Agency director visits McHenry County board

McHenry County leaders still have some doubts about the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's vision for the region over the next 30 years, but a personal appearance Tuesday by the agency's top administrator helped ease some of officials' concerns.

CMAP Executive Director Randy Blankenhorn spoke before the McHenry County Board Tuesday night hoping to win over county support for the agency's Go To 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan, a 416-page plan outlining its ideas for growth and development of the seven-county Chicago area.

"We really believe that, for the most part, we're on the same page as you," Blankenhorn told board members. "If we're not, then we're making a big mistake."

Blankenhorn's appearance comes just two weeks after the board sent a formal letter to CMAP objecting to several key portions of the plan.

Among the suggestions most troubling to county board members were calls for tax changes that they believe would lead to higher taxes, and higher fees or taxes on commuters who travel farther distances or use main roads at peak traffic times. McHenry County has a large portion of residents who commute out of the county, often long distances, for work.

Blankenhorn defended some of those proposals and said board moments were misreading others.

The only proposed tax hike in the plan, he said, was one on gasoline.

"We feel a gas tax is the best way to fund out transportation infrastructure needs," he said.

User fees for drivers at peak traffic times, he added, would ease congestion and act as an incentive for people to stay off the roads at those time.

"To us, it's more about the efficiency of moving people, moving trucks, moving goods than it is a revenue source," he said.

Blankenhorn also tried to dispel concerns that CMAP eventually would use the plan as a way to take control of planning decisions away from local bodies, saying "that's not our job; it's your job."

Tina Hill, chairman of the county board's Planning and Development Committee, gave Blankenhorn's appearance positive marks.

"Do we still have concerns because McHenry County is so different than the other counties in the plan? Yes," she said. "But I think he recognizes that, so I appreciate that acknowledgment."

The CMAP board is scheduled to vote on the plan, which can be viewed at goto2040.org/plandocs, in October.