Infrastructure Subcommittee

Meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Scope and Definitions:

The Infrastructure Subcommittee will focus on issues related to the following:

• Roads
• Other Transportation Issues
• Facilities
• Technology/Communications

Roads: The focus of the Subcommittee with regard to roads will be multi-faceted as this topic includes more than just concerns related to access. Although sufficient ingress and egress routes serving future development in the County is an important consideration in the planning process, the Subcommittee will also explore roads as a land use. In this regard, roads and transportation issues in general should be considered as a part of the planning process for future development and not merely incidental thereto. Roads should be considered with regard to potential aesthetic value as well as more traditional utilitarian concerns.

Other Transportation Issues: Another concern of the Subcommittee focuses on issues related to transportation in the more general sense. Overall transportation goals concern quality of life issues as well as having an impact upon both residential and economic development in the County. The Subcommittee will explore a multi-modal approach for the movement of people for both business and pleasure purposes. Future planning should include consideration of appropriate transportation facilities for travel both within the County and travel to and from.

Facilities: The Subcommittee will focus on a wide range of issues, including but not limited to, wastewater treatment, garbage disposal, recycling and other similar functions. The Subcommittee will study the existing facilities available and encourage, to the extent possible, growth in areas where those existing facilities can be more fully utilized and/or built upon. The Subcommittee will study and explore new trends in technology with regard to these issues as a part of the planning for future development in the County.

Technology/Communications: The Subcommittee acknowledges that at present there is a substantial difference throughout the County with regard to the availability and quality of technological services. Services such as high speed internet and cable television are simply not available in all parts of the County. Accordingly, the Subcommittee will be focusing on promoting state of the art technology and communication services throughout the County.

The Planning Process:

The planning process for the Subcommittee will involve:

• Establish goals and objectives
• Review and analyze current infrastructure and related facilities
• Assess and prioritize findings
• Propose policies, strategies and implementation measures

Working Group Participants:

The Infrastructure Subcommittee includes five members of the Regional Planning Commission:

• RB Thompson
• C. William Swenson (Chair)
• James Coughlin

In addition, the Planning Commission invites other individuals with an interest and/or expertise in issues surrounding Community Character to expand the knowledge and broaden the perspective of the group. In particular, individuals representing the following perspectives are invited to attend:

• Builders and Developers
• Real Estate Professionals
• Township Representatives
• Farm Bureau
• Waste Management Professionals
• Road and Highway Officials
• Technology Providers
• Land Application Engineers
• Interested Citizens

Goal:

Development in McHenry County shall be served with adequate infrastructure, including wastewater treatment, potable water, stormwater control and management systems, roads, waste management and other utilities.

Objectives:

1. Promote and ensure that sufficient roadway systems exist to serve the needs within the County.

2. Promote and encourage the development of multi-modal systems of transportation for travel within the County, as well as to

encourage and foster the expansion and integration of existing transportation systems for travel to points outside of the County.

3. Promote and encourage the development of appropriate and adequate facilities (trails, bike paths, etc.) for the use of pedestrian and non-motor traffic for safety, convenience and for recreational purposes, and to provide to the extent possible for the interconnection of such systems.

4. Encourage and ensure that future development in the County concentrates growth in and around existing infrastructure, and

maximize, expand upon and improve those existing facilities.

5. Promote and provide for adequate access to current technological and communications services for all County citizens.

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