Teska prepared a Comprehensive Plan for the Village of Beecher, working with AECOM and Baxter & Woodman Engineering. The tight-knit community surrounded by farmland in eastern Will County celebrates 150 years in 2020. The community of just under 5,000 residents wanted a plan that would bolster existing quality-of-life, revitalize the downtown area, and create more job opportunities. Residents young and old voiced their love for the quiet, rural community and shared their vision for Beecher in 2040.
The plan focuses on industrial expansion, including the revitalization of the historic downtown, and aims to expand housing opportunities. After a period of population growth in the early 2000s, the Great Recession stunted growth and housing development. Trends show that the community is attractive to retirees and seniors, and the Village hopes to expand senior living options while also attracting new, younger residents. Plan recommendations include creating a bike trail connecting to the Plum Creek Greenway Trail at Goodenow Grove, establishing more parks, incorporating wayfinding signage leading to downtown, using historic markers to celebrate Beecher’s long history, and encouraging the use of alternative energy systems like solar panels for homes and businesses. The plan includes an alternative future land use plan to guide development in the event that regional projects which remain on the horizon, including the South Suburban Airport and a new CSX Intermodal Facility in Crete, IL become realities. The planning process included significant public engagement with the community through a Steering Committee, electronic, and in-person contact – highlighted by community workshops and focus groups with seniors, teens, and Hispanic residents.
