CMAP Media Tip Sheet

January 23, 2013

This tip sheet briefly summarizes newsworthy activities of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Reporters should contact Justine Reisinger (312-386-8802 and jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov) or Hillary Green (312-386-8619 and hgreen@cmap.illinois.gov) for more information.

CMAP receives first-ever National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Agency

The American Planning Association (APA) has selected CMAP as its first-ever recipient of the National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Agency. The award honors a public sector planning agency that has continually produced a program of exceptional work that has elevated awareness about planning. "In a relatively short period after its founding, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning was able to organize, build consensus for, and start the implementation of a comprehensive regional plan," said Ann C. Bagley, 2013 APA Awards Jury chair. "The plan addresses issues beyond what a traditional comprehensive plan would include, such as tax policy, local food, workforce development, coordinated investment, and economic innovation." CMAP is proud to share this national recognition with its local government, business, and civic partners whose efforts are vitally important for the implementation of our region's GO TO 2040 comprehensive plan. See www.planning.org/awards/2013 for list of other APA 2013 awardees. The APA will present the award at its April national conference in Chicago. Please contact Justine Reisinger if you are interested in attending the conference.

Number of new rental units in region expected to jump in 2013-14

The latest CMAP Housing Policy Update finds that, as of the third quarter of 2012, new residential development in the region is on the rise, while existing home values are still showing the recession's effects. Metropolitan Chicago is trailing other regions in terms of both housing value recovery and new residential permits. However, many new rental units now under construction -- due in part to a number of senior and market-rate multifamily rental projects being developed in the suburbs -- are projected to drive the regional total higher this year and next, as shown in this chart. The CMAP analysis also highlighted an increase of multifamily housing in the outer areas of the region and a growing proportion of single-family building permits in the City of Chicago and inner-ring counties. GO TO 2040 encourages municipalities to plan for their housing needs and to tailor affordable housing policy options into an appropriate plan for their community. With the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Metropolitan Mayors Council, CMAP is helping clusters of municipalities to develop long-term housing policy plans through theHomes for a Changing Region program.

Addison completes its comprehensive plan and Waukegan begins its commercial corridor plan with CMAP Local Technical Assistance

On January 7, Addison's Village Board voted unanimously to adopt its updated comprehensive plan, which was developed with support from the CMAPLocal Technical Assistance (LTA) program. CMAP assists with project implementation for two years following plan adoption, such as reviews to ensure zoning ordinances match priorities of newly updated comprehensive plans. In other LTA news, Waukegan is kicking off development of a commercial corridor plan along Washington Street with a series of public meetings between January 22 and 24. A January update for all LTA projects is now available at www.cmap.illinois.gov/lta.

Stormwater utilities are a valuable tool to address local flooding problems and more, according to new CMAP guide

A new CMAP publication describes how local governments can usestormwater utilitiesto address local flooding and drainage problems. A federal survey in 2008 found that municipalities in the Chicago region had a stormwater funding backlog of $233 per household. The report is being sent to all municipalities, counties, and legislators in the region.

Park Forest sustainability efforts get a lift from CMAP's high school leadership program

This year, high school students in CMAP'sFuture Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program&are helping the Village of Park Forest to implement aspects of itssustainability plan, which was developed through the CMAP LTA program. Two students fromGlobal Girl Media Chicagoshadowed the FLIP program on a field trip to the Village in November and created avideoabout the experience.

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About CMAP

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is the comprehensive regional planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. By state and federal law, CMAP is responsible for producing the region's official, integrated plan for land use and transportation. The agency's innovative GO TO 2040 planning campaign develops and implements strategies to shape the region's transportation system and development patterns, while also addressing the natural environment, economic development, housing, education, human services, and other factors shaping quality of life. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.