As Comprehensive Plan Nears Finish, Public Hearing Set

Niles' Comprehensive Plan, which will govern the village's future, is entering the home stretch to completion of the document. 

The village's Building and Zoning board voted to push the Niles 2030 comprehensive plan to its final stages Thursday. A public hearing is set for Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at

The comprehensive plan underwent a series of changes based on workshops and conversations with village staff and residents during the last year.

Earlier:

“We’re trying to make it as transparent as possible. It’s a community document and affects everyone who lives in Niles,” said Clayton Jirak, planning coordinator. “We’re going to be taking more edits and opinions of the plan. We’re mostly concerned with people in the public and in the meetings.”

Staff and residents were able to see the drafted plan earlier this month. Many officials on the Building and Zoning board sat on the sub-committee or attended the workshops.

Courtney Kashima, senior consultant for Houseal, Lavigne and Associates, the consulting firm the village of Niles hired to develop the plan, said the changes are technical. Her staff has worked to incorporate the ideas and concerns from residents and village officials from the start, she said. 

“Since the workshop (earlier this month), nothing has substantially changed. We’re working to get it into final, final version for the presentation of the commission,” she said. 

How it helps Niles

Officials will use the Niles 2030 plan as a living document guiding decision-making in the future. It is not a legally binding agreement, and will be reviewed on a regular basis.

“The benefit is two-fold,” board member Andrew Przybylo said at the meeting. “The plan helps us obtain grant money, and to be a basis for improving our zoning ordinance.”

Most development funders will ask for an updated comprehensive plan when deciding on grant applications, officials said. 

“To get funding you need the updated comprehensive plan,” Jirak said. “And getting outside funding to complete these projects is crucial.”

Residents can see the proposed public hearing draft on the village website.

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