Latest news with #ImagineUrbana
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City of Urbana hosts open house for 20-year development plan
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The City of Urbana is asking for feedback on a plan five years in the making. On Wednesday, staff hosted an open house to answer questions about the latest Imagine Urbana draft. Planners are trying to give direction to the city's future, and there's a lot of ways they plan on developing the vision. Wednesday was an opportunity to hear from the community through one-on-one conversations and written notes. Many people took advantage of the opportunity. 'It's a 20-year plan for sort of the future of the city,' said Principal Planner Kevin Garcia. 'Proudly making our country your new home': Citizens naturalized at Old State Capitol ceremony Garcia has been working on the plan for the last five years. The city released a draft of the Imagine Urbana plan in August of last year but has continued to tweak it since. 'I'd say that what it boils down to is just quality of life,' said Garcia. 'It's trying to make the city better in the future than it is today.' Now they have four big ideas to guide future decisions, and a bunch of steps to make that happen. 'Some of those big moves are to expand our arts and culture program,' Garcia said. 'We would certainly use this plan to sort of guide us for future changes to the zoning ordinance.' That's where some people had questions, like Joanne Budde. 'They keep talking about rewriting the zoning ordinance, and we don't know what that means and they won't elaborate on it,' Budde said. 'They go 'We'll get to that when we get to it.'' Budde is worried apartments, duplexes, and some small businesses may get built in and around her neighborhood Beringer Commons. 'I understand those concerns,' said Garcia, 'A lot of the types of development that have historically occurred in, especially some of our older neighborhoods, has not been great.' Bresee Babes watch beloved tower fall He said Imagine Urbana doesn't change very much from what's already on the books, but can be changed later on if new information comes through. 'But also, if you don't allow some level of change over time, the neighborhoods will just stagnate and then they sort of fall on hard times,' Garcia said. Budde said she appreciates the city hosting something like this but isn't very confident. 'I think what's going to happen is it's going to get passed, and then people are going to go, 'How did that happen? I don't remember approving that,'' she said. 'They just build a big house next to me or apartment building next to me and they're going to go, 'When did that happen?'' Garcia said the plan is being discussed by the city council and he isn't sure when it will be passed. The next time it will be discussed is June 2 at City Hall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Community invited to ‘Imagine Urbana' during public hearing
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Urbana residents are being asked to give their input on the city's plan for the next two decades. The public is invited to a public hearing to comment on a draft of the Imagine Urbana Comprehensive Plan. It'll take place March 13 at 7 p.m. at Urbana's City Hall, located at 400 S. Vine Street. This meeting comes after an 'extensive' community engagement process, public meetings reviewing an initial draft, and a revised draft of the long-term plan. PREVIOUSLY: Urbana looks for public input on strategic future plan 'When finalized, Imagine Urbana will serve as the City's guide for City policy, infrastructure, and planning decisions in the years ahead. It provides the framework to promote quality of life for residents through innovative, sustainable, and fiscally responsible growth and development,' Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said. 'As we enter the final review and approval process of Imagine Urbana, we invite residents to participate in the Public Hearing on March 13.' In the newest draft of the plan, there are four 'big ideas' for Urbana's future. Urbana is a Place for Everyone Urbana is Both Financially and Environmentally Resilient Urbana is a City of Connected Neighborhoods Urbana Embraces its Cultural Vibrancy and Character 'March Forth' campaign raising money for Marching Illini And, each big idea will be accomplished through a series of 'big moves' and 'little moves.' These include: Address Urbana's Diverse Housing Needs Urbana will conduct multiple housing studies to fully understand the market. They'll also expand affordable housing and invest in services for low-income residents. Align the Zoning Ordinance with Imagine Urbana The city will rewrite/ update its Zoning Ordinances. Address the Needs of Individual Areas Develop a framework for small area plans which address the needs of individual areas and neighborhoods. Make Downtown the Economic Driver of the City Refine TIF guidelines, explore the construction of a long-term structure for large community events, and connect walkways and bike paths to the downtown. Expand Urbana's Arts and Culture Program Increase funding for arts grants and public art installation and maintenance, host one large 'signature event' annually, and streamline event permitting. Make Walkability a Priority Focus on making streets and parking lots safer for people walking and biking, extend the Kickapoo Rail Trail through Downtown Urbana, and update the brick sidewalk ordinance to prioritize safety and function. Promote Incremental Development Right now, building on the outskirts of the city is easier than redevelopment. The City of Urbana wants to change that by providing incentives for entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, allow small-scale businesses and housing in the same neighborhood and develop a fiscally responsible annexation policy. Invest in Financially and Environmentally Resilient Infrastructure Encourage the use of native plants and trees in all developments and infrastructure projects, and align city policies to address utility and stormwater vulnerabilities. Enhance Urbana's Economic Vibrancy Make local businesses aware of federal, state, and local business resources, identify resources for non-traditional Urbana businesses (home-based, online, food trucks), recruit a grocery store and essential services to Northwest Urbana. Support Community Health, Safety, and Well-Being Prioritize equitable access to resources like education, employment opportunities, housing, health care, transportation, and recreational facilities for all residents. Advance a Healthy, Clean, and Green Community To become more sustainable, Urbana will rewrite the city's Climate Action Plan, plant trees in all vacant city tree sites and support the installation of renewable energy generation systems. You can read more details about the plan here. If you would prefer a PDF copy of the draft, you can request one by emailing ImagineUrbana@ or calling 217-384-2316. Residents can also email their comments on the draft to that same email address, or directly online. Instructions on how to comment online can be found here. Andrea Ruedi, senior director for integrated strategy development, also encourages residents to attend the public hearing. What were the top 10 consumer complaints in Illinois in 2024? 'Input from the hearing will be used to refine Imagine Urbana for the Urbana Plan Commission's final review. Next, the Plan Commission will endorse and recommend approval to the City Council Committee of the Whole,' Ruedi said. 'The Committee will then provide input, make any modifications, and ultimately make a recommendation to City Council for approval of the new Imagine Urbana Comprehensive Plan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
