CITY OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS

VISIONING QUESTIONNAIRE – 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

 

Q-1.  Do you agree or disagree: Kankakee is a unique place with a character that distinguishes it from other places.  (circle one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

(If you agree or strongly agree, describe the character).

 

 

 

Q-2.  What brought you to Kankakee (or if you’ve lived here for a while, what brought you to Kankakee in the first place)? (circle all that apply)

 

a.  Small town.

e.  Employment

b.  Spacious lots.

f.  Location within metro Chicago.

c.  Family connections.

g.  Other (explain): _________________________

d.  Affordable housing.

h.  Other (explain): _________________________

 

Q-3.  How large of a city (physically, in terms of size) should Kankakee be? (annexation means the incorporation of additional territory into the city limits) (circle one)

 

a.  The city should not annex anymore.

d.  The city should annex extensively.

b.  Only small additions are appropriate.

e.  Other (explain):

_____________________________________

c.  The city should annex modestly.

 

 

Q-4.  Kankakee should strive in the year 2030 to be a population of what range of size (year 2007 official estimate was 26,608 as of July 1, 2007): (circle one)

 

a.  The city should not grow any larger in population size.

d.  35,001 to 40,000

b.  25,000 to 30,000

e.  40,001 to 50,000

c.  30,001 to 35,000

f.  Larger than 50,000 

 

Q-5.  Regarding the effects of racial and ethnic diversity of the population in Kankakee, with which of the following do you agree? (circle all that apply)

 

a.  Diversity makes for a more interesting city.

d.  Minorities contribute positively to society.

b.  Minorities contribute significant investment of dollars and taxes.

e.  Other (explain):

_____________________________________

c.  Minorities provide a labor supply needed for jobs in the area.

f.  None of the above. 

Q-6.  Which of the following characteristics or descriptions do you believe should be included in the overall vision for the City of Kankakee? (place a check in the most appropriate box for each element listed)

 

Possible Elements of the Citywide Vision

Agree –

Include

Disagree –

Exclude

Part of the metro Chicago region

 

 

Kankakee River

 

 

Historic district(s)

 

 

Railroad theme

 

 

Small town feel

 

 

Homogeneous, low density, predominantly detached housing

 

 

A good place to raise a family

 

 

Residential neighborhoods protected from land use change

 

 

Senior-friendly

 

 

A strong and vibrant town center

 

 

Mixed use development in downtown and business corridors

 

 

Heights of buildings that have a low-rise feel (1-   stories (<50’)

 

 

Building heights in select places 4-8 stories (mid-rise) (<120’)

 

 

More “urban” feel with urban building heights (high-rise) (120’+)

 

 

Revitalization and redevelopment of Court Street and other places as appropriate

 

 

Housing affordable for households of all incomes

 

 

Annexation of master-planned subdivisions and additional lands

 

 

 

Safe and pleasant environment for walking

 

 

Auto dealerships, auto repair, and highway businesses along state highways

 

 

Big-box stores (Wal-Mart, Lowes, Staples, etc.)

 

 

Stores one can walk to from neighborhoods

 

 

Industrial and manufacturing

 

 

Corporate headquarters and office/business parks

 

 

Balanced economic base

 

 

A good place to do business

 

 

Possible Elements of the Citywide Vision

Agree –

Include

Disagree –

Exclude

Active parks (e.g., ball fields and community centers)

 

 

Passive greenspace (e.g., multi-use greenway trails)

 

 

 

 

 

Q-7.  Which of the following character areas should be proposed/retained:

 

Proposed Character Area

Summary Description

Agree

 

Disagree

 

Historic Town Center

Small, compact area corresponding with the City’s downtown, predominantly new urbanism/ mixed use 

 

 

Suburban Residential

Predominantly single-family, detached dwellings at low densities (less than    units per acre), set back from  curvilinear streets and cul-de-sacs. 

 

 

Traditional Neighborhoods

Primarily single-family residences built close to streets designed in a rectangular or square block, lot, and street pattern (connected grid pattern) and densities in the range of 4.5 to 6 dwelling units per acre.

 

 

Suburban Neighborhoods

This character area corresponds with conventional suburban subdivisions with larger lots (1/2 acre or more) that have, and lots are spacious. Streets are built to a relatively wide standard when compared with traditional neighborhoods.  Connectivity is not necessarily provided, although an objective of this character area is to provide for pedestrian activity and connections among subdivisions to provide more of a true “neighborhood.”

 

 

Urban Communities

Urban density residential developments in the City (apartment complexes and condominium and townhouse projects).  Densities range from 6 to 10 units per acre and more.

 

 

Area Targeted for Community Development

Areas that may have issues of housing maintenance and/or are eligible for community development block grants, targeted housing programs, neighborhood self-help programs, and other revitalization activities

 

 

Planned unit development

Areas that are planned as communities and built in phases, usually with cluster housing & open space

 

 

Proposed Character Area

Summary Description

Agree

 

Disagree

 

Institutional/ Campus

Large institutional campuses such as public school sites and includes large churches 

 

 

Office-Institutional Corridor

A corridor targeted predominantly characterized by churches and institutions, and served by appropriate pedestrian access (Primarily Located Near Kankakee Community College)

 

 

Employment/

Industrial

Industrial parks, manufacturing, warehousing and wholesale and business parks where truck traffic is dominant.

 

 

Community Activity Center

Predominantly commercial and service functions, predominantly automobile-oriented but which are also pedestrian friendly

 

 

Court Street Highway Corridor

A corridor targeted for revitalization with new pedestrian-friendly commercial and mixed uses with improved aesthetics through quality redevelopment

 

 

Interchange Redevelopment Area

An area surrounding the interchange of Court Street and Interstate 57 with new development of multiple-story office/commercial/mixed use buildings

 

 

Conservation

Lands that are or should be set aside for greenspace, or which will have very limited low-density residential use

 

 

[Other Name]

____________

Describe: ________________________________

________________________________________

 

 

 

[Other Name]

____________

Describe: ________________________________

________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Q-8.  Kankakee should consider a policy of promoting housing for people with mixed incomes in the same development or neighborhood, as one opportunity for promoting more affordable housing in the city. (circle one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-9.  The city’s plan should articulate specific revitalization and redevelopment (and redevelopment financing) strategies for the Court Street and any designated redevelopment area. (circle one)

 

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-10.  Current measures to protect trees from land development and cutting are adequate. (circle one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-11.  Specific measures are needed to maintain and enhance the City’s tree canopy (versus a focus simply on trees). (circle one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-12.  Some segments of the city’s population are inadequately served by existing public facilities and services, and the plan needs to identify and address those inadequacies. (circle one) 

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-13.  Certain geographic areas of the city are inadequately served by existing public facilities and services, the plan needs to identify and address those inadequacies. (circle one) 

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-14.  There are opportunities to promote greater utilization of the Kankakee River within the City of Kankakee as a recreational resource. (check one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-15.  The city’s plan should provide for additional public transit service. (check one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

Q-16.  The transportation plan should emphasize improvements to sidewalks and bicycle routes to provide alternative travel options, versus projects emphasizing automobile traffic. (check one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-17 .  Traffic “calming” projects (e. g, speed humps, speed tables, etc.), and “no-truck” routes need to be considered in some places to slow and limit traffic. (check one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

 

Q-18. Specific policies and regulatory measures are needed to address concerns about residential infill development in residential neighborhoods.  Definition of Infill:  Development that occurs on vacant, skipped-over, bypassed, or underused lots in otherwise built-up sites or areas. (check one)

 

1

2

3

4

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree