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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Outcomes
Some years things go well…
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Outcomes
Some years projects get approved despite a low review score.
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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?