Planning
The Planning aspect of the Community Development Department concentrates on preparing the Village for the future through decisions and goals defined in the present. Goals for the future are outlined in "The Official Plan of the Village of Franklin Park" (also known as the Comprehensive Plan) and the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Study.
The 1973 version of the Comprehensive Plan was updated and approved in 2005 with an amended future land use map in 2007. The Comprehensive Plan serves as the "....official policy guide for community improvement and development." It serves as a guideline for desirable development combined with the preservation of important community features over the next ten to fifteen years.
The Transit Oriented Development Study, commonly referred to as the TOD Study, was developed after several public forums throughout 2005 for residents to voice opinions, concerns and ideas. This input, coupled with the creativity and work of Village staff and three consulting firms resulted in an approved version in 2006. The TOD Study serves as a complementary document to the Comprehensive Plan. Where the Comprehensive Plan encompasses the entire Village, the TOD Study focuses on the downtown area, traffic, and transit through the multiple rail lines that service the area. The purpose of the study is to "foster improvements to the downtown area and the area served by the Metra station in order to attract and retain businesses, increase tax revenues to the Village, enhance transit access, and increase transit ridership." Key elements of the study include possible redevelopment sites, improving the functionality of the downtown area through parking, pedestrian and bike access and addressing rail ridership and facilities.