PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Village of Mundelein is a growing community of over
30,000 people, located 40 miles northwest of Downtown Chicago. In 2003, the
Village was awarded a grant through the Regional Transportation Authority's
Regional Technical Assistance Program (RTAP).
The purpose of this project is to develop a
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan for the Village of Mundelein. This
plan of action will lead to the development of transit-oriented projects,
allowing the Village to maximize the land-use potential of the property in
the vicinity of the Mundelein Train Station for office, commercial and
residential uses. The study area for this planning effort is delineated by a
½-mile walking radius around the Metra Station, but, more specifically,
focuses on the properties adjacent to the Metra Station and the surrounding
downtown area.
The Metra Station is located in the center of a
mixed-use area of Downtown, yet removed from the central business district.
It is surrounded on three sides by clean industrial properties and on the
other side by property zoned R-8, multiple-family use. In order to take
advantage of the train station, this project will focus, in part, on the
potential these properties have to be redeveloped. The project will also
improve upon the current 1997 Downtown Comprehensive Plan by addressing the
redevelopment potential of the 11 plus acres (with 235,000 square-feet of
office space) on the east side of the station that were not addressed in the
previous plan. In doing so, downtown zoning standards will be established
that will assess the need for a downtown overlay district. Opportunities to
improve upon the existing employment in the downtown area will also be
identified, especially in light of the upcoming expansion of the train
station parking lot and the addition of a second track to the Metra North
Central Service Line through Mundelein.
Community input will be an integral part of the entire
study process in order to clearly understand the needs and desires of the
community and will be a strong factor in the ultimate viability of a plan
for Downtown Mundelein.
PROJECT SCOPE
Task 1: Data collection
In order to fully understand the current state of the
Village, URS will collect and analyze a comprehensive inventory of data
representing existing conditions of Mundelein.
Task 2: Public Involvement
Three Town Hall meetings will be held during the study
process in order to involve the community throughout the duration of the
project. A website devoted to this project will be created so that anyone
interested can learn about the project and keep up to date on the progress
of the study.
Task 3:Multi-Modal Access and Circulation Plan
URS will conduct a Parking and Traffic Analysis to
determine the appropriate location of future commuter parking at the Metra
Station. The scenarios will illustrate varied land use options, each of
which will have unique traffic and parking impacts to the commuter transit
area.
Task 4: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Opportunities
URS will develop an understanding of the population
within the study area by conducting an in-depth market analysis of Mundelein
in addition to a comparison of surrounding communities in order to determine
future development potential.
Task 5: Concept Plan
A Preferred Concept Plan will be prepared that
illustrates the desired future conditions and character of Downtown
Mundelein, including plans for multi-modal access, circulation, commuter
parking, transit-oriented development opportunities, and land use options.
Task 6: Funding Tools and Incentives
URS will identify financing tools and other actions the
Village or developers could undertake in order to generate funding resources
to implement the Preferred Concept Plan.
Task 7: Final Report
The ultimate goal of the TOD Study is to lay the
groundwork for the creation of a Final Report that can be used as a tool to
implement the Preferred Concept Plan. URS will develop a strategy for
implementation that the Village can use to guide future decisions regarding
development in and around the station area.
|
