Frequently Asked Questions

Who was responsible for advancing this phase of the IL53/120 project?

In 2014 and 2015, the Illinois Tollway, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), and Lake County partnered on a combined, two-pronged effort to examine the feasibility of the Illinois Route 53/120 project from a finance and land use standpoint. The Tollway’s feasibility analysis primarily focused on financing, and CMAP’s efforts focused on developing a corridor land use plan. Lake County was involved as a partner on both of these efforts.

What is the Illinois Route 53/120 Corridor Land Use Plan?

The Blue Ribbon Advisory Council (BRAC) recommended the production of a corridor plan that integrates land use,transportation, economic development and open space. New roadway development can often bring unwanted results without adequate prior planning because of a rise in traffic, disruptions to environmental systems, and lack of forethought about desired future land uses. The Council recommends creating a corridor plan that is based on the integration and preservation of open space and natural areas, multi-modal connections, market-feasible development, and congestion relief. Specifically, the BRAC recommended the following as guidance for development of the land use plan:

• Utilize a market-driven approach to assess the feasibility of future land use change, including analysis of employment trends, potential commercial and industrial development, and the housing mix that is likely to occur if the proposed Route 53/120 is built.
• Balance economic development, open space, and community character goals across municipalities to encourage development of vibrant communities in central Lake County.
• Formulate a multi-jurisdictional economic development strategy to ensure the best possible economic future for central Lake County. Address planning for development desired by targeted industries as well as business attraction strategies.
• Provide strategies for communities to encourage mixed use, pedestrian-friendly and/or transit-supportive land uses where feasible in order to reduce congestion, air pollution, vehicle miles traveled, and GHG emissions.
• Design the land use and transportation system to facilitate walking and biking, transit, increase local connectivity, and manage the increased local road traffic that will likely follow completion of the road and associated new development.
• Develop an integrated open space system that not only includes the protection and restoration of conservation lands, but also meet residents’ and workers’ needs for recreation and open space in the corridor.

What is the area that was considered as part of this land use planning effort?

The study area is roughly bound by Lake Cook Road on the south, I-94 on the east, IL 12 on the west, and the Chain O’ Lakes on the north. The land use plan and analysis considered the area within a two-mile buffer study area of the IL 53/120 corridor bound by these limits.

Who is leading the corridor land use plan effort?

The corridor land use plan was managed by CMAP and guided by a Land Use Committee consisting of representatives of the corridor municipalities and other stakeholders.

What did the Land Use Committee do?

The Land Use Committee participated in and helped guide the land use planning effort. At the end of the planning effort, the Land Use Committee voted to approve the land use plan by passing this motion.

What was the deliverable of the land use planning effort?

This effort produced a land use strategy for the entire corridor (not parcel-by-parcel), and more detailed recommendations for areas expected to undergo significant change as a result of the construction of the facility.

How long did the land use planning effort take?

This phase of work was completed in approximately two years.

Why were we engaged in another land use planning process? Didn’t the Blue Ribbon Advisory Council process clear the way for the road to be built?

The BRAC process, report, and resolution established a common understanding and agreement about the principles, practices, performance standards, and design standards that should be used for subsequent steps, one of which was the land use planning effort, as recommended by the BRAC report. Facilities such as Illinois Route 53/120 can have significant impacts on the area through which it runs, and the land use planning effort was intended to prepare adequately and appropriately to address those impacts.

How were CMAP’s land use planning effort and the Tollway’s feasibility analysis related to each other and to the Illinois Route 53/120 facility itself?

These were distinct efforts, but information and insight was shared continuously. The representatives of the three agencies and the BRAC committee chairs comprised a core team to ensure coordination. The results of both efforts were intended to inform the Illinois Route 53/120 facility project itself if it moves forward to construction.

This project has been studied and debated for many years, yet it has not been built. What was different this time?

Lake County’s population has well exceeded growth forecasts conducted 10-15 years ago. As a result, congestion and accessibility to employment centers in this part of the region is even more real and apparent than it was back then. Subsequently, the project has gained both regional and local momentum as evidenced by its inclusion in the region’s GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan (adopted in 2010) and Lake County’s 2009 approval of a non-binding referendum that favors the project be built.

Shortly after the adoption of GO TO 2040, the Tollway convened the IL 53/120 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council (BRAC) to bring together key project stakeholders (including environmental and transportation advocacy groups, the business community, and elected officials) to determine whether there was regional consensus on the project and whether the Tollway should move forward to develop a feasibility analysis. The BRAC’s work concluded with a resolution and summary report, released in June 2012. Consistent with GO TO 2040, the BRAC’s report recommended innovative design features, financing options, and market-driven, multijurisdictional land use planning. Specifically, the BRAC recommended that CMAP manage the development of a corridor plan that integrates land use, transportation, economic development, and open space (p. 67 of the BRAC Report).

The land use strategy builds on the progress of the BRAC and was intended to identify challenges and create recommendations regarding land use, open space, community character, and economic development before further progress is made with road design and engineering.

Was the public involved in the land use planning effort?

The land use plan effort included public engagement specifically designed to involve residents, business owners, and others with an interest in the project in a conversation about the corridor land use plan. A number of public workshops were held in various locations throughout the corridor.

Who should I contact to learn more about the land use planning effort?

For questions about the Land Use Strategy, contact Jason Navota at [email protected].

Will the road be built in my lifetime?

The Tollway’s Feasibility analysis, which examined financing for the road, assumed construction of the facility would begin in 2018.

I don’t want this road to be built. Who should I talk to?

If you have comments or questions about whether or not the road should be built, please contact your county board representative.