• Taking the Long View
• Forecasts of Future Growth
• Transportation Planning
• Housing
• Regional Growth Strategy
• Planning for Water Resources
• Legislative Affairs
• Condensed Financial Statement

A printed version of this document can be obtained by calling NIPC's Publication Department at 312-454-0400, ext. 210.

TAKING THE LONG VIEW

NIPC was created in 1957 and given the task of taking the long view, of helping the region envision what it could be in the future and of assessing what actions might take us there. Sometimes we can lose sight of that role in responding to particular immediate issues - a contentious sewer extension or highway project. But the long view requires that we continually assess whether actions being taken now are likely to move us closer to or farther away from the region's goals.

Northeastern Illinois has entered a pivotal time in its development. The implications of its past growth for its further health are becoming more widely understood and the possibility of working together to shape that future is being more widely discussed. More and more organizations are talking about these issues. More and more election races find growth a major issue. More and more media coverage is devoted to issues of suburban expansion and urban revitalization. Issues on which the Commission has produced information and recommendations throughout its history have become the stuff of daily conversation. Much of the 1997-98 program year was devoted to refining the technical, policy, and organizational basis for that public examination of our common future.

FORECASTS OF FUTURE GROWTH

At a special meeting in November 1997, the Commission endorsed a new set of population, household, and employment forecasts for the six-county region through the year 2020. These forecasts were the culmination of a three-year process, and foresee the region reaching a population of just over 9 million (a 25 percent increase from 1990) with 5.3 million jobs (a 37 percent increase). Several things need to be said about this new population. First, it will grow at a substantially higher rate than it has in recent decades. Second, it will be distributed across the entire region. Chicago's long-term decline in population and jobs is expected to slow and then reverse, as are the populations of a number of mature suburban areas. At the same time, we will continue to experience robust suburban growth. The forecasts thus suggest a reversal of the recent pattern in which suburban expansion was a result of internal migration of a relatively stable population and was accompanied by disinvestment in older communities. Employment, although growing in absolute numbers, has tended to follow this same pattern. Third, this new population will look different. The fastest growing segments will be the old and the young, the Hispanic and the African-American. These facts portend significant changes in the kinds of services local governments will be called on to provide and the ways in which communities will define themselves.

The forecasting process was intended to produce numbers which portray what is most likely to happen. It was necessary to consider the potential effects of both public policies and investments and private market decisions. The starting point was information on national demographic trends and detailed data on development taking place in the region. Essential analyses were done using a computer model which attempts to replicate the way in which households and businesses actually choose where to locate. Meetings with local officials provided information on current development activity and on their plans for the future. Public hearings held in September were an additional source of information on the choices people are likely to make. On one major issue at the intersection of public policy and the market, the Commission determined that it could make no decision. Two sets of forecasts were prepared, one assuming that a new south suburban airport will be built and the other assuming that existing airports will be improved to accommodate future aviation demand.

A look at the new housing developing in parts of Chicago, at infill and higher-density residential projects in some mature suburbs, and at the continuing rapid development of the region's rural fringe, confirms that the forecasts are on target. Interim Census estimates suggest that, if anything, they are conservative.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

At the same meeting at which it endorsed new forecasts, the Commission also adopted a new Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for 2020. Prepared under the leadership of the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) and based on the new forecasts, the RTP identifies investments and policies needed to meet the region's needs for roads, public transportation, freight movement, and bicycle and pedestrian movement. While much public attention and debate was focused on major projects to add new transportation capacity, 80 percent of the investment called for in the RTP would be to maintain and upgrade the transportation system we already have.

Like the forecasts, the RTP emerged out of a three-year process involving sophisticated technical analysis and extensive public involvement. For the first time NIPC and CATS used two computer models working in tandem to analyze how population and employment location and the transportation system influence each other. The integration of transportation and land use was thus substantially improved over previous planning cycles.

HOUSING

After two years of planning and fund raising, the Commission's Subarea Residential Planning Demonstration Project was initiated on February 11, 1998. The Subarea Steering Committee includes appointed representatives from the municipalities of Algonquin, Carpentersville, Cary, Crystal Lake, East Dundee, Elgin, Fox River Grove, Gilberts, Lake in the Hills, Sleepy Hollow, and West Dundee. Kane and McHenry counties are also represented. The meeting initiated a 12-month residential planning demonstration project. The communities, joined together by their expectation of continued population, household and employment growth, have undertaken a planning process to study their common residential issues and their linkages. Monthly meetings were held on topics including "Preserving Existing Housing and Neighborhoods" and "Improving the Location and Quality of New Residential Development."

During the year, the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs joined the group of organizations and banks financing the subarea planning demonstration. This augmented funding received from the Old Kent Bank Foundation, the American National Bank Foundation, and the Bank of America Foundation.

REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY

As it developed the forecasts, the Commission also began to consider their possible implications. On the one hand, the forecasts suggested that the disinvestment in mature communities which has accompanied the recent period of slow growth might be reversed. On the other hand, they indicated that the impact of high suburban growth rates on agricultural land, flood plains, wetlands, and other resource bases could worsen if anticipated growth rates are correct. In endorsing preliminary forecasts in 1997, the Commission had assumed that policies intended to encourage revitalization in mature communities and protect the natural resource base in developing areas would be implemented. This assumption evolved into a decision to develop, in dialogue with the region, a Regional Growth Strategy.

At its December quarterly meeting, the Commission released a draft policy statement for public discussion. The statement posed as a goal for the region the achievement of continued improvement in the quality and sustainability of the region's development. It suggested that we envision a region characterized by equity in access to its resources, competitiveness in the national economy, livability in the quality of personal and community life, sustainability in its impact on the environment, and cooperation in its governance and civic life. During the winter and spring, Commissioners and staff made presentations of the policy draft to county and municipal boards, planning commissions, special-purpose districts, and civic organizations. Commissioners and staff met with editorial boards of the major metropolitan daily newspapers to explain the project and seek editorial support. Copies were sent to all local governments with a request for comments. Having received generally supportive comments on the need for a growth strategy, the Commission endorsed the policy statement at its June quarterly meeting.

The Commission affirmed that such a strategy could be developed only as a collaborative effort among many governmental, civic, and private interests. To help structure this collaboration, the Commission appointed an Areawide Advisory Committee comprising representatives of county, municipal, water resource, recreational, and transportation agencies. State agencies with major development- related responsibilities were invited to appoint liaison representatives to the committee. The committee was charged with advising staff and the Commission's Planning Committee on policy recommendations intended to achieve the goals of the strategy. Its first step, taken during the spring of 1998, was to prioritize a list of policy areas intended to advance the dual objectives of new or continued investment in mature communities, and cost-effective development with high standards of environmental protection throughout the region.

To augment the areawide committee, the Commissioners also appointed representatives to an advisory body called the Tier II group. These advisers, representing business, civic, environmental and other interests as well as local governments, were promised that they would never have to attend a meeting. Project materials are sent to them and their advice is received by mail, phone, or fax.

PLANNING FOR WATER RESOURCES

During the year the Commission continued or initiated several long-range planning programs focused on the region's water resources. In conjunction with the Open Lands Project and the Illinois Paddling Council, NIPC moved ahead in developing a regional plan for

use of water trails in northeastern Illinois. This plan will recommend a system of access points on major waterways for canoeists and kayakers with consistent, recognizable signage. A comprehensive inventory of water trail use information was collected, and a series of workshops were held along the rivers of northeastern Illinois during October and November. A first draft of the regional water use trail plan was completed for discussion by stakeholders.

Preliminary steps were taken during the year toward the development of a strategic plan for water resource management. The process began with an assessment of the Commission's several water-related policy plans. These plans - dealing with stormwater management, water supply, and water quality - were prepared and adopted during the 1970's. While many of their recommendations are still sound, changes in legal and institutional factors as well as expanded urbanization of the region require a comprehensive review. The assessment report included recommendations regarding key water resource issues and suggestions for planning approaches and funding sources. A new water resources advisory group was convened to work with staff in the refinement of issues and planning approaches.

NIPC also continued to provide support to intergovernmental water resource planning at the county or watershed scale. Commission staff worked with county stormwater committees in Kane and Will counties in preparing comprehensive countywide stormwater management plans. Support was provided in the definition of goals and objectives, in assessing existing stormwater problems and the institutional stormwater management framework in the counties, and in the identification of proposed strategies. The plans will be blueprints for countywide programs to comprehensively manage stormwater. Staff also continued to work with stormwater organizations in McHenry and Lake counties in the refinement of their plans and implementation processes. In the upper Des Plaines River watershed, NIPC continued its role as convener of federal, state, county, and municipal officials seeking agreement on a first-phase flood control program that can be presented to Congress for funding.

A new watershed planning assistance project allowed the Commission to provide limited planning assistance to local watershed management initiatives. Fourteen such watershed initiatives have been identified in the region. During the year, assistance was provided to efforts in the Kishwaukee River, Nippersink Creek, Blackberry Creek, Waubansee Creek, Butterfield Creek, and Chicago River watersheds. Staff also participated in the involving the DuPage River watershed and the Fox River and Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnerships.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

State policy and programs have a major effect on all aspects of growth and development in northeastern Illinois. In many ways, the General Assembly is one of our most important planning bodies as it defines programs, appropriates funds, and authorizes local actions to respond to issues of growth and decline. NIPC Commissioners have included a more active interaction with the legislature as one of the critical aspects of their strategic plan.

During the 1998 session, the Commission's efforts yielded mixed results. On the positive side, the General Assembly and the Governor made an appropriation of general revenue funds to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs for the benefit of the Commission. This was the first time since 1978 that a direct appropriation for NIPC's activities had been made. This supplements the variety of grants and contracts with several state departments which support much of the agency's forecasting, land use planning, and natural resource activities. The appropriated funds will support the extension of these activities.

On a disappointing note, the Commission was unable to secure passage of legislation to expand the power of municipalities and counties to develop and implement joint land use and resource management plans. The Intergovernmental Planning Act would have been an important new tool for communities wanting to develop common visions for shared areas and to put in place the ordinances and programs to carry them out. The bill had been prepared with extensive input from local governments and had been negotiated extensively with other stakeholders in the local development process. It was passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives but lacked sufficient support in the Senate. NIPC will continue to work with local officials within the framework of the Local Land Resources Management Act to develop joint plans for critical natural resource areas and other needs.

CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 (FY 1998)

INCOME Income from unrestricted contributions: Municipalities Counties Sanitary districts Park and forest preserve districts Corporations and subscribers Other Subtotal income from unrestricted contributions Unrestricted income transferred to projects as local share Net unrestricted contributions Income from projects: Federal grants State grants and contracts Other Transfer from unrestricted funds Subtotal income from projects Other income: Publications sales Data sales Interest income Miscellaneous income Subtotal other income TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURES Salaries and benefits Consultant services Interest General and administrative TOTAL EXPENDITURES Excess of revenues over expenditures Fund balance at June 30, 1998

$     438,893        229,271          98,455          85,050          13,700          10,500 $     875,869 $     365,616 $     510,253   $     269,324     1,386,700        538,932        365,616 $   2,194,956   $        87,985           22,901             5,531         171,304 $      287,721 $   3,358,546   $   2,004,952         331,344           10,687      1,003,442 $   3,350,425 $          8,121 $      103,133

Back to the Beginning

NIPC's Fiscal Year 1999 Annual Report

NIPC's Fiscal Year 1997 Annual Report

Posted September 8, 1999