Planners to discuss uses in Morris’ northern quadrants

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Future land uses from Interstate 80 north to Kendall County will be discussed during the Morris Planning Commission’s meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 29.

As part of updating the city’s comprehensive plan, the commission is now starting to look at future land use.

When the new plan is adopted in six or eight months, it will include how the city expects land to be annexed in the future or that will fall within 1.5 miles of the city to be used.

Michael Hoffman of Teska and Associates said he divided the areas around the city into quadrants for purposes of the discussion. The area north of Interstate 80 and west of Illinois 47 is the northwest quadrant, while the area north of Interstate 80 and east of Illinois 47 is the northeast quadrant.

Future land use in both quadrants will be discussed at the July meeting.

“The area around the Morris Airport overlaps,” Hoffman said.

When the current comprehensive plan was adopted, the Macdonald property, located between Gore Road and Interstate 80, was classified for industrial development. When a plan to place distribution centers on the property was presented, it drew strong opposition from residents of Fields of Saratoga and other residential subdivisions in the area.

Bill Cheshareck, building and zoning director, told the commission he has already been approached by people with interests in the Macdonald and Perucca properties.

Most of the Perucca property, located north of Gore Road and west of Nettle Creek, was removed from the federal flood plain following a lengthy and expensive process.

Hoffman said once land is annexed and zoned, there is little the city can do.

However, he noted, there is a vacant area between Anne Lane and Interstate 80, which is zoned for apartments.

Because the city seems to have an excess of apartments, he said it would not hurt to approach the owners and ask them to consider reducing the zoning to duplexes or townhomes.

    
 

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