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HomeMy WebLinkAbout95-55 Am A Resolution No. 95-55 RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE OPENLANDS PROJECT IN ITS PREPARATION OF A PLAN AND STRATEGY FOR TYLER CREEK WHEREAS, Tyler Creek represents one of the highest quality streams in Northeastern Illinois in terms of its habitat, water quality, species diversity, and other natural characteristics; and WHEREAS, Tyler Creek flows through both newer and older neighborhoods within the City of Elgin and directly affects the quality of life for residents, businesses, and schools located in these neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, maintaining and enhancing the quality of Tyler Creek and its tributaries will produce environmental benefits, reduce flooding, add to neighborhood value, and add to the quality of life within the City of Elgin; and WHEREAS, the Openlands Project has received an Illinois Department of Conservation grant to prepare an intergovern- mental and community supported stream corridor greenway plan and strategy for one drainage basin in northeastern Illinois; and WHEREAS, the Openlands Project would like to develop this plan and strategy for the Tyler Creek watershed; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin supports the following general goals of this planning effort: To improve the hydrological characteristics of Tyler Creek so as to enhance its natural habitat, reduce flooding, and minimize stormwater pollution. To restore, where possible, the physical characteristics of the creek so as to reduce stream bank erosion and property loss, and reduce stormwater velocities and volumes. To reduce, where possible, chemical pollutant sources . To increase the native biological diversity of the stream corridor, and reduce the level of invasive species . To increase the public understanding of stream quality issues and encourage participation in restoration activities . ._ & To achieve an environmental health, aesthetically pleasing stream corridor which adds to neighborhood pride and economic value. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that the City of Elgin supports the efforts of the Openlands Project in its preparation of a plan and strategy for Tyler Creek. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it hereby agrees to participate in guiding the project over the next eight months by participating in and sending a representative to meetings of the Tyler Creek Steering Committee composed of representatives of the City of Elgin, the Village of Gilberts, Kane County, and the Kane County Forest Preserve District. s/ George VanDeVoorde George VanDeVoorde, Mayor Presented: March 8, 1995 Adopted: March 8, 1995 Omnibus Vote: Yeas 6 Nays 0 Attest: s/ Dolonna Mecum Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk • Agenda Item No. A;L; -/ February 17, 1995 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Richard B. Helwig, City Manager SUBJECT: Proposal from the Openlands Project for Tyler Creek Study PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce a proposal to enter into a cooperative planning project with the Openlands Project to develop a stream corridor plan for Tyler Creek. BACKGROUND eft The Openlands Project (Openlands) is the not-for-profit plan- ning group that developed the Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways Plan ( 1991-1992) in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Conservation and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) . Recently, Openlands obtained a planning grant from the Illinois Department of Conservation to develop a model stream corridor plan for a single watershed in northeastern Illinois. For some months, the staff has been working with Openlands representatives regarding the potential for developing the northeastern Illinois model stream corridor plan for Tyler Creek. After a thorough analysis and consideration of several watersheds, Openlands has chosen Tyler Creek as their first choice for the planning program. Given the nature of Tyler Creek and the local interest that has been expressed regarding erosion, flooding, and future land uses in the watershed, the staff encouraged Openlands' interest in Tyler Creek. Although many municipalities attempt to develop stream corri- dor plans, most of these plans are unsuccessful due to the geographic and jurisdictional limitations of individual gov- ernmental bodies . The Openlands approach to stream corridor planning would attempt to build a consensus among all affected governmental bodies occupying the stream corridor. The general objectives of the plan would be as follows : 1. To develop a greenways (linear open space) plan for the Tyler Creek watershed. 2. To develop recommendations for land preservation. 3. To develop recommendations for streambank/wetland stabi- lization and restoration. 4. To identify potential funding sources for implementation of recommended actions. Attached is a copy of correspondence from Openlands that further details elements of the planning proposal . Prior to project initiation, the Openlands Project would require a resolution of support from the City Council. It is the staff's opinion that a Tyler Creek watershed plan, as proposed, would be consistent with the adopted Comprehensive Plan and the proposed Far West Area Plan. COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED r None at this time, but public input would be involved in the development of the plan. FINANCIAL IMPACT Other than a commitment of staff time from the Planning, Parks, and Engineering Departments, there would be no cost to the city for the development of the stream corridor plan. LEGAL IMPACT None. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended to authorize the staff to prepare a resolu- tion of support of the Tyler Creek project and ask the staff to participate in the planning project. 7eectful ubmitted, o K. Dahlstrom nning Director r 1 Richard B. Helwig City Manager ni, ,7<7\-v, 111-1-&9) i November 21, 1994 �-_-> RECEIVED OPENL. M)• i raw Mr. Roger K. Dahlstromr PROJECT Director of Planning 'ti DECO 51994 s !---1-u The City of Elgin ctTy OF ELGIN 220 S. sots Sow 150 Dexter Court PLANNING DEPT. , -77 Suite 1880 Elgin, IL 60120-5555 4' �N Chicago. Winds _ 60604-1103 n� -,- 312 427 4256 Dear Mr. Dahlstrom: � '�' � Fax 312 427 6251 Thank you for your interest in cooperatively Board of Directors developing a greenway along Tyler Creek. This letter will Resident set forth some of Openlands Project's goals and proposed Shaun C. Block methods. As I said on the phone, we would like to ask the Treasurer City Council of Elgin for a Resolution of Support for this Thomas M. Flavin project. What follows is a brief description of the semioDonn r' project proposal. Donn DF. Bailey, Ph.D. Vice President Adrnmtstrannn A model stream corridor greenway plan Susan L. Krasny Vice President Openlands developed the Northeastern Illinois Marketing Regional Greenways Plan in 1991 .- 1992 in conjunction with Sarah N. Garvey Vice President the Illinois Department of Conservation (Department) and C mental Affairs the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) . thV. Fiske Openlands also chairs NIPC's ROSTAC Greenways Committee, lice President which promotes greenway implementation, and is itself Program working with various agencies and local groups to H. James Fox implement greenways around the region. Directors Stephen W. Baird Stephen M. Bartram There has been much success in trail-oriented Frederick N. Bates greenways implementation in the last two years. Yet, more George E. Bullwinkel than half of the greenways identified in the Regional George D vio J. Bradley Davis Greenways Plan - fifty-five of 100 - include streams or Anthony Dean stream segments. Some of these streams, such as the Des Richard L. Ehlinger Plaines River, the North Branch of the Chicago River and Robert H. Fesmire Gerald B. Frank the West Branch of the DuPage River, are already buffered Sylvia Gordon by large conservation holdings, while many more are still Beverly A. Kimble vulnerable to adverse in-stream "improvements" and Ins Krieg Samuel T. Lawton, Jr. adjacent developments that limit or eliminate greenway Jeanine McNally possibilities. • Janis Nor: David Novick George W. Overton Openlands identified a 'first cut' of potential model Albert E. Pyort stream corridor greenway projects using the Northeastern ar C James Reed,Jr. Illinois Regional Greenways Plan. One Charles��,,, g y goal of ours was to Jeffrey R. Shom h• find a project that is broadly representative of David Byron Smith conditions in northeastern Illinois so we can replicate it Mn. William L Taylor,Jr.throughout the region in further implementing the Harold M.Viaoatky, M.D. g g P g Oran F. Whiting Greenways Plan. After going through a selection process, Honorary Dereaors Openlands now proposes to cooperatively develop a greenway ramJ. &cher. Ph.D. plan for Tyler Creek. Developing a successful inter- iallField V VE. Guth jurisdictional planning process is itself a key part of Brooks McCormick thisproposal. Openlands believes a greenway preservation Harry M. Weese Louise Young 1 Executive Director Gerald W. Adelman Affiliates CorLands IV—I.—A.1?........ . 1.... • r strategy is most effective when local needs and interests are first incorporated into a comprehensive, multi-objective plan for that particular corridor. Creating a stream-corridor greenway is a complex undertaking in this region because a single stream may flow through urbanized, newly developing, and agricultural areas, cross multiple jurisdictions, and serve multiple purposes such as flood storage, habitat protection, recreation, and economic development. These interests, in turn, must be incorporated into land protection and, later, restoration strategies. Overview of the Project We anticipate that the three major components of the project will be: (1) a comprehensive greenways plan for the stream corridor; (2) recommendations for a land preservation program (using various techniques discussed below) ; (3) recommendations for stream/streambank/wetland restoration; and (4) identify potential funding sources for its implementation, including ISTEA enhancement grants, non-point source water pollution grants and others. An additional component might include trail development recommendations, based on local interest. There are four major jurisdictions involved in the Tyler Creek Greenway area. These are the City of Elgin, the Village of Gilberts, the County of Kane, and Kane County Forest Preserve District. Representatives from these agencies would, along with Openlands, form the core of a Steering Committee that would meet occasionally for the project. Other potential members include NIPC, and the local Soil and Water. Conservation District. Examples of the kinds of issues that might be addressed in a multi-objective plan include: a widened buffer strip along a stream to accommodate a trail, if recreational interest is strong; or the protection and restoration of a wetland complex as a regional stormwater detention facility or mitigation bank; or stabilization of eroding banks and upland areas to help prevent non-point source pollution and improve stream water quality. Also, since so much land along stream corridors is privately-owned, it often is not politically or economically feasible to acquire all of it as public land. Conservation easements can be a cost-effective and flexible land protection tool for securing a broad spectrum of greenway benefits on privately-owned lands. A variety of techniques for protecting stream greenways, from fee simple ownership to easements, stream bank management agreements, ordinances and setback requirements, should all be explored. ` We will need to review and analyze stream corridor data for this project, including: wetland and flood plain maps, soil 2 4 information, stream habitat and biology, current and projected future land uses, hydrologic modifications and studies, flooding problems, and current and projected future water quality status. We also hope to identify interested local citizen groups that eight play a beneficial role in this greenway. * * * * * We welcome any comments or suggestions you or your staff may have in regard to this proposal, and look forward to receiving a resolution of support from the City Council. Thank you again for your interest. If you have any questions, please feel free to call. Sincerely,Si� �-t 1 0rp }c.tl,C- Robert Lonsdorf Associate Greenways Director r 3