Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission

The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC), the official comprehensive planning agency for the region including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, is seeking public comments and input on the final draft of the Strategic Plan for Water Resource Management. Please call Sarah Nerenberg at (312) 454-0400 if you would like to receive a copy of the draft plan to review.

NIPC facilitated the strategic planning process to identify issues and strategies to address the complex and often interrelated water resource issues facing our region. This process, funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, involves a wide spectrum of public and private stakeholders within and adjacent to the six-county area. The goal was to develop a regionwide consensus to influence state policy on behalf of the region, to improve management at the regional and local level, and to enhance public understanding of water issues.

The resulting Strategic Plan for Water Resource Management is intended to guide the region in responding to its water resources issues: water quality, flooding, and water supply. In each of these areas, the plan recommends a series of strategies and identifies the entities to implement them. A Water Resources Advisory Committee and three task forces have worked with NIPC Commissioners and staff to identify a total of 34 issues and 133 associated strategies. Recommendations include new legislation, funding for research, changes in agency practices or funding allocations, and improved public education.

Once the public hearings have been completed, the Commission’s Water Resources Committee and NIPC staff will consider the comments received and make a recommendation for changes to the Final Draft. This will be recommended to the NIPC Commissioners for official action. NIPC is scheduled to act on the recommended plan at its June 28, 2001 full Commission Meeting.

The Commission invites you to participate in the hearings by submitting written and/or oral testimony at any of the following public hearings:

Date:	Wed, May 16	Tues., May 22	Wed., May 23	Thurs., May 24
Times and Locations: (same hearing at all locations)	4:00 to 6:00 p.m. DuPage County Complex Administration Building Room 3500B 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL	4:00 to 6:00 p.m. New Lenox Community Center Bicentennial Room 1 W. Manor Drive New Lenox, IL	4:00 to 6:00 p.m. PrairieView Education Center McHenry County Conservation District 2112 Behan Road Crystal Lake, IL	2:00 to 4:00 p.m. NIPC Chambers 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1800 Chicago, IL
Hearing Format and Rules:	Following a formal public hearing introduction, a brief presentation regarding the Strategic Plan for Water Resource Management will be made at approximately 2:15 p.m. at the Chicago location, and 4:15 p.m. at the Wheaton, New Lenox and Crystal Lake locations. A question and answer period will precede formal hearing testimony. Formal testimony will then be heard, called in the order of the request. Hearing testimony can be presented until the end of each hearing period. Displays and other information regarding the plan will be available for examination during the hearings.
Reserving a Time Slot:	Please call Sarah Nerenberg at (312) 454-0400 if you would like a priority time slot for presenting testimony.
Submission of Written Testimony:	Written testimony may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 2001.
Contact for additional information and for submission of written testimony:	Sarah B. Nerenberg Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60606 Phone: (312) 454-0400 Fax: (312) 454-0411

Date:              Wednesday, May 16, 2001
Time:              4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location:        DuPage County Complex
                        Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building
                        Room 3500B
                        421 N. County Farm Road
                        Wheaton, IL
                        (630) 682-7000

To avoid construction traffic, approach the DuPage County Complex from Roosevelt Road. Take Roosevelt Road to County Farm Rd. Turn North onto County Farm Road and continue past Manchester Road. Turn right at the first right after Manchester Road and take the first left in the campus. Park in the public garage north of the Administration building.

Date:              Tuesday, May 22, 2001
Time:              4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Location:        New Lenox Community Center
                        Bicentennial Room
                        1 W. Manor Drive
                        New Lenox, IL
                        (815) 485-3584

Take Interstate 80 to LaGrange Rd. (Route 45). Take LaGrange Rd. south until Route 30. Turn right (west) on Route 30 through Frankfort and continue to New Lenox. In New Lenox, turn left at the light on Vine Street. Take the first right, which will be Manor.

Date:              Wednesday, May 23, 2001
Time:              4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Location:        PrairieView Education Center
                        McHenry County Conservation District
                        2112 Behan Road
                        Crystal Lake, IL
                        (815) 479-5779

PrairieView Education Center is located on Behan Road, just south of Rt. 176 about halfway between Island Lake and Crystal Lake. From the west, take 176 east out of Crystal Lake. Shortly after the stoplight for Valley View Rd. (and just after SnapOn Tools), Behan Rd. will go off to the right. Once on Behan, follow the signs to the entrance (there are no signs on Rt. 176).

From the east, take 176 out of Island Lake. Cross the Fox River at Burton's Bridge and watch for the power lines to cross the highway. Shortly after, Buhl Road will go off to the left, at a golf learning center. Turn left onto Buhl, which runs into Behan Rd. and follow the signs to the center.

Date:              Thursday, May 24, 2001
Time:              2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location:        Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Chambers
                        222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1800
                        Chicago, IL
                        (312) 454-0400

NIPC is located at the southeast corner of Adams and Canal Streets above the Metra commuter platform area of Union Station (along the river). If you are coming into Northwestern Station, walk two blocks directly south along Canal Street. For other public transportation information, call the free RTA travel information number, 836-7000, from anywhere in the region.

If you are driving to NIPC, exit at Canal Street of the eastbound Eisenhower Expressway. Proceed north (U-turn is permissible) on Canal Street approximately two blocks. A parking lot is located on the west side of Canal Street between Van Buren and Jackson.