Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
Regular MeetingNiles, IL · October 6, 2020
Minutes
Niles 2040 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
7:00 PM
FINAL Meeting Minutes
Attendance:
Project Steering Committee: Colin Baker, Michael DeSantiago, Adam Konopka, Janet Lee, Joe
Maccione, Denise McCreery, Dennis McEnerney, John Murphy, Craig
Niedermaier
Village Staff: Kate Lockerby, Staff Liaison/Recording Secretary, Charles Ostman, Nathan Bruemmer,
Hadley Skeffington-Vos
Consultants: Nicholas Kalogeresis (The Lakota Group)
Other Attendees: Jane Grover (CMAP), Michelle Agunloye (CMAP)
Absent: Steering Committee Members: Tom Kanelos, Scott O’Brien, Mike Shields
Trustee McCreery called the meeting to order at 7:11 PM.
A roll call was taken of the Committee.
Kate Lockerby welcomed and introduced Jane Grover, Principal with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for
Planning.
Jane Grover thanked the Village of Niles for inviting CMAP in at the beginning of the comprehensive planning
process to share the regional plans for the area as it typically does not happen.
Ms. Grover gave a presentation, outlining the demographics of the region, stating that Chicago Metro area is
the third largest metropolitan area in the country, behind New York and Los Angeles. She also outlined the
roadways that service the region, and the metro areas train and transit lines. She noted as an aside that
ridership has been significantly affected by the COVID 19 pandemic with Metra being the hardest hit and
Pace being the least impacted. The Chicago metro area also is a significant hub for freight train activity.
Ms. Grover explained the history of CMAP and its offices location. She noted that some years ago, the
federal government mandated that, if you live in a metropolitan area with more than 50,000 people, an agency
would need created to handle the federal funding that was filtered into an area. The Chicago area had 2
planning groups already – Chicago Area Transportation Study and the Northeastern Planning Council. The
State of Illinois, by legislation, combined the two agencies to create CMAP, which would house the region’s
transportation and planning efforts. She continued to outline the funding programs and explained some of
the projects in the process and past in Niles that have taken advantage of the CMAP funding programs.
Ms. Grover continued to explain that the On to 2050 plan is a long range transportation plan that regional
commissions are required complete/update every 8 years for regional planning. The plans must include a
fiscal plan and long term recommendations on housing, stormwater management, economic development,
etc. CMAP is not a legislative body that can pass ordinances. Their power is in how the funds are spent. In
order for a municipality to participate in the LTA, the plan must comply with the On to 2050 plan.
Ms. Grover outlined some of the relevant macrotrends that are incorporated in the plan and how some
communities are dealing with these trends: changed climate, tech-enhanced transportation, walkable
communities (Walk Score.com rates Niles as a 62 in walkability). As part of the community engagement
portion of the plan, the macrotrends were tested.
There are three guiding principles in the plan: Inclusive Growth, Resilience, and Prioritized Investment. Ms.
Grover went over some of the data in the area, and that the Chicago metro area is approximately 50% of
other metropolitan areas in economic growth. One of the reasons is due to racial and economic segregation.
Ms. Grover also explained how CMAP assist communities, such as the Community Data Snapshots, flood
susceptibility index, water demand study, sidewalk inventories, Local Technical Assistance Program, virtual
webinars (CMAP Talks).
Kate Lockerby thanked Jane Grover for the presentation.
Mike DeSantiago asked about racial diversity and connection to jobs, and what is CMAP doing to help bridge
the gap in schools. Ms. Grover stated that unfortunately it is out of CMAP’s range of ambit.
Trustee McCreery asked about the budget and the number of communities served. Ms Grover responded
that they serve all 284 municipalities in the 7 county region and Chicago neighborhoods. The annual budget
is roughly $18-$20 million.
Kate Lockerby asked about the LTA program and how many applicants typically they get on an annual basis.
Ms. Grover stated that it is a competitive program with a limited amount of money. 180 projects completed
in the 10 years of the program. Fewer than 80 projects apply on an annual basis and not all are successful.
Adam Konopka asked what makes an application stick out in the process. Ms. Grover stated that the projects
must meet the three principles that guide the On to 2050 plan and more successful applications help to
implement the regional comprehensive plan.
Mike DeSantiago asked if CMAP collaborates with the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Ms. Grover
mentioned that they so, and they just collaborated on a webinar about equity. The forest preserve has been
a great partner.
Niles 2040 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Page 2 of 3
October 6, 2020 Meeting Minutes
John Murphy asked for an example of a municipality that has had success in addressing the extreme
conditions issues. Ms. Grover mentioned a project with Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
and that the LTA projects are all listed on the CMAP website and can be sorted.
Trustee Niedermaier asked about the “death of the indoor mall” which is something that we know will be a
feature of our comprehensive plan. He thinks it would be really helpful to see several case-studies that
outline good and bad examples. Does CMAP have any information about this “death of the indoor mall”
phenomena? Ms. Grover mentioned she didn’t have any information off-hand but she would ask around to
see if her colleagues knew of any information.
Mike DeSantiago asked if the walkability score of 62 good and how does that compare to Chicago and other
communities. Ms. Grover mentioned the Metra is important, typically, but we’re not sure how residential
projects near train stations will be affected by Covid.
Kate Lockerby asked if there has been any discussion amongst the CMAP employees about the affects
COVID may have on certain components of the On to 2050 Plan? She noted that open meetings are likely
permanently changed as well as working from home. Ms. Grover mentioned that it is still early to predict, but
there are 2 futures that weren’t shared tonight are more like reality right now: changing economy (shift from
labor-intensive industry to service-based industry) and constrained resources.
Joe Macchione asked how CMAP is governed. Ms. Grover explained the CMAP governance (bifurcated
governance).
Trustee McCreery thanked Ms. Grover for appearing before the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee.
Ms. Grover states she would send information to Kate Lockerby regarding the websites mentioned, and the
death of the indoor mall and what municipalities are doing about it.
Kate Lockerby noted that no public comments were received for this meeting.
Hearing no further questions from the committee, Trustee McCreery asked for a motion to adjourn the
meeting. Adam Konopka made a motion and Dennis McEnerney seconded. All were in favor. The meeting
adjourned at 8:05 pm.
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October 6, 2020 Meeting Minutes
Attachment #1: Digital Presentation from the October 6,
2020 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting
Imagine our
Future
Our region
8.5 million residents
284 municipalities
7 counties
Cars and roads
29,989 miles of roads
165 million average
vehicle miles traveled
every day
Trains and transit
7,200 miles of
passenger lines
610 million transit
passenger boardings a
year
Year-over-year Decline
in Transit Ridership
© CMAP June 2018
Why CMAP?
Feds: with more than 50,000 residents and
transportation $$$, get organized
State: combine transportation and land use
planning in one agency
© CMAP June 2018
Niles
transportation
projects
Oakton path (2021)
Touhy/Gross Point
Road intersection
improvements (2022)
etip.cmap.illinois.gov
© CMAP June 2018
Niles, CMAP local planning project
© CMAP June 2018
© CMAP June 2018
Macrotrends
© CMAP June 2018
Trend: Changed climate
• Extreme
temperatures
• Storms
• Drought
© CMAP June 2018
How do we prepare the
region for changes,
both known and
unknown?
© CMAP June 2018
Trend: Walkable communities
• Less reliance on cars
• Economic activity
• Multigenerational
needs
• Housing costs?
© CMAP June 2018
How will we meet the
lifetime needs of all
residents?
© CMAP June 2018
Trend: Tech-enhanced transportation
• Connected
• Automated
• Logistics
© CMAP June 2018
How do we target
transportation resources
to maximize benefits?
© CMAP June 2018
10
Forums
277
Workshops
100,000 + 4,750
Kiosk interactions Residents
© CMAP June 2018
© CMAP June 2018
ON TO 2050 guiding principles
Prioritized
Inclusive growth Resilience
investment
© CMAP June 2018
© CMAP June 2018
Economic
disconnection
© CMAP June 2018
How to we grow the regional
economy through
opportunity for all?
© CMAP June 2018
© CMAP June 2018
What else does
CMAP offer you?
Data
Studies
Planning assistance
CMAP Talks
Webinars
Access to parks
Virtual pubic engagement
Covid19-induced congestion surge
Municipal shared services
Explore ON TO 2050
at www.cmap.illinois.gov/2050
Read the CMAP Weekly Update
at www.cmap.illinois.gov/updates
Follow CMAP on Twitter (@onto2050),
Facebook (search “CMAP”), and
Instagram (@onto2050
© CMAP June 2018
Agenda
AGENDA
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
7:00 p.m.
Via Zoom Conference
This Electronic Meeting is open to the public and the public may submit public comment in advance. Public comments will be
accepted by email and phone call only. Public comments received by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the meeting will be read at the
beginning of the meeting. Any comments received during the meeting will be held until the end of the meeting Public Comments
should be emailed to kel@vniles.com and contain: name; address (optional); city; phone (optional); and topic for discussion. Public
with no access to email may leave a message at 847-588-8075.
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. New Business
a. Presentation by Jane Grover with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning about the ON TO
2050 Regional Plan
IV. Open Discussion
(Opportunity for questions/comments from Committee)
V. Public Comments
VI. Adjournment