For more information:
Alexandra A. (Sandi) Radtke
Director of Governmental Affairs
312/454-0400 radtke@nipc.org

NIPC COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE CORE THEMES OF REGIONAL PLANNING

(APRIL 3, 2003) -- The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC), the official comprehensive planning agency of the Chicago metropolitan region, has endorsed five "core themes" for the development of a new comprehensive plan for the region at the agency's recent quarterly meeting in Chicago.  The Commission also accepted 52 additional specific goals for the future development of the region. 

"The core themes are a statement of our ambition for the future of our communities and the six-county area," said Michael Smith, President of the Commission. "They reflect the ideas of over 2,000 individuals throughout the region who have participated in our Common Ground process."  Smith is also Mayor of New Lenox. 

The themes endorsed by the Commission encompass all aspects of the region's future.  They say that northeastern Illinois will be “globally competitive,” “a region of livable communities,” “known for its healthy natural environment,” “built on the diversity of its people,” and “governed collaboratively.” 

Common Ground is NIPC's unprecedented four-year initiative to develop a new comprehensive plan for northeastern Illinois through extensive community-based participation that includes citizens as well as public officials, civic and business leaders, community and neighborhood representatives, and youth. NIPC has also made a specific emphasis to include minority communities heretofore neglected in regional planning. NIPC projects the region will grow by nearly two million people and 1.2 million jobs over the next 30 years. 

The 52 goals, on which the core themes are based, were developed in a two-year series of public workshops held at locations throughout the six-county area.  Similar workshops will be conducted over the next year and a half to formulate strategies to achieve the goals, resulting in the drafting and adoption of the final plan, to be adopted in 2004.   

ABOUT NIPC: The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission is the official comprehensive planning agency for the six-county Chicago metropolitan area. The Commission was created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1957 and assigned three broad responsibilities:

• To conduct research required for planning for the region;

• To prepare comprehensive plans and policies to guide the development of the region;

• To advise and assist local governments.

NIPC's core web site is www.nipc.cog.il.us.  More information on the Common Ground initiative is at www.nipc.org/cg.

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