‘Vision’ for Campton Hills getting closer
Efforts by Campton Hills leaders to craft the first comprehensive plan for the nearly five-year-old village are progressing and possibly on pace to unveil a final document this summer.
Officials have called a joint meeting with the village board and plan commission Jan. 23 to view two possible land-use plans along with goals and strategies formulated by two groups assisting the village, the Elmhurst-based Conservation Design Forum and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
“It’s a step in the process. It’s helpful for people to see the application of ideas in map form,” said David Yocca, principal landscape architect and planner for the Conservation Design Forum, who noted the two scenarios are still being revised.
The village hosted several meetings last year to get input from residents.
The public will get a chance to chime in on a draft of the plan in late February or early March.
Yocca said Campton Hills residents overwhelmingly want to preserve their rural lifestyle, open space and natural resources.
The challenge is trying to maintain and expand open space with limited tax resources and balancing development rights for private property with some residents who want limited or no development in the village.
“(A comprehensive plan) is an expression of the collective vision of a community. It’s a good tool to help communication within the village and to a larger group of where the village could like to go,” Yocca said. “Where the potential friction is how to go about achieving those things long term.”
Village President Patsy Smith said it would be good to have a plan in place by the summer, but there’s no rush to hit a specific deadline.
“As far as I can see, we’re on schedule,” she said. “There’s really no pressure to do it sooner or later. We want to have a good document.”
The Jan. 23 meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Campton Township Community Center, 5N082 Old La Fox Road, Campton Hills.