Geneva City Council held a special meeting earlier this week to chart the path forward for updating the city’s comprehensive plan. However, the meeting started off clunky, as it became clear that several council members had not thoroughly reviewed large portions of the existing plan. This led to some initial confusion about the purpose of the meeting and the direction the council wanted to take.
Once the discussion gained momentum, council members expressed frustration with the current comprehensive plan, calling it outdated and too broad. The plan, which spans more than 270 pages, was originally developed before the COVID-19 pandemic and no longer reflects Geneva’s economic and housing needs.
One major point of agreement was that updating the plan would require outside expertise. The council budgeted $75,000 for the update and agreed to move forward with hiring a consultant to guide the process.
A key theme of the meeting was aligning the comprehensive plan with Geneva’s economic development goals. Council members stressed the importance of:
- Tourism and Lakefront Development – Geneva’s lakefront remains a major asset, and officials want the updated plan to emphasize ways to maximize its potential.
- Neighborhood Revitalization – Several members noted the need to reinvest in underserved neighborhoods and provide incentives for small businesses to open in residential areas.
- Housing Growth and Density – Some councilors debated whether zoning policies were too restrictive, with discussions on whether increased density could attract more housing projects.
- Downtown Revitalization – While the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) has led to visible improvements, council members want to see greater focus on attracting businesses and activating vacant upper-floor spaces.
The meeting also highlighted the need for zoning changes that align with Geneva’s development goals. Some councilors suggested that zoning restrictions have prevented mixed-use development and economic growth.
Emphasis was placed on zoning codes aligning with the city’s comprehensive plan.
Council members agreed that broad public engagement is crucial. However, they debated the best way to gather input, with some favoring town halls and others advocating for online surveys to streamline the process.
Several outreach methods were proposed or discussed, but no final decisions were made on them.
The council’s immediate next step is to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a consultant to oversee the comprehensive plan update. In parallel, council members will review the existing plan and identify sections to revise or remove.
“Ideally, we don’t want this to be a two-year process,” Mayor Steve Valentino said. “We have funding in place, and we need to move forward while economic opportunities are in front of us.”
Councilors agreed to reconvene soon to discuss their individual assessments of the plan.
The updated comprehensive plan is expected to guide Geneva’s growth for the next decade. With a focus on economic development, housing, and neighborhood investment, city leaders hope to create a more actionable and forward-looking document.
Watch the Meeting
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