Tab l e 7 .1 McL ean Co un ty J uri sd ict io ns w ith Comp reh en si ve P lan s, Z on in g and /o r Su bd ivi si on O rd inances Jurisdiction
McLean County Anchor Arrowsmith Bellflower Bloomington Carlock Chenoa Colfax Cooksville Danvers Downs Ellsworth Gridley Heyworth Hudson Lexington LeRoy McLean Normal Shirley Stanford Towanda
Plan
Zoning
Subdivision
X X X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
* In progress. Source: McLean County Building & Zoning, McLean County Regional Planning, respective municipal office s (2007)
uses generally provide greater tax revenues for local governments than they require for services. These revenues are often used to subsidize residential development. This has worked fairly well in the Bloomington-Normal urban area because of the large scale commercial and industrial development that has located in both communities. It has been a problem for the smaller bedroom communities that surround the urban area. These communities often do not have a sufficient commercial tax base to meet the full service needs of their residents, many of whom help meet the labor needs of BloomingtonNormal employers and spend sales tax dollars in the urban area. It will also become less effective in Bloomington and Normal if densities continue to decline, especially if future commercial development should decline in relation to residential development. Commercial and industrial development is an essential component of land use planning, both regionally and locally. Sufficient land should be allocated for both regional and local centers of business and commerce. Continued regional economic development will help maintain a stable economic base while community and
94
McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan
neighborhood economic development will offer convenient access and contribute to the fiscal soundness of developing areas. When certain types of commercial and industrial development are effectively integrated into local downtowns and mixed use neighborhood centers, added tax revenues can make for a more sound investment from the perspectives of both the developer and the community. If designed in a pedestrianfriendly manner, the development can also be very attractive and financially sound for residents as well. Providing Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhoods Providing pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods is key to preserving quality of life. Pedestrianfriendly neighborhoods contain a range of housing types and densities for all age groups and income levels, balanced around a commercial and mixed use center. Ideally, each neighborhood would have a park, school, and a community center, village green or landmark to serve as a focal point and gathering place to provide local identity and distinguish it from other places. Pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in urban areas may be viewed as small towns within themselves that serve as building blocks for the larger urban area. Perhaps the greatest challenge to developing pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods is the present paradigm for low density, automobile oriented development. It has taken most of the twentieth century for the pendulum to swing from the compact, pedestrian-friendly designs of traditional neighborhoods to the present mindsets. There are significant indications that the socio-economic and environmental problems associated with automobile dependency, combined with increasing land and development costs, have caused the pendulum to begin to swing back. Hundreds of pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are being developed around the nation, and significant interest has been expressed in this region. STRATEGY The following goal, objectives, policies and actions comprise the strategy for land use. The