Campton Hills seeks resident input
Campton Hills leaders know some of what their residents want: limited government, freedom from forced annexation by other towns and preservation of open space.
Now it's time to put that, and other priorities, into writing and on the record.
Village leaders, in conjunction with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, will hold a meeting Tuesday May 2 to get opinions from residents, business leaders and other members of the community.
Village President Patsy Smith said that when the village was incorporated, it borrowed pieces of other land use plans but now it is time for the village to make its own comprehensive plan.
“Now it's important to start fine tuning these documents to really reflect the desires of the village,” Smith said. “Conservation is important. We have limited natural resources and we need to protect our water supply.”
The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wasco Elementary School, 4N782 School St. Residents are asked to RSVP by Friday by calling (630) 584-5700, although it is not mandatory.
Jason Navota, senior planner at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, which is helping the village through a federal grant, said planners will be asking residents to identify issues they care about.
“It's a documentation of the values and priorities of the people of Campton Hills. It will guide decision-makers,” he said. “This is the chance to help plan for the future of their community.”
Another meeting tentatively will be held in September.
Smith estimates the process to craft a comprehensive plan will take about two years.
One feature at the meeting will be “keypad polling,” in which participants can state their views electronically via handheld devices.
Campton Hills Trustee Jim Kopec said the method has been used at a few past meetings and is helpful.
“It gives them a real good sense as to where the other people in the room are as opposed to a blind survey,” Kopec said. “It would help give us direction if we had 100, 200 people there.”