About the Workbook
This workbook is designed as a step-by-step guide for Illinois municipal officials
to prepare a local comprehensive plan for their communities. The term
“comprehensive plan” means the vision of what the community wants to
become and the steps needed to meet that goal. It is a statement by a local
government that sets forth – in text, maps, illustrations and tables – the
goals, policies and guidelines intended to direct the present and future physical, social and economic development that occurs within the jurisdiction.
The workbook includes examples of plans and planning policies
from Illinois communities, as well as checklists to help in getting
started. These should aid local governments as they formulate their own comprehensive plans.
A comprehensive plan has several purposes, but primarily it allows the community to create its own vision: an image in words
that describes what it wants to be and how it wants to look at some point in the future. The public process to create a comprehensive
plan is a visible means of involving the public in the future of its community. A comprehensive plan also sets up the
framework for future action, ranging from zoning and subdivision regulations to decisions on development and redevelopment.
Using the Workbook
The Workbook has 6 major parts, and 6 appendices:
Part 1: Creating a Comprehensive Plan introduces the local comprehensive plan and its elements in the context of Illinois statutes. It discusses the plan’s purposes and how to get started on the preparation of a plan, including involving residents in plan-making.
Part 2: describes the Land Use Element, a fundamental part of the plan. The land use element shows the general distribution, location and characteristics of current and future land uses, typically for a 10 to 20-year period.
Part 3: explains the Natural Resources Element, which focuses on environmentally critical and sensitive areas such as wetlands, waterways and water bodies, groundwater recharge areas, and various habitats including woodlands and savannas.
Part 4: describes the Transportation Element. It covers traffic circulation, transportation corridors, public transportation, thoroughfares, bicycling and pedestrian facilities, ports, truck routes, airports, and railways, as needed.
Part 5: examines the Economic Development Element, which describes the strategies a local government, working on its own and with others, will engage in to promote economic growth and retain existing jobs.
Part 6: addresses the Housing Element, which documents the present and future needs for shelter within a local government’s jurisdiction, including affordable and special needs housing.
Appendices:
- A. Reference List
- B. Web Resources (see below)
- C. Legislation
- D. How to Find Consultants
- E. What to Include in a Request for Proposal
- F. Glossary
The links below are PDF files and require the free Adobe Reader, available via the following link: 
