Buffalo Grove moving forward on first comprehensive plan in a decade

Buffalo Grove is moving forward with the creation of the village's first new comprehensive plan in a decade, minus a proposed in-house community engagement program that received mixed reviews from village trustees.

Instead, officials will seek to hire a consulting firm that will make public involvement and education part of its overall work on the plan. A community engagement committee also is forming, consisting of village staff, board members and at least one resident volunteer.

The comprehensive plan will outline the long-term vision for the community, addressing future land use, transportation, housing and economic development. The kickoff for the project is targeted for late summer or early fall.

Earlier this year, the village board failed to reach consensus on hiring a community engagement manager whose responsibilities would have included overseeing public involvement in the comprehensive plan process.

Village Manager Dane Bragg said moving forward without a community engagement manager is feasible since, "You're not going to see anything that's going to be public-facing on the project this year."

He said it is also urgent that the village make progress on a land-use map.

"The future land-use map is a critical component of the comprehensive plan project and we want to get moving on that future land-use map as soon as we possibly can, because that is going to guide us in any development and redevelopment activities that are going to come before the board," he said.

Elements of the community engagement program need to be better defined, Bragg added.

"If I asked all seven of the board members to define what would be in a community engagement program, I would have at least seven different answers with variations thereto," he said.

Trustee Jeffrey Berman said it makes sense to proceed with the comprehensive plan and use an outside consultant to handle community engagement.