growth is an
action-oriented coalition of 200 organizations working to promote economic
competitiveness in the northeastern Illinois region while preserving open space,
minimizing the need for costly new infrastructure and improving the livability
of our communities.