Suzan’ River, Resources, Resiliency: The Hancock County Way Hancock County Comprehensive Plan 2014 Prepared for Hancock County by the Western Illinois Regional Council September 2014 Rivers, Resources, Resiliency: The Hancock County Way Comprehensive Plan 2014 Table of Contents Introduction 1. Geography 3. History 5. County Profile 10. County Perceptions 27. Goals, Objectives and Recommendations 46. Implementation Strategies 60. Summary 77. Attachments Definitions 78. Survey Instrument 81. Survey Report (portion not included in County/Perceptions) 89. HAZUS Analysis 129. Hazard Mitigation Plan 139. Transportation Sectional Maps 147. Water and Sewer Facilities Floodplain Location Maps 156. Township Acreage Percentages by Land Use Type 159. Land Use Type Percentages by Township 185. Current and Future Land Use/Transportation Maps CD Table of Contents Hancock County Comprehensive Plan 2014 Introduction: Meeting the changing needs of Hancock County Hancock County has never of which has been taken into been implemented by local undertaken the task of developing consideration while preparing this ordinances. The Plan sets forth a comprehensive plan. In 2013, document. general planning policies and with funding received from a appropriation of land uses. The Plan special flood related grant, the The Hancock County Comprehensive should be used as a tool for the County Board decided to initiate the Plan, hereafter referred to as the County Board while developing local planning process. Subsequently, a Plan, is the official long range policy and during the implementation Planning Commission was development policy document for of activities that impact local established by the County Board as the County. According to the Illinois development in the county. The Plan the committee to oversee the Compiled Statutes (55 ILCS, Chapter serves as the basis for coordination of process. The Western Illinois 5), every county may create a plan physical resources based on Regional Council was hired to commission, planning department, or corporeal, social, economic and facilitate and assist in the process. both. The powers of the plan environmental factors and should be A community-wide survey, key commission most significantly augmented, as needed, to meet the leader public meetings, in addition surround the creation of the ever changing needs of the County. to meetings with the Planning comprehensive plan. An official The County Board has made Commission were conducted comprehensive plan must be information available to assist in between August 2013 and approved and formally adopted by understanding the planning process September 2014 to gather, study the appropriate authorities, in this and has encouraged citizen and interpret information and to case, the Hancock County Board. involvement. formulate goals, objectives and The comprehensive plan is advisory strategies. Much input has been and does not regulate or control the received throughout this process, all use of private property unless it has Introduction Hancock County Comprehensive Plan 2014 1. INTRODUCTION The major components of the Plan are primarily narrative. There are also several maps that have been produced which graphically depict land use and transportation routes. More specifically, the information included in the Plan is presented as follows: HISTORICAL the Plan. Goals are long term, overall response to issues, PERSPECTIVE general statements of desired maintaining that there might be direction. Objectives consist of more minimal inconsistencies between A brief history of the development specific steps that can be developed individual strategies. Further, not all of the county. and accomplished to achieve the objectives can be resolved to the overall long-term goals. The same degree as it is imperative that GEOGRAPHICAL recommendations listed are more the County maintain a degree of PERSPECTIVE specific ways to achieve the flexibility within the process in order individual objectives. to maximize all practicable options. A concise detail of the physical characteristics of the county. IMPLEMENTATION The Plan maps are generalized STRATEGIES graphics which depict current uses of COUNTY land and transportation routes and PROFILE The strategies listed in this section of recommended future uses. In the Plan identify specific actions that addition, there is a map depicting An identification of current attributes the Hancock County Board and other recommendations for improvement and trends within the county. The governmental entities and and/or creation of additional data collected for this section of the organizations can take to achieve transportation pathways. In many plan was compiled by reviewing the Plan’s goals and objectives. instances, there may not be changes the most recent U. S. Census, Illinois These items may include changes to to what is currently found within the Institute for Rural Affairs’ reports, the local ordinances, codes and County. However, in certain Western Illinois Comprehensive methods for funding various circumstances, there will be Economic Development Strategy recommendations. allowances made for development and various site surveys. where beneficial for the overall county. The graph representations MAPS COUNTY included in this Plan should not be utilized independently from the PERCEPTIONS The Plan includes the classification narrative or take precedence over A detailed county survey was maps of current land use, future land the written portion of the Plan. mailed randomly throughout the use, and current and future county and made available to all transportation. These maps outline A draft comprehensive plan was residents via the internet, at local how land is currently being used; the made available throughout the libraries and at the County recommendations for future County on August 27, 2014. A public Courthouse. The survey covered a development and land use; and the hearing was held on September 15, broad range of topics that were recommendations for future 2014 to formally present the Plan by included in the overall long-range transportation development. the Planning Commission. Following goals and objectives of the Plan. the recommendations of the Planning The survey instrument is included in The goals, objectives and Commission, the Plan was submitted the appendix. implementation strategies contained to the full Hancock County Board for in this plan are not presented in any its consideration at its meeting on GOALS, OBJECTIVES, particular order of importance. The September 16, 2014. The Plan was formally adopted at that time. & RECOMMENDATIONS County recognizes that consensus is not always unanimous. While This portion of the document is one distinguishing these differences, the of the most significant elements of Plan attempts to consider the best Introduction Hancock County Comprehensive Plan 2014 2. XXX Geography: Prairie Lands to Streams & Rivers to Bluffs & Valleys A TRI-STATE region with a population of 40,633. There are two operating rail lines CONNECTION Illinois Route 336, recently completed that serve the county. BNSF Railway in 2008, is a four lane limited access (Burlington North and Santa Fe highway between Quincy and Railway) operates the second Hancock County is located in Macomb, Illinois, 29 miles to the east. largest Class One rail system serving western Illinois with its western The highway runs through the the western United States. BNSF boundary being defined by the southeast corner of the county operates the rail line that extends Mississippi River. The river is a serving the county seat of Carthage. from Chicago to Dallas City, Illinois critically important waterway in the The stretch of Route 336 between and Fort Madison, Iowa. This rail line United States and is the fourth Tennessee, Illinois and Carthage is is also used by Amtrak, with a station largest river in the world. Hancock also designated as U. S. Route 136. located in Fort Madison. The second County ranks 16th in size of the 102 Route 136/336 splits at Carthage with line is a Class Three railroad 1 counties in Illinois with a total land Route 136 continuing west to Keokuk, operated by Keokuk Junction area of 805.69 square miles. Iowa and Route 336 continuing to Railway Company, which runs from Hancock County's western border is Quincy. Nineteen miles to the north Hamilton in the southwest corner of adjacent to both the Iowa and lies the City of Burlington (pop. the county to LaHarpe in the Missouri state borders. 25,663). Currently there are two northeast corner of the county before bridges that cross the Mississippi splitting to join with the BNSF Hancock County is positioned 41 River. The U. S. Route 136 bridge railroad. Amtrak passenger rail miles to the north of Quincy, Illinois connects Keokuk, Iowa with service to Chicago is also available located in Adams County, which is Hamilton, Illinois and IL Route 9 approximately 15 minutes from the the largest population hub in the bridge connects the northwest tip of county line in Macomb . Hancock County with Fort Madison, Iowa. Geography Hancock County Comprehensive Plan 2014 3. THE MIGHTY associated with soil type associations Three and Four, which are suitable MISSISSIPPI for grasses and legumes. The majority of forest land found in the Most of Hancock County consists of county has soil association Four. flat upland prairies. These prairies have been eroded by streams and Rain and climate are also large rivers, resulting in bluffs and valleys. factors in the success of agriculture. The county watershed is