Route 30 Corridor Implementation Plan
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Draft for Discussion Purposes Only Route 30 Corridor Implementation Plan Village of New Lenox | January 11, 2013 New Lenox Route 30 Corridor Implementation Plan Existing Conditions Synthesis Report Table of Contents Section 00: Introduction i Section 01: Past Plans & Studies 01 Section 02: Community Outreach 03 Section 03: Existing Land Use & Development 16 Section 04: Current Zoning & Regulatory Controls 19 Section 05: Transportation & Mobility 22 Section 06: Character Zones, Streetscape, & Urban Design 25 Section 07: Issues & Opportunities 29 Introduction This Synthesis Report presents the existing physical condi- Predominately a commercial corridor dating back to before tions, identifies the issues and opportunities, and summarizes Regional Setting World War II, Route 30 has long served as a center for retail Corridor Planning Process the first steps of the planning process for the New Lenox U.S. The Village of New Lenox is located approximately 40 miles and office activity. Today, the corridor boasts approximately The planning process for this study entails six different steps. Route 30 Corridor Implementation Plan. Since there has al- southwest of downtown Chicago. It is a predominantly resi- 90 businesses. A relatively high automobile traffic volume on This report contains documentation for steps one through ready been a Route 30 Corridor Revitalization Plan developed dential suburban community of approximately 25,000 people, Route 30 helps accommodate and attract a range of com- three. for the Village back in 2006, this interim report is not meant and its municipal boundaries encompass approximately 16 mercial activity. The Study Area is adjacent to the New Lenox Step 1: Project Initiation – the “kick-off ” for the project to be an exhaustive inventory of all the conditions and issues, square miles. The Village has excellent transportation connec- Commons, which is the central green space for the community » involves meeting with the steering committee but rather an overview to serve as a starting point for develop- tivity with direct access to downtown Chicago and the greater and features several important civic uses. ing the Corridor’s implementation plan. metro area via Interstates 80 and 355 and the Rock Island » Step 2: Community Outreach—workshops were held with Metra line. community members and an on-line project website pro- The report documents existing conditions regarding the Route vided a forum for community feedback, which includes a 30 Corridor, as obtained from on-site field research; the vari- Route 30 is a Historic Byway and principal arterial road con- Purpose of the project mapping tool necting a string of south and west suburban Chicago com- ous workshops and key person interviews which provides Step 3: Existing Conditions Inventory and Analysis—in- munities from Aurora, through Joliet, and east into Indiana. Implementation Plan » helpful insight into the assets and challenges of the Corridor; cludes field reconnaissance, mapping, past plans and studies Through New Lenox, Route 30 is a commercial corridor that The purpose of the Implementation Plan will be to take reviewing previous plans and studies related to the Corridor review including land use, zoning, infrastructure, and transportation; parallels the Rock Island Metra rail line. The Corridor inter- action on multi-modal transportation efforts and aesthetic Step 4: “Core” Plans and Recommendations—provides and summarizes results collected from the planning mapper sects with Interstate 80 at the western edge of the Village. character and beautification efforts by refining components of » recommendations on land use and development, urban tool made available on the project website. the Corridor Revitalization Plan (completed in 2006), generat- The Village boasts a high quality public school system, out- ing new ideas for improving the corridor based on commu- design, multi-modal transportation, and implementation and Portions of the information and findings from this report will door recreational areas, and excellent transportation connec- nity input, and identifying possible funding sources for these funding strategies be carried forward into the final Implementation Plan while tivity via Interstate 80 and the Rock Island Metra rail line. The efforts. The Village of New Lenox, prompted by some recent » Step 5: Illustrative Development Concepts and Site Plan— some of the information will remain only in this document. Village is near the city of Joliet and is located in Will County. developments (namely the New Lenox Commons and recent preparing site concepts for priority sites along corridor Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) improvements Step 6: Document Preparation—present draft and final This report is organized into the following sections: » to Route 30 east of the Study Area), is interested in revisiting documents to steering committee planning along the corridor by preparing for implementation. » Section 1 – Past Plans and Studies Study Area Setting » Section 2 – Community Outreach The Study Area for the New Lenox U.S. Route 30 Corridor Implementation Plan focuses on U.S. Route 30, or Lincoln » Section 3 – Existing Land Use and Development Highway, through the historic commercial core of New Lenox » Section 4 – Current Zoning and Regulatory Controls from Interstate 80 on the west to the Norfolk and Western » Section 5 – Transportation and Mobility Railroad line on the east. The Study Area extends just north » Section 6 – Character and Streetscape of Route 30 to the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad (C.R.I & P) line, which connects freight and passenger trains » Section 7 – Issues and Opportunities to Chicago and Joliet. The New Lenox Metra Station, located along the railroad line at the intersection of Route 30 and Cedar Road, provides commuter train service to downtown Chicago. Village of New Lenox | Existing Conditions Synthesis Report i WORKING DRAFT K A N E 55 355 K A N E LAKE 88 MICHIGAN 45 Legend D U P A G E D U P A G E C O O K Route 30 Corridor Study Area 34 90 Village Hall Metra Station 294 Railroad 94 80 Interstate/Highway 55 Arterial/Collector 30 57 355 30 80 6 K E N D A L L 80 30 52 30 Route 30 Corridor Study Area 80 Village of New Lenox W I L L 57 55 45 G R U N D Y Village of New Lenox Municipalities N K A N K A K E E Unicorporated Forest Preserves ChicagoChicago RegionRegion VillageVillage ofof NewNew LenoxLenox SECTION Regional Setting The Village of New Lenox is located approximately 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It is a predominantly residential suburban community of approximately 25,000 people, and its municipal boundaries encompass approximately 16 square miles. The Village has excellent transportation connectivity with direct access to downtown Chicago and the greater metro area via Inter- states 80 and 355 and the Rock Island Metra line. The Village boasts a high quality public school system, outdoor recreational areas, and a new civic green area (The New Lenox Commons) all of which contribute to a high amount of hometown pride. Route 30 is a Historic Byway and principal arterial road connecting a string of south and west suburban Chicago communities Route 30 & I-80 Route 30 & Vine Route 30 & Cedar from Aurora, through Joliet, and east into Indiana. Through New Lenox, Route 30 is a commercial corridor that parallels the Route 30 & I-80 Route 30 & Vine Route 30 & Cedar Rock Island Metra rail line. The corridor intersects with Interstate 80 at the western edge of the Village. ii Existing Conditions Synthesis Report | Village of New Lenox WORKING DRAFT Past Plans & Studies There are many Village plans and studies that have direct The plan features a future land use map that identifies areas impacts on the future development of the Route 30 Corridor. Comprehensive Plan for residential, commercial, and light industrial growth as well Route 30 Corridor The following section contains a brief summary of the past Update (2004) as areas to be protected and preserved. The future land use Revitalization Plan (2006) plans and studies completed prior to the development of this map corresponds to the Village’s goals and objectives. A set The Village of New Lenox’s Comprehensive Plan Update is The Route 30 Corridor Implementation Plan project picks Synthesis Report. A more comprehensive analysis of the cur- of land use and development policies were developed to help the guiding policy document that holistically addresses future up where the Route 30 Corridor Revitalization Plan left off. rent Municipal Code of Ordinance can be found in Section 04 inform how different types of development (i.e. residential growth for the Village. The plan covers a wide range of plan- In this light, the Revitalization Plan informs the Implementa- – Current Zoning. conservation subdivision) should be organized, oriented, and, ning issues including future land use, transportation, commu- tion Plan. Recognizing the importance of U.S. Route 30 as a to a certain extent, designed. nity facilities, parks and recreation, and utilities infrastructure. historic byway, commercial corridor, and transportation thor- Existing conditions analysis and a demographic community One strength of the plan is its focus on implementation oughfare, the Revitalization Plan addresses present and future Current Regulations, profile capture the community’s assets and opportunities. Pop- strategies. Creating new development regulations, changing issues and opportunities pertaining to land use, transportation ulation and other demographic projections inform that plan’s the zoning ordinance, creating a capital improvement plan, infrastructure, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, and urban Plans and Studies recommendations for accommodating a growing population. instituting impact fees, and pursuing grant funds are all ideas design/community character. Completed in 2006, the first » Municipal Code of Ordinances that mobilize the plan’s recommendations. part of the plan evaluates existing land uses, zoning, traffic, The plan is guided by a set of goals and objectives. Future » Comprehensive Plan Update (2004) parking, public transportation, and other physical conditions land use and growth management that focuses on fostering of the corridor.