CMAP's quarterly "e-blast" newsletter for metropolitan Chicago's 284 municipalities briefly highlights local planning resources that can help communities implement livability recommendations from the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan. To learn more or request printed copies of the toolkits highlighted below, please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802).
Updated Municipal Directory now available
The new CMAP Municipal Directory is available on our Council of Mayors web page. Last published in August 2011, the directory contains general contact information for Mayors/Presidents, City/Village Clerks, and City/Village Managers/Administrators. Please contact Sherry Kane (skane@cmap.illinois.gov) to suggest additional updates to the directory.
Cook County seeks municipal input on Planning for Progress
In January and February, Cook County and CMAP will host several subregional interactive workshops as part of the County's Planning for Progress effort. The objective is to seek a higher quality of life for residents by strategically planning for future housing, community, and economic development needs throughout Cook County. Municipal staff, residents, and other interested stakeholders can register for public workshops on January 29 in Berwyn and February 4 in Arlington Heights, as well as provide input via a short on-line survey through January 31 (also available in Spanish). The project is part of CMAP's LTA program.
Suburban and city neighborhoods rethink parking strategies to promote livability
The CMAP Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program is helping two different communities address a shared concern: how to better manage parking in a way that supports local businesses and increases livability for local residents. Both DuPage County's Village of Hinsdale and Chicago's Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce/Special Service Area #33 (WPB) are developing parking management plans to address congestion, pricing and availability of parking, and transportation alternatives. Both projects are using CMAP's Parking Strategies to Support Livable Communities toolkit, which explores how parking affects community vitality and how to understand and solve different parking challenges. The toolkit, created through CMAP's Local Ordinances and Toolkits program, will also inform upcoming parking management LTA plans and studies Berwyn and downtown Chicago.
Upcoming 2014 toolkits and model ordinances
CMAP is developing new resources in 2014 through its Local Ordinances and Toolkits program. These toolkits can be used both as standalone resources by municipal planning staff and as the foundation for future LTA plans. Upcoming toolkits will focus on topics such as immigrant integration, Complete Streets, sustainability planning, fair housing, and housing policy plans. CMAP's Working Committees will provide feedback as these toolkits are created over the coming months. To learn more or give feedback, contact Drew Williams-Clark (awilliamsclark@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8770). Existing toolkits provide model ordinance language and other useful guidance on topics like water conservation, local food, form-based codes, climate adaptation, arts and culture, and more.
Community Snapshots now include Chicago Community Areas
In December, CMAP published Community Data Snapshots for the 77 Chicago Community Areas. These snapshots, which summarize demographics, housing, employment, transportation habits, retail sales, property values, and land use data, are easy-to-print PDFs grouped on the web both alphabetically and by county. Snapshots for the region's 284 municipalities and seven counties were made available in October, and all data profiles will be updated periodically as additional American Community Survey data is released. The next data update will take place later this winter.