Corridor Improvement Program: Foreword

In 2001, the City of St. Charles launched an innovative new program -- the Corridor Improvement Program -- as yet another way to improve St. Charles as a place to live, work, shop, and play. The Corridor Improvement Program is designed to enhance the physical appearance of private property (excluding buildings) adjoining the City’s three most traveled auto and pedestrian “corridors”: Main Street (IL Rt 64), Randall Road, and Kirk Road. The program is intended to encourage and assist owners of highly-visible properties along these corridors to make improvements to their property, primarily of a landscaping nature, which would enhance the overall appearance and thus the economic vitality and character of the City. Additionally, design criteria and preferred materials have been developed for improvements of properties in the Downtown District.

The program’s concept draws from many sources and builds upon ideas expressed by local developers, the Chamber of Commerce’s Community Development Division (“Friends of the West” subcommittee), and the City’s Plan Commission. The Corridor Improvement Program expands upon existing efforts to improve the appearance of the downtown, extending improvements to the major thoroughfares within St. Charles. The program complements work being done by other bodies, including the City Tree Commission, City Historic Preservation Commission, Plan Commission, Rotary Club Tree Planting Program, Downtown St. Charles Partnership’s Design and Public Art Committees, the Pottawatomie Garden Club, and the St. Charles Park District.

The Corridor Improvement Program is administered by the City's Corridor Improvement Commission, which will oversee the Corridor Improvement Grant Program, reviewing grant applications and recommending awards to the City Council. This commission is appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. The Corridor Improvement Commission members who initiated on this project in January 2001 are David English (Chairman), John Glenn, (Vice Chairman), Erik Bush, Nancy Cox, Gordon Drawer, Mari Kane, Fred Murray, and Christa Orum-Keller.

Working with the design guidelines, the Commission has found that several of the concepts idealized had to be modified. Also, the guidelines were too large and difficult to administer. Therefore, in 2009 a revised set of guidelines were instituted. The Corridor Improvement Commission members who worked on this revision are David English (Chairman), Tom Schuetz (Vice Chairman), Mari Kane, Mary Allen, and Kelli Potts.