Trustees gave consensus for Winnetka village staff to draft a request for proposal to seek companies interested in creating a downtown master plan for the village. At the Village Council’s Dec. 9 study session, trustees received their first look at the RFP, which outlined the scope of the plan. “These aren’t set in stone,” said Community Development Director Mike D’Onofrio. “It’s just staff’s attempt to say what are we trying to accomplish with the comprehensive master plan. The whole goal of the plan is it will culminate in a plan that reflects the desires of downtown for the community.” Following a discussion of the downtown master plan Sept. 9, village staff reached out to other municipalities who have recently completed similar plans and reviewed their RFPs. Staff then developed a goals and purpose section tailored to Winnetka’s needs. The Winnetka RFP identifies nine specific tasks which will be required, including data collection, community input, a market analysis, land use recommendations and site specific opportunities, parking and transportation, infrastructure, regulatory review, implementation strategies and a final report and adoption. “With each one of these tasks there is a deliverable,” D’Onofrio said. “We’re going to get something at the end of each task.” Resident Scott Myers, who was selected by the Winnetka Caucus Council as one of its village trustee candidates for 2015, urged current trustees to also include the community and business owners in the planning process. “I would ask the Council to think of a more lofty goal there of really trying to build understanding and engagement of the community,” Myers said. “We don’t just want to be informing stakeholders, but engaging stakeholders in this process. I suggest adding a 10th task, which is a communications plan.” Trustees raised concerns over whether the results of the plan could be implemented on properties which the village does not own, and whether the village could entice property owners to follow the plan. “Importantly, you’d want the ownership involved in the planning process,” Village Manager Rob Bahan said. “If it’s important enough to the municipality, sometimes incentives are put on the table to get the results you’re looking for. That’s not uncommon. I’ve seen that play out in other communities.” Bahan asked trustees to send final comments about the RFP to him by the end of the year, and the request is expected to be released to consulting firms shortly after. “I believe this is exactly the pill the village needs,” said Trustee Bill Krucks. “One of the things I’ve always been unhappy with is the lack of objective evidence that we can rely on to make sure we’re making the right decisions for the right reasons. For me, this is going to get us that information. Hopefully we’re going to get back our money tenfold.”
