Naperville is running out of land. And once land is developed it’s gone. That’s why we need to make sure that future City Councils strike the right balance between open space, residential development and commercial development. By consistently surrendering to developers, the Council forfeits its chance to preserve vital open space for future generations.

Land use decisions are especially critical to the vitality of downtown Naperville.  The balance of large and small commercial entities,  the mix of business types, the transition from commercial to residential districts, densities of commercial and residential uses, and the mix of surface-parking and deck-parking all impact critical infrastructure concerns, like police and fire protection, public works issues like stormwater management and sanitation, traffic flow and pedestrian safety.  Long term policies need to replace project-by-project thinking, and only visionary thinking will enhance the long-term vitality of our downtown, as well as the emerging 95th Street community corridor, for business owners, residents and visitors alike.

It’s no coincidence that businesses thrive where cultural assets attract people downtown. From North Central College to the east, Naper Settlement to the south, Nichols Library and Centennial Beach to the West, and the DuPage Children’s Museum and Kroehler YMCA to the north, a necklace of cultural assets encircles downtown Naperville. The DuPage River and Riverwalk are the pendants that complete the necklace.  We must also protect our historic neighborhoods while continuing to enhance the quality of new residential construction, including teardowns, by applying intelligent guidelines developed as a result of visionary planning by the Council.  Naperville needs Councilmen who will make land use decisions in a way that preserves a balance of open space, residential development and commercial development while nourishing our cultural and historical assets.

Responsible planning of the Fifth Avenue Station neighborhood to enhance the advantages of our downtown, provide additional parking, retail and commercial services for commuters, address the redevelopment of the public works property, while not exacerbating traffic and protecting the quality of life for residents needs to be a priority for planning officials. Our community provides a wonderful home for many workers across Chicagoland.  Our location along the BNSF commuter rail line allows residents the option to seek jobs in Chicago and across the county.  A 10-year waiting list for commuter parking and convenient rail access to jobs outside of Naperville is intolerable.  I’m confident that we can begin to solve this problem in a way that addresses the legitimate concerns of all those affected, including commuters, neighbors and Naperville residents generally.