The City of Naperville drafted its first Comprehensive Master Plan in 1960. Though there have been minor changes over the years, the last major updates were made in the 1990s.
“The city has done a good job of small area planning and as issues arise in specific geographic areas, tackling those areas specifically,” said Devin Lavigne, a principal at Houseal Lavigne Associates – the firm Naperville has hired to aid in the process. “Holistically, though, looking at the entire city, I guess you could say this is long overdue.”
“A guide for development”
But what exactly is the master plan used for?
“The comprehensive plan is a guide for development,” said Allison Laff, Naperville’s deputy director of transportation, engineering, and development. “It is what we look at to determine when a development application comes in if it would be appropriate for an area in the city. So it’s really our first look to see what should or should not be supported when a petition is submitted.”
Houseal Lavigne Associates’ first move was to gather resident input on what they see as major issues in the city. They hosted workshops at the Municipal Center and the 95th Street Library to give residents the chance to speak up.
“I think it’s a good first step. It’s good to understand what the residents are interested in and what the residents care about,” said Daniel Zeman, a Naperville resident who attended one of the meetings.
Plenty of Input
Residents suggested dozens of issues to address, such as affordable housing, traffic, and making Naperville a “smart city.”
Lavigne said that info will help guide the discussion as the Comprehensive Master Plan is written over the next several months.
“We need to hear from the residents of the community, the business owners of the community, the community stakeholders, all the facility-providers. We need to find out what their priorities are and our job is to sit and to listen and to articulate the right vision for the city,” said Lavigne.
You Can Still Participate
If you were unable to attend the workshop, you can still participate by filling out a questionnaire on the city’s website or picking up a DIY kit at the Municipal Center to host your own workshop.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.
