Barrington nearing vote on comprehensive plan update, sets March 16 public hearing
After two surveys and 10 community meetings, the village of Barrington is nearing completion of 2020 comprehensive plan and will hold a public hearing on the document March 16.
The plan, updated every 10 years, is the official policy guide for future development and improvements throughout the village. The 2020 plan, currently in draft form, is primarily "a refresh" of the 2010 plan, with updates based largely on community feedback, said Jennifer Tennant, the village's assistant director of development services.
"There is really an expanded focus on environmental sustainability, bike and pedestrian enhancements - specifically connectivity, crosswalks, safety, those types of things - and also economic development," she said. The latter, entailing business retention and attraction, is a full chapter of the draft plan, rather than a goal sprinkled throughout, she said.
Others goals include continuing to revitalize the village center and the Route 14 business corridor, and preserving the town's historic character.
Ten community meetings, attended by about 340 people, were held in 2019 and early 2020, mostly at village hall, with one at The Garlands of Barrington retirement community. The last few took place virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A large-scale residents' survey conducted in 2019 had 1,111 respondents. A survey done in 2018 for property owners in the historic district had 176 respondents.
The village, incorporated in 1865, had an estimated 10,217 residents in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"We are very excited that we had such great community feedback and such great participation level. That made this project a lot more fun and a lot easier," Tennant said.
Marie Hansen, development services director, said that upcoming bike and pedestrian enhancement projects include a new access drive the north commuter parking lots of the Barrington Metra station. The drive, with a new traffic signal and pedestrian crossing, will be off Northwest Highway, about 1,000 feet south of Main Street and adjacent to the current Barrington Animal Hospital.
The village will be using $2 million in federal funds and 630,000 of its own funds for the project, Hansen said.
Another project is a multiuse path along the north side of Main Street, west of Hager Avenue to Hart Road, and along the east side of Hart Road north to Route 14, Hansen said. The village received preliminary design approval at the end of 2020 and phase 2 detailed design is expected early this year, she said. The total project cost is estimated at $1 million, with about $800,000 in federal funds and $200,000 in village funds.
The village's plan commission and village board reviewed the 2020 comprehensive plan draft in January and February. If all proceeds on track, final approval is expected at the April 26 village board meeting.
The public hearing will be held by the plan commission March 16 on Zoom. For more information and to view the draft plan visit barrington-il.gov/government/departments/development_services/comprehensive_plan_2020.php.
Public comment can be submitted in three ways: during the virtual hearing, with instructions provided at the beginning of the meeting; by emailing jtennant@barrington-il.gov by 5 p.m. March 16; or by leaving a voicemail at (847) 304-3462 by 5 p.m. March 16.