McLean County Regional Planning Commission has a long history of planning for rural McLean County. From our early years as the sole planning agency for the County and the urban area, we evolved to providing limited planning assistance to communities such as Lexington, Chenoa, and Carlock, beyond our traditional focus on Bloomington-Normal.
Through these projects and our transportation planning work, we have talked with rural residents and communities, analyzed the critical contributions of our agricultural producers, consulted with local and statewide advocacy groups, and, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation, incorporated rural access and infrastructure into our planning process.
Guided by the success of the recent planning work for Bloomington and Normal, MCRPC is working toward greater engagement with all of McLean County, its rural residents, businesses, and institutions, as well as the vital interests of the agricultural community. Some issues already under study include rural freight infrastructure and access to the national freight network; housing availability and affordability; public transit and other transportation options for rural communities to work, school, and health care in Bloomington-Normal; and comprehensive planning for rural towns in a changing economic climate.
Factors Influencing Rural Communities
- Population loss
- Demographic make up
- Revenue streams for municipal operations
- Preservation of Farmland
- Economic activity
- Challenges brought by the technological advancements
Key Rural Planning Documents
City of Chenoa Comprehensive Plan
January 2009
