City of Harvard Comprehensive Plan APPENDIX B: Existing Conditions Report April 2015 Acknowledgements Funding Acknowledgement This project was supported through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Chicago Community Trust. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) and CMAP would like to thank these funders for their support for this project. Unless otherwise specified, all photos are by CMAP staff. 2 Table of Contents Introduction 4 Housing and Population 41 Regional Context 9 Economic Development 56 Previous Plans 13 Transportation 69 Community Engagement 18 Natural Environment 89 Governance and Community Services 25 Looking Forward 112 Land Use and Development 31 3 3 1. Introduction The City of Harvard has decided to update its comprehensive plan, which will define the vision of the City’s future and the steps needed to achieve that vision. Having an accurate understanding of the existing conditions in the City is necessary in order to develop an appropriate and effective comprehensive plan that addresses the issues and concerns of the community. Why Does Harvard Need a Comprehensive Plan? The history of the City of Harvard begins with its rich agricultural lands and the connection the railroad provided to the larger markets in the Chicago region. Responding to the demands of local farmers as well as the railroad, manufacturing industries took root and the community grew rapidly. Harvard continues to boast a small-town feel nestled in among farm fields and open spaces that is quite distinct from other places in the region. Both the agricultural and manufacturing economies continue to change and have impacts on housing and commercial demand. Today, there is potential for infill development and redevelopment, particularly within downtown, along Route 14, and at the site of a former Motorola facility. To address these contemporary challenges, the City is looking to enhance its commercial corridors, industrial areas, residential neighborhoods, and transportation network. Building on its existing comprehensive plan to provide direction, the City sought out technical assistance for this project from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). The community’s physical, economic, and social character will be determined by decisions made today and in the future. Having an updated plan that clearly articulates the desired character of the community will help at all levels of the decision-making process. The updated Comprehensive Plan will serve as a guide for elected officials, municipal staff, community residents, business owners and potential investors, allowing them to make informed community development decisions affecting land use, transportation, infrastructure, and capital improvements. By following the plan, those decisions can help achieve the long-term goals and vision of the community. Figure 1.1. Harvard, Illinois Figure 1.2. Harvard and the 1.5-mile planning boundary. What is a Comprehensive Plan? A comprehensive plan outlines the vision of the community and the policies and strategies that will allow it to achieve that vision. In addition to providing a well-defined framework for the preservation and enhancement of community assets, the plan guides development and investment decisions in the best interest of community residents. Typically a comprehensive plan is written to provide guidance for a community to work towards its vision over the next 10 to 20 years. Although the plan should be viewed as a long-term document, it should also be used daily by the community to assist in land use and development decisions. The comprehensive plan should also be considered flexible and adaptable to changes in and around the community. At any time, the City can update its comprehensive plan to match local needs, interests, or opportunities. It is typically recommended that a municipality update its comprehensive plan every five years to keep the plan as accurate as possible. 4 FigureFig 1.1 1.1.Study City Area of Harvard, - Municipal Illinois. Boundary Chemung Alden township township k RD LAWRENCE e re C w nce Creek sa re a trib Law c is P OAK GROVE RD Lawrence Creek 4 1 S- U ¤£14 k e e r C r le e k trib Mo D R E V O R T G S K A N O Beck's Woods O I S S I V «¬173 Conservation I Area D Soucie N Conservation Lions Park Easement & Aquatic Center IL-173 RAMER RD W DIGGINS ST Harvard Milky Way Metra Park Station D R Z T L «¬173 U H C IL-173 «¬173 W BRINK ST S Mokeler Creek AIRPORT RD MCGUIRE RD S DIVISION ST DIVISION S Rush Creek D R Rush Creek N O Conservation R Harvard I t T r A Gateway Area ib L Dunham Hartland F N Nature Park B r K i township s township h w «¬23 a uk e e ¤£14 k 2 City of Harvard e I Metra Station US-14 e r C e IL-23 Township Boundaryn Metra Rail u rib Rus ry t h e Creek UnincorporatedG Freight Rail Open Space e Airport Community Research Cemeteries Forest Conservation Easement Water Bodies [ Van Maren 0 0.25 0.5 Conservation Streams Miles Easement 5 Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. FigureFig 1.2 1.2. Study City Area of Harvard, - Municipal Illinois Boundary and 1.5-mile plus planningPlanning area. Buffer re ALDEN RD wrence C ek t La rib W B r P isc as aw Chemung Alden C r township township W B Bangert r P Conservation is c a s US-14 Easement a Stowe w Conservation High Point Easement Conservation Area t ri b Nippe LAWRENCE RD rs in k C r e e k OAK GROVE RD t k ri Cree b Lawrence Beeson W Simon B Conservation t r Conservation r P i Easement i b s Easement c M a L o ittle s Bea a k IL-173 ve w e Crowley r l e C C 14 r r ¤£ r C Sedge e e e r e e k k Meadow e k D R E V O R T S G K N A O O I S I S k «¬173 V e I re D Soucie C N Lions saw Conservation ca Park Pis Easement Beck's Woods Harvard HU NTER RD Conservation RAMER RD W DIGGINS ST Metra Area Milky Station Way 2 D Park R Z T L «¬173 U H IL-173 «¬173 W BRINK ST C S eek eler Cr Mok AIRPORT RD Conservation S DIVISIONS ST Area reek Rush C Rush Creek D R Conservation N Harvard MCGUIRE RD O IR Gateway Area T A L F Nature Park «¬23 Dunham Hartland township township ¤£14 Community Research Forest Conservation Easement Van Maren U S Conservation -1 Easement 4 IL-23 yune Cree k tr Ger ib Ru City of Harvard 2 Metra Station sh Creek Woodstock Center 1.5 Mile Planning Buffer Metra Rail Conservation Easement Township Boundary Freight Rail e Unincorporated Airport Open Space N trib B N r K DEEP CUT RD B Brookdale r i Cemeteries s [ K Conservation h is w 0 0.5 1 hwa uk Area a Water Bodies Miles e u e k e e R i Streams v e r 6 Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2015. Land Uses Policies and Regulations Comprehensive Plans provide a vision and policy framework to guide decision making for the community. They form the basis for establishing standards and regulations. Zoning ordinances specify the type and intensity of land uses allowed on a given parcel, such as the type, size, and density of residential or commercial development. Subdivision codes or ordinances specify development elements for a parcel: housing footprint minimums, distance from the house to the road, the width of the road, street configuration, open space requirements, and lot size. Elements of a Comprehensive Plan Under the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS) 5/11-12-5(1)), a municipal plan commission is responsible for preparing and recommending a “comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the municipality.” A comprehensive plan is composed of a series of distinct yet interrelated elements defined within the Illinois Local Planning Assistance Act (Public Act 92-0768). The key elements addressed in the Harvard Comprehensive Plan will be based upon those outlined in the State Statute: Land Use Housing Natural Resources Transportation and Circulation Economic Development Implementation Strategies In addition to the primary elements listed above, comprehensive plans commonly include additional elements that may either be unique sections in the plan or may be incorporated as common themes that run throughout the document. Additional elements that will be considered for the Harvard Comprehensive Plan include community facilities, governance, and community character. Plan Implementation The Comprehensive Plan is intended to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the City. Here are some practical ways to ensure that future activities are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan: Annual Work Programs and Budgets: The City Council and Administration should be cognizant of the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan when preparing annual work programs and budgets. Development Approvals: The approvals process for development proposals, including rezoning and subdivi- sion plats, should be a central means of implementing the Comprehensive Plan. The zoning and subdivision ordinance should be updated in response to regulatory strategies presented in the Comprehensive Plan. Capital Improvements: Capital improvement projects should be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s land use policies and infrastructure recommendations (water, sewer, stormwater, transportation, and parks and recreation).