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Pingree Grove residents' vision: More but not too much retail

The village of Pingree Grove is taking a proactive look at the future by working on a new comprehensive plan and setting aside money for economic development.

A community workshop Thursday evening was the official kickoff for the planning process, led by consultant Houseal Lavigne Associates.

"It's our plan for the future, for the next 10 to 15 years, of how we want to grow and what it's going to take to do that," said Trustee Chuck Pearson, chairman of the comprehensive plan steering committee.

The village needs more retail businesses, according to the majority of the 30 or so residents who attended the workshop at Cambridge Lakes Community Center.

Several, however, urged caution in promoting too much development.

"I think the challenge is going to be to try to achieve a balance of retaining the rural feel that attracted us here in the first place, and the convenience of having more retail," resident Marilyn Foley said.

Other ideas included attracting an urgent care or clinic facility, installing stoplights along busy roads, adding more walking paths and even building a Metra station.

Repainting the water tower would be a great start, resident Bob Clark said. "It's one of the first things people see when they come here. It's the first impression," he said.

The village also plans to set aside money for economic development incentives, Village President Greg Marston said. The village has $602,000 from land sales - the majority to the Kane County Forest Preserve District - of which Marston proposed using half a million for incentives. The village board endorses the concept but hasn't decided on a figure yet, he said.

The village, whose population officials estimate at about 5,000, has a general fund budget, for day-to-day operations, of nearly $2 million.

"The Route 47 corridor is about to start development in depth," Marston said. "Steady leadership and careful planning is necessary to ensure that any such development is undertaken responsibly."

The village especially hopes to attract businesses that will create jobs and sales tax revenues, Marston said.

Pearson agreed. "We have a couple of restaurants and gas stations, and several small businesses. We're looking for more to help out the tax base," he said.

The village will issue a request for proposals from economic development consultants to work on establishing criteria for the incentive program, Marston said. The goal is to be done by spring or early summer, he said.

A grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is funding the comprehensive planning process, which earlier on Thursday also included interviews with business owners and village staff members.

The village decided to be more aggressive in its planning after the completion of the I-90 interchange at Route 47 earlier this year, Pearson said.

"That's the hope - that we are doing the right thing at the right time."

For information about Pingree Grove's comprehensive plan or to participate via interactive online surveys, visit pingreegrove.org.

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