To forward the work begun by Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s executive order calling
for a statewide study of water supply issues, the Chicago Metropolitan
Agency for Planning (CMAP) will host a public forum on Friday, Nov. 17, to
kick off a three-year regional water supply study in northeastern Illinois. The
forum is a critical first step toward making recommendations on water resource
policies and plans in an 11-county region (Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy,
Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will).
The initiative is being led by CMAP, which has been
commissioned by the Ill. Dept. of Natural Resources to facilitate the water
supply planning process for northeastern Illinois. Troubled Waters
– a 2006 report co-released by the
Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands, in conjunction with the Campaign for Sensible Growth
– recommended the creation of a statewide framework for water supply
planning. The report also shed light on the fact that new regional growth is
occurring in areas potentially lacking adequate water resources to meet growing
demand.
CMAP’s forum will take place Nov. 17, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at
Hamburger University, McDonald’s Corporate Campus, 2715 Jorie Blvd., Oak Brook,
Ill. This day-long event will feature continental breakfast and presentations in
the morning, lunch, and an afternoon of breakout sessions. Guests must observe a
business casual dress code. Members of the media are welcome.
MPC contact: Scott Goldstein, Vice President Policy & Planning,
312 .863.6003, sgoldstein@metroplanning.org
CMAP
contact: Tom Garritano, Public Information Officer, Chicago Metropolitan
Agency for Planning, 312.386.8602, tgarritano@chicagoareaplanning.org
National Support for Public Transit on Election Day Reinforces Local Need
Americans overwhelmingly said “yes” to expanding their
transportation systems on Election Day, even though it meant taxing themselves,
according to the American Public Transportation Association
. Voters approved more than 70 percent of
transportation-related ballot initiatives on Nov. 7, authorizing $40 million in new expenditures
to support the development and maintenance of strong transportation networks in
13 states. These national results strengthen the argument for significant
transit investment
in
Illinois.
“On Election Day, Americans made
it clear that they want more public transportation – and many states answered
the call,” said MarySue Barrett, MPC president. “To remain an economic
heavyweight,
Illinois
must invest in our own transportation
network, particular in public transit, our first line of defense against
congestion.”
In
northeastern
Illinois, the Regional Transportation
Authority and its partners in the “Moving Beyond Congestion” campaign (including
MPC) are
calling 2007
“The Year of Decision” for critical transit investments. Successful national
ballot initiatives and continued growth in ridership figures are hopeful signs
that
Illinois
will answer “yes” to the demand for more transit, says Barrett.
MPC contact: MarySue Barrett, President, 312.863.6001, msbarrett@metroplanning.org
Highwood Makes Strides to Preserve Affordable Housing on North Shore
The North Shore community of Highwood recently negotiated
a preliminary $300,000 commitment to the city’s general fund for housing
initiatives, from the developer of a new condominium development currently going
through the city planning review process. The city also has adopted the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
’ groundbreaking Housing Endorsement
Criteria. These criteria were created to help communities attract, identify and
support housing that is well managed and well designed, near jobs and public
transit, and affordable to the local workforce.
Historically, Highwood has benefited from a balanced housing stock: as of the 2000
Census, Highwood housing stock was 28 percent affordable overall, a rare asset on
the
North
Shore. However, housing
costs already have escalated to a point of pricing many working families out of
the village, and development pressures are threatening to significantly reduce
the availability of housing affordable to the workforce in the community.
The Highwood
City Council commissioned the Metropolitan Planning Council to assess the
existing and future housing market trends and develop recommendations to address
the local need. To ensure Highwood continues to serve and attract residents with
a range of incomes, city leaders are developing strategies to improve their
existing affordable stock and spur new investments that provide quality housing
options for buyers and renters alike.
MPC contact: Joanna Trotter, Manager, Community Building Initiative,
312.863.6008, jtrotter@metroplanning.org
MPC President Offers Post-Election Analysis at Union League Club Event
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, MPC President MarySue Barrett will
join an esteemed panel – WGN Radio’s political analyst Paul Green,
Sun-Times
columnist Mary Mitchell, and CapitolFax’s Rich Miller – to analyze the 2006 election’s
impact on public policy. The event is part of the Union League
Club’s “Breakfast@65West” program, and will take place at 8 a.m., at the
Union League Club, 65
W.
Jackson
Blvd.,
in
Chicago’s
Loop.
Each panelist will briefly offer
his or her take on how Election Day results will influence public policy and the
upcoming legislative session. Then the panel will have time to respond to one
another’s comments, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience,
moderated by Chris Robling of Jayne Thompson and Associates.
The event is open to the public, and costs $20. A
breakfast buffet will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. To register, call
312.435.5946 or e-mail reed@ulcc.org
.
MPC contact: Mandy Burrell, Communications Associate, 312.863.6018,
mburrell@metroplanning.org