a CULTURE of COOPERATION

Intergovernmental Planning in McLean County

29th Annual IDOT Fall Planning Conference Bloomington, IllinoisOctober 10,

2014

Today’s presentation

Structure & process Outcomes Essentials

Structure & process3

Getting underway on a typical Friday morning…

Yes, doughnuts are part of the process. Don’t judge.

Structure & process4

Began with engineering and TIP project selection

Regional comprehensive plan implementation

Primary purpose – development review Plan compliance Discussion with developers Early alert for potential pitfalls

Structure & Process5

Administered by MCRPC Meets as needed

Group review of project proposals Specific discussions requested by participants

Bloomington, Normal, McLean County Staff planners and engineers MCRPC staff

Structure & Process6

Structure & Process7

Process for development review Local staff alerts MCRPC re project MCRPC prepares review form Intergovernmental staff committee reviews

project Committee review forwarded to local government Project may be reviewed multiple times at various

phases

Structure & Process8

Project review form

Structure & Process

Regionally significant ≥ 5 acres

Updated as issues emerge Follows comprehensive

plan Condensed project outline

for staff and commissions

9

Structure & Process

Minimal features No answers in this section fail the project Considers aspects of land use, transportation, utilities, open

space, other features based on goals, objectives & strategies

10

Structure & Process Optional features

May improve score; cannot rescue failed project Features of land use, transportation, housing, redevelopment,

open space & other amenities and commercial use

11

Structure & Process

Project scoring Scoring formula balances minimal and optional features High scores are rare; failing scores prompt revisions All scores are advisory for local governments Staff comments provide guidance for discussion with developers

12

Structure & Process13

So where does transportation come in? In minimal (required) features

Structure & Process14

So where does transportation come in? And in optional features

Structure & Process15

Still a few bugs in the system Coordinating with various planning commission

schedules is a challenge Complaints from development community Ever-more-complicated review form Form must accommodate multiple jurisdictional

requirements and preferences New issues to accommodate

Outcomes16

It used to be pretty busy around here.

Outcomes

Less so in recent years.

17

Outcomes

Some years things go well…

18

Outcomes

Some years projects get approved despite a low review score.

19

Outcomes20

Tales from the trenches…

Essentials21

Why does it work for us? Buy-in from the powers-that-be Genuine consensus as our goal and

practice Backing for local staff discussion with

developers Recognition of realistic limits A framework for ongoing collaboration…

Essentials22

A framework for ongoing collaboration… Stormwater ordinance Coordinated policy and procedures

Access management Manual of Practice

Bicycle/pedestrian planning Transportation planning GIS Consortium

started with the intergovernmental committee in 1995

Essentials23

Making coordination/collaboration work Willing and informed partners

Define the partnership Get consensus partners’ use of the process

Agreement on scope of the effort Agreement on the evaluation criteria Reasonable flexibility as issues evolve

Questions?