On Monday, May 14 at 6pm the Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to discuss the proposed district.  The meeting will be held at the East Annex, 2434 Vermont Street, Blue Island.  The Blue Island Plan Commission has recommended adoption of the U-TOD at its March 14 regular meeting.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND MAPS.

The U-TOD district has been proposed since the adoption of the Blue Island Plan for Economic Development (2005) and encompasses the South Station Residential District, Hospital District and Main Street Commercial Area, and the South Main Street Area as found in the Blue Island Plan, as well as the Olde Western Historic District.  The new district blends the areas zoned C-1 Central Area Commercial south of Union Street, including Olde Western; C-2 Highway Commercial parcels on Vermont Street between Irving and Division; and R-1 Single Family Residential parcels along Chicago Street and both west of Chatham and south of Vermont to the Cal-Sag and Division Street.  Zones have been created within the U-TOD district to preserve Single Family Residential found in the current R-1 district.

Blue Islanders have long enjoyed the conveniences of a central business district and easy connections to public transit. With Transit-Oriented Development, Blue Island is committed to guiding our development so that connections to transit are promoted as one of the many benefits of living our community. For Blue Island residents it’s a quick trip to work or an easy way to reach cultural attractions. It’s also affordable, keeping money in your pocket, and good for the environment too.

Supported by a grant from the Regional Transportation Agency (RTA), Blue Island is poised to consider its first major zoning amendment in nearly twenty years. Working with planners and architects at Teska Associates and Ginkgo Planning, who reviewed all the work of the Blue Island Plan, interviewing stakeholders and both the Blue Island Historic Preservation Commission and Plan Commission along the way, before preparing this final draft for public hearing.

The U-TOD district pays careful attention to the needs of our business community while also laying the groundwork for redeveloping vacant and empty spaces near the Metra Station, such as existing parking lots. New design standards incorporate the work of Blue Island Main Street while providing a new appreciation for the diversity of historic styles in Uptown and Olde Western, with storefronts from the 1850s to mid-century modern. City processes are streamlined in order to support and promote business growth.

Zoning amendments are first presented to Blue Island’s Plan Commission, which makes a recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a public hearing. Following this, the ZBA offers its findings to City Council for final consideration.

Old and unused prescription drugs present an unnecessary hazard in the home. The Department will be accepting any old, unused prescription or over the counter medications. The medications will then be diposed of by D.E.A.

Important: No needles or liquids can be accepted.

Please call the Blue Island Police Department with questions or e-mail bipd@cityofblueisland.org

To participate, submit your digital files or printed photos and documents to BIHS, where the materials will then have a permanent home in the Blue Island Historical Society archives. History is happening now–let’s capture it!  Submit materials to the Blue Island Historical Society/Albee House, 13018 Maple Ave, Blue Island, IL 60406.

Please download complete details at http://bit.ly/DayofBI or email events@blueislandhistoricalsociety.com for more info.

• • Blue Island Public Library
• • Tommy A. Brown Sports Association
• • Online

The Blue Island Comprehensive Plan builds on previous planning and revitalization efforts, and will guide growth and decision-making in the City for years to come. Download the draft Comprehensive Plan.

Next Steps

• • CMAP staff will update draft plan based on public comments received
• • Final Comprehensive Plan Draft will
• • Public Hearing scheduled for 5/24 Plan Commission Meeting
• • City Council Hearing tentatively scheduled for 6/12.

The draft plan will be available for public review and comment. Exhibits on display at the open house will include future land use maps as well as the recommended priorities for the City in the near future.

The purpose of the open house is to receive public comment prior to the beginning of the formal review process with City Council.  Representatives from the City and CMAP will be available to answer questions.

The Blue Island Comprehensive Plan builds on previous planning and revitalization efforts, and will guide growth and decision-making in the City for years to come.

No formal presentation will be given, so please feel free to drop in at any time between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.  Additional information about the comprehensive plan is available on CMAP’s Blue Island project webpage at www.cmap.illinois.gov/blue-island. Please contact Jessica Simoncelli at jsimoncelli [at] cmap.illinois.gov or (312) 386-8631 with questions about the open house.

Tell your friends!  Download and share the flyer in English and Spanish.

WHEN
Saturday, March 31
10:00am-12:00pm

LOCATION
BIHS/Albee House
13018 Maple Avenue
Blue Island, IL 60406

COST
$5.00 per person, suggested donation
Bring your own eggs

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Contact BIHS for reservations
P: 708 -371-8546
E: events@blueislandhistoricalsociety.com
www.blueislandhistoricalsociety.com

Our teas typically include several choices of teas, small sandwiches, desserts, a short presentation and raffles, all within our beautifully decorated historic home, the Albee House.

WHEN
Saturday, March 10
2:00pm-3:30pm

LOCATION
BIHS/Albee House
13018 Maple Avenue
Blue Island, IL 60406

COST
$20 per person, reservations required

RESERVATIONS
Please make your reservations by calling BIHS, 708-371-8546

CONTACT BIHS
P: 708-371-8546
E: events@blueislandhistoricalsociety.com
www.blueislandhistoricalsociety.com

Download the Draft of Blue Island’s Active Transportation Plan Here! [7.05 MB]

Building on our groundbreaking, nationally recognized Complete Streets Ordinance, the highlights of the Active Transportation Plan include:

• Distinctive bicycle facilities, such as green pavement and bicycle prioritization to identify the Cal-Sag Trail
• Reopening Chatham Street Bridge as a bicycle and pedestrian promenade
• A connected network of signed bicycle routes
• “Road Diets” and bike lane installation on Gregory Street and Western Avenue
• Pedestrian safety improvements for Eisenhower HS students and staff
• Major crossing improvements for Western Avenue, Vermont Street, and Burr Oak Avenue
• Opportunities to connect California Gardens to Uptown and the Cal-Sag Trail
• Restoring “Blue Bridge” as a recreation promenade for fishing and site-seeing

It makes good sense for the City to continue to promote what Blue Islanders have enjoyed for 175 years: short, walkable blocks, easy connections to shopping and dining, and an incredibly connected transportation network. Our Active Transportation Plan provides the framework for economic growth and community health.

Blue Island’s Active Transportation Plan was supported by Blue Island’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant.

Saturday, February 17
7pm

City Hall Annex Building
2434 W. Vermont Street
Blue Island, IL 60406

Notice of City of Blue Island’s intent to apply for U.S.EPA Brownfields Multi-purpose Pilot Grant; Notice of a Public Meeting to discuss, accept and consider Public Comment on the Draft Grant Proposal; and Request for Public Comment on the Draft Grant Proposal.

The City of Blue Island intends to apply for a U.S.EPA Brownfields Multi-purpose Pilot Grant that is due on February 10, 2012. This proposal is associated with the assessment, cleanup planning and cleanup of hazardous substances at 2 parcels located at the SE corner of the Northeast Mixed-Use Commercial Park, the former landfill site at 119th St and Vincennes Ave.  More Info