While the now-famous California Chrome seeks to make horse-racing history this weekend, the Kane County Board received the third leg of its own version of a triple crown Wednesday at the 2014 Vision Awards held by the Chicago Chapter of the Urban Land Institute.

Kane County was a finalist in the Program Category for its innovative launch and implementation of the Kane County Planning Cooperative. While Kane County did not walk away with a top award, just being a finalist in the Program Category, up against programs nominated by the city of Chicago, the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the Regional Transit Authority, says a lot.

So what were the first two legs of this triple crown? The Kane County Planning Cooperative has been honored with awards from the American Public Health Association in 2012 and the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2013.

In 2012, Kane County became the first county in Illinois to fully integrate health, transportation and land-use planning by adopting the Kane County 2040 Plan. Since then, Kane County has put this integrated planning to work for residents, businesses and municipalities.

The Kane County Planning Cooperative is supported by the combined staffs of the county’s Health, Transportation and Development departments, and is the cornerstone of the County Board’s efforts.  The Kane County Planning Cooperative has hosted four workshops, provided healthy community planning information, and has partnered with CMAP to bring over $1.2 million in planning assistance to Kane County and our municipalities.

Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen attended the Vision Awards last evening with County Board member Drew Frasz and staff members from the Health Department, KDOT and the Development Department.  Stated Chris Lauzen, “With this award, the Chicago Chapter of the Urban Land Institute is helping us send a strong message to real estate developers and businesses– that Kane County is open for business for those who want to build walkable, healthy communities and create jobs and opportunities for the 270,000 new residents we expect by the year 2040.”

SOURCE: Kane County Planning Cooperative