Will County Seeks Input On Land Use For Developments

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Will County Board is asking residents to provide their input about land use in the region through an online survey.

The survey is part of the Moving Will County project, a partnership between the county and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that combines two studies centered on truck routing and land use strategy.

The goal is to achieve a balance between truck traffic and routing, existing freight land use clusters and new development, agricultural business, natural and cultural resources and residential areas, according to a project summary.

Project officials held a virtual public workshop on Feb. 24 where plans for land preservation and development were shared with residents.

"Transportation, distribution, and logistics centers have brought a dramatic change to Will County, and we need our residents to share their ideas and concerns for preservation and development here," Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan, D-Naperville, said in a news release. "The plan we are working on will help decide the trajectory of development in our communities for decades, and it is vital that those plans reflect the needs of County residents."

Last year, the project focused on identifying truck routing with another public workshop in August. The workshop last month presented recommendations for truck routing and a look towards the land use strategy that the county government will adopt in the coming months.

County officials talked about importance of the transportation, distribution and logistics industry becoming a dominant economic driver in the region. The County Board aims to use the studies for "proper planning for future development," according to the release.

"Will County has long been central to the movement of freight through the country," said Joe VanDuyne, D- Wilmington, chair of the Public Works and Transportation Committee. "At the same time, we want to preserve the quality of life that draws people and businesses to Will County."

For more information and to submit input, visit MovingWillCounty.com.