Evanston Plan 2030 presentation

1. Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee
Evanston Plan Commission June 17,
2013 – Presentation to Council

2. • Comprehensive plans are about improving the
community.
• The objective is not a good plan, but a good
community.
• The strategic plan for Evanston recognizes that
limited resources don’t allow the City to do
everything for everyone, but that choices are
needed.
• The comprehensive plan should also acknowledge
limited resources and the need for choices. It should
reflect choices of the community expressed by its
elected officials and participants in the process of
plan making.

3. • Zoning changes permit consideration of one
proposal at a time. The opinions of those living
very near the property for which zoning
approval is most important.
• Comprehensive plan making allows
consideration of the Evanston’s city-wide needs.
–It allows the city to respond to expected
changes in the environment.
–It is the context for strategic planning of
Evanston’s physical environment.

4. • A Good Plan
– The process of creating a comprehensive plan is a process
resulting in a set of decisions about the desired direction
for the community.
– The Commission believes it should include includes
sections on actions that will lead to a good community.
– The plan is a record memorializing decisions made and
actions committed and initiated during the planning
process.

5. Traditional Existing Plan
Organization
1. Population
2. General land Use
3. Neighborhoods Housing
4. Business, Commercial &
Industrial Areas
5. Central Business District
Institutions
6. Public Facilities
8. Circulation
9. Streets & Traffic
Management Parking
System
10. Transit Systems, Bicycles
& Pedestrians
Community
Environment
11. Community Design &
Historic Preservation
12. The Environment

6. • New Plan Organization – Chapters on expected change
and issues facing Evanston with a focus on
– Expected change in economic environment, demographics,
citizen preferences, and technology.
– The strengths, opportunities and weaknesses of the City
– Finding solutions to major issues and problems facing
Evanston.
– Evaluation and incorporation of neighborhood plans into
the city wide comprehensive plan so as to reflect and
enhance the residential and commercial choices for our
residents

7. • Examples of Chapter titles in the new plan:
– Maintaining and increasing manufacturing jobs in
Evanston
– Responding to the land use preferences of gen x
and gen y that differ from those of the soon to be
aging baby boom cohort.
– Preserving development space and providing
infrastructure to support economic development.
• The traditional information provided by a
comprehensive plan will also be included.

8. • Demographic Changes Expected
– Aging of the Baby-Boomers who mostly preferred wide
lawns and very low density suburbs where uses were
widely separated and access to amenities or work
required a trip in the car.
– Gen X and Gen Y have different residential preferences
than the boomers. 40% of these generations prefer age-
friendly communities featuring “public transportation,
different options for housing, lifelong learning
opportunities, a robust arts and cultural scene,
walkability and urban spaces.”
– 50 percent of Evanston’s population is part of the
Generation X or Y cohort.

9. • Quality of Place should be addressed in the
Comp Plan. It is defined as:
1. The combination of the built environment and the
natural environment; a stimulating, appealing
setting for the pursuit of creative lives;
2. Diverse people of all ethnicities, nationalities,
religions, and sexual orientations, interacting and
providing clear cues that this is a community where
anyone can fit in and make a life.
3. The vibrancy of the street life, café culture, arts, and
music; the visible presence of people engaging in
outdoor activities—altogether a lot of active,
exciting, creative goings-ons”
Richard Florida

10. • Other items to be addressed:
– Infrastructure
– Future Requirements of Evanston Institutions
– The complete street – consistent with
consideration of the needs of pedestrians,
bicyclists as well as other vehicles
– Maintain opportunities for housing of different
types for people of many income levels.

11. • Next Steps – Part One of Participation
– Possible interviews of elected officials in Summer
2013
– Joint workshop with Council and Plan Commission
– Fall 2013.
– Outreach to the various stakeholders and
community groups in Evanston, Early Fall 2013
– Write a draft of the plan Fall 2013.

12. • Part Two of Participation
– Get feedback on the draft plan --Winter
– Revise the draft plan as needed – Early Spring
– Hold formal public hearings -- Spring
– Submit the draft plan to the Council. – Late Spring
or summer