Workshop 5 Recap

On August 13, the project team hosted the fifth workshop at the Plano Community Library. We sincerely thank everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion!

The workshop began with a presentation outlining the project’s purpose, scope, team members, and timeline. Participants were shown how to navigate the project website, including the interactive comment map and survey tools. Using their phones, attendees joined a live poll to share their personal experiences living in Kendall County and their first impressions of the area. The poll led to a good discussion on concerns and opportunities. The team also presented key findings from the draft Existing Conditions Analysis, highlighting topics such as demographics, employment, housing, education, and natural resources.

Key takeaways from the discussion included:

• Kendall County remains a peaceful farming community but has experienced rapid suburban growth over the past twenty years.
• The Fox River and local forest preserves are popular destinations for both residents and visitors. Attendees also recommended the area’s libraries and museums.
• High property taxes, natural resource preservation, and balancing development with rural character were identified as the top concerns facing Kendall County.
• Looking ahead, participants hope the County will enhance its property tax base, proactively preserve natural areas and farmland, plan the road network in advance, and strengthen the local economy.
• There is interest in increasing outreach for the project—such as posting signs and boosting media coverage—to encourage more residents to get involved.

Next Steps

This wraps up our first round of in-person workshops. Next steps include:

• A Project Committee meeting on August 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Kendall County Office Building (807 West John Street, Yorkville).
• Creation of the draft plan
• Another round of community workshops to review the draft plan in early 2026.

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