CMAP Media Tip Sheet

April 24, 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.

Chinatown leaders initiate neighborhood's first community-led plan in over a century through CMAP Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program

In partnership with the CMAP LTA program, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community and 25th Ward Alderman Daniel Solis will lead development of a Chinatown Community Vision Plan, the first community-developed plan for the neighborhood since Chicago's Chinatown moved from the southern edge of downtown to its current location centered at Cermak Avenue and Wentworth Road in 1912. Government, business, and civic leaders from Chicago's Chinatown gathered recently to launch the year-long planning process, which is described at www.cmap.illinois.gov/lta/chinatown. Residents can submit ideas for the plan by attending public meetings or filling out "Postcards from the Future," which are available around the neighborhood, as well as electronically on the project web page. In other LTA news, the Village of Riverside has now adopted its Central Business District plan. An April update for all LTA projects is now available at www.cmap.illinois.gov/lta.

New CMAP toolkit helps communities plan for the physical character of development

Form-Based Codes: A Step-by-Step Guide for Communities is a new handbook from CMAP's Local Ordinances and Toolkits program. As communities have sought to reinvigorate their downtowns or create viable commercial corridors, many have found that conventional zoning methods geared to regulating land use may not address certain physical characteristics that contribute to a community's "sense of place." Form-based codes offer an alternative by emphasizing the physical character of development. The guide explains what form-based codes are and how they are created.

CMAP report explores importance of links between manufacturing and infrastructure

In the new era of advanced manufacturing, the link between infrastructure and competitiveness will become even more important. A recent Policy Updates blog describes how manufacturing relies on an efficient transportation system for complex supply-chain moves and access to new markets. CMAP Executive Director Randy Blankenhorn will discuss the Regional Manufacturing Cluster "drill-down" report at the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation's quarterly meeting on April 26 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Ravisloe Country Club (18231 Park Avenue, Homewood).

CMAP's high school leadership program hosts Park Forest sustainability fair

On May 4 from noon to 2:00 p.m., student participants in CMAP's Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program will hold a Sustainability Fair at Rich East High School (300 Sauk Trail, Park Forest). This year, FLIP students came up with ways to help implement the Park Forest sustainability plan, which was developed through CMAP's LTA program. Applications are alsoavailablefor next year's FLIP program. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the 2013-14 school year are eligible. For more information, contact Ricardo Lopez (rlopez@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8766).

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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.