As City of Sycamore seeks resident feedback on comprehensive plan, commission talks next steps

SYCAMORE – On Monday evening, the Sycamore Planning and Zoning Commission discussed the future of the city in a workshop designed to help prepare the 2020-2021 comprehensive plan update.

According to the meeting’s agenda, the City of Sycamore, in cooperation with the Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies, conducted several surveys to gather input of local residents and city stakeholders as part of the city’s comprehensive planning process.

Monday evening’s workshop and the surveys’ input will be used in the process of updating the city’s comprehensive plan and land use map.

The comprehensive plan is updated every five or six years, with the last update occurring in 2014. The plan would have been updated last year, but was postponed due to the pandemic.

In 2019, a DeKalb County Community Foundation grant allowed the commission to collaborate with NIU to create surveys.

Acting city manager Maggie Peck said that a number of local businesses, people visiting Sycamore and residents have detailed in surveys certain improvements they would like to see in the city.

“A lot of people want more benches downtown and walk-able areas, bridges for cyclists and trails as well,” Peck said.

Mim Evans, a research associate with NIU’s Center for Governmental Studies, said that the surveys’ response and public participation was “really good.”

“We had responses from 343 residents, 142 visitors and 81 business owners,” she said. “One of the most popular responses was how important downtown is to everybody and a desire for a walk-able community.”

Other survey responses expressed interest in more open space for recreation, natural areas and to preserve the rural feel of the Sycamore area, the improvement of E. State St., the preservation and strengthening of downtown and a greater variety of businesses, including more food options.

“Another thing to think about is that most Sycamore residents work outside of the community, and most people who work in Sycamore don’t live in the community,” Evans said. “It would be nice if more people who work here live here, too.”

Feedback from the workshop will be combined with the survey data to prepare a draft of the 2020-21 comprehensive plan update, which will be presented at the June 14 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. If the commission gives the draft a favorable recommendation, the City Council will vote upon it during their June 21 meeting.

“The comprehensive plan is important because it’s Sycamore’s future, it’s the residents’ future and the community’s future,” Peck said. “Whether you’re a resident, business owner or frequent our restaurants or parks, the comprehensive plan helps decide the future of Sycamore.”

The commission also unanimously voted, 11-0, to a plat of Unit 11 of the Sycamore Prairie Business Park. According to the meeting’s agenda, Ron Proesel, owner of Nighthawk Video, bought the building at 1709 Afton Road, Lot 7, and plans to expand the building to store and maintain equipment provided by his company. Nighthawk Video provides LED screens, projectors, projection screens and camera systems for live touring music shows and events.

The 36,650-square-foot expansion would extend the building north and occupy Lots 7, 8 and 9. The three lots will combine into one new lot, Lot 108, consisting of 3.616 acres. The City Council also will vote upon the creation of this new plat at their next meeting May 17.

To give feedback and make suggestions for the comprehensive plan, call Peck at 815-895-0786 or email mpeck@cityofsycamore.com.