Will County Gazette

The Joliet City Council is poised to consider the adoption of the Downtown Joliet Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan. This plan serves as a comprehensive blueprint for revitalizing the area around the Joliet Gateway Transportation Center.

The ETOD Plan aims to enhance development opportunities in the surrounding neighborhood, promoting a vibrant and active downtown. Planning Director Jayne Bernhard has led this initiative over the past year, highlighting its significance to ongoing revitalization efforts and its alignment with the city's broader comprehensive plan.

“Adoption of this plan by the council means the city is committed to implementing 73 recommended actions, including a much-needed update to the zoning ordinance to enable the types of development envisioned by the plan,” said Bernhard. “For example, one of the higher priority actions is to update zoning to allow for multi-family and mixed-use development right in downtown, particularly near the train station. Another recommends working with owners of buildings with underutilized or vacant space to understand owner interest and potential financial, regulatory, and procedural barriers to redevelopment.”

Mayor Terry D’Arcy emphasized attracting more residents downtown as a way to boost local economic growth. “If we have more people living downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods, it supports existing businesses and creates opportunities for new ones in the heart of the city,” D’Arcy said.

In mid-May, an open house hosted by the city saw strong community engagement regarding the proposed plan. Following this feedback, the Joliet Plan Commission unanimously recommended adoption at its June meeting. The plan now awaits final consideration by City Council members.

Residents can stay informed through updates on https://www.joliet.gov/etod.