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Public input sought on environmental goals for Niles
Updated: August 27, 2012 10:35AM
NILES — Sustainability is high on the village of Niles’ priority list and resident input is encouraged at the first public meeting to create an environmental plan July 25.
Part of the village’s recently adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan is to implement a sustainability plan to promote the importance of environmental issues and sustainable practices to residents, businesses and developers.
Residents have been asked to share their input on various topics, such as increasing recycling rates, biking, transit and walking, and ways to save energy at home and at work.
“This is actually a pretty unique action plan in the region,” said Kristin Ihnchak, of CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning). “Niles is one of the frontrunners in terms of developing a plan that is specific environmental resources.”
CMAP is providing technical assistance to various municipalities, such as the village of Niles, and is acting as project manager.
CMAP received a $4-million federal grant to assist various towns with ways to ultimately advance the regional comprehensive plan.
“We’ll be looking for residents’ input on the goals,” Ihnchak said.
She said neighbors’ comments and suggestions will help shape the recommendations of the plan.
“This document (the environmental plan) will give them some broad, over-arching goals and achievable action steps,” Ihnchak said.
Assistant Village Manager Steve Vinezeano said officials will see what people’s concerns and interests are and then provide the Environmental Practices Committee an outline of activities that can realistically be accomplished.
The workshop will be 7-8:30 p.m. July 25 at the Niles Senior Center, 999 Civic Center Drive.
Anyone interested is encouraged to attend the first public meeting on the project and bring family, neighbors and friends.
