City Wide Comprehensive Plan

The City of Joliet is working with a consultant team, led by Lamar Johnson Collaborative, to create its first comprehensive plan in over 60 years.

This plan will guide how the city responds to current needs, prepares for the future, and supports inclusive growth, sustainable development, and equitable prosperity over the next ten years. It will include recommendations related to economic development, transportation, housing and neighborhoods, natural resources, and infrastructure.

Input from people who live and work in Joliet will help the team understand where Joliet is today, what's important, and how best to guide development over the next ten years. Input is being collected and has been collected through the following opportunities.

Community Workshop #2

The Community Workshop # 2 took place Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Joliet Public Library - Ottawa Street Branch.

This workshop focused on understanding community desires across four distinct character areas in the city, each with unique physical, cultural, and functional qualities. By identifying where different development patterns exist and where new opportunities can emerge, Joliet can manage growth that respects existing communities while preparing for the future. The four character areas were selected because they represent a range of characteristics, from commercial to residential to industrial. The ideas generated from this workshop for the four areas can be applied across the city where similar development patterns exist.

Attendees also:

• Learned whet we heard from the community and how that feedback developed into seven community priorities.
• Saw the vision and goals for each of the plan's six topic areas

Topic Area Workshops

Topic Area Workshops were held at Joliet City Hall and focused on the following topics:

Community Survey

Input from people who live and work in Joliet will help the team understand where Joliet is today, what's important, and how best to guide development over the next ten years.

The Community Survey ran from July 14th through September 19th , 2025 and is now closed. The Survey was available online in English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic and traditional Chinese and paper form in English and Spanish. A summary of the survey results can be found in the Engagement Summary under Reports & Findings on this page.

Community Workshop #1

The Community Workshop # 1 took place Wednesday September 17th, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Joliet West High School Cafeteria. Photos of the workshop can be viewed here. Workshop presentation boards can be viewed here. A summary of the input gathered from this Community Workshop can be found in the Engagement Summary under Reports & Findings on this page.

Comment

Check back often for project updates and opportunities to provide feedback. In the meantime, submit your comments here: comprehensiveplan@joliet.gov

Economics of Community Development

The City partnered with consulting firm Urban3 to better understand how growth, development, infrastructure, and city finances work together to shape Joliet's future. Joe Minicozzi, founder and principal of Urban3, shared these findings with the Joliet community on Wednesday June 17th at two engaging presentations. The first was a lunch & learn that was co-sponsored by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce at Harrah’s Casino and the second was an evening presentation held at Bicentennial Park Theater. Urban3’s work explains how housing, businesses, roads, and community design all play a role in building a stronger and more successful city.

To watch the presentation: JCTV - Economics of Community Design Video

To view presentation slides: Urban3 Economics of Community Design(PDF, 128MB)

To view the final report (horizontal layout): Urban3 Report(PDF, 65MB)

To view the final report (vertical layout): Urban3 Report(PDF, 8MB)

The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) provides guidance on the overall planning direction of the Joliet Comprehensive Plan, champions the planning effort, shares information with their respective social and professional networks, and offers feedback on specific project milestones and deliverables.

The Advisory Committee meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am in the 2nd floor Council Chambers of City Hall. Meeting agendas are posted a minimum of 48 hours in advance of the meeting and can be found at https://joliet.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

Below is a list of the Advisory Committee members:

• Mayor Terry D'Arcy
• Councilman Cesar Cardenas
• Elaine Bottomley
• Warren Dorris
• Nora Gruenberg
• Jen Howard
• Wendell Martin
• Hugh O'Hara
• Christopher Parker
• Doug Pryor
• Steve Randich
• Juan Rico
• Jim Roolf
• Dr. Theresa Rouse
• Diana Viveros
• Boise Walker
• Damon Zdunich