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EXISTING

CONDITIONS

REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Regional Context

Chapter 3: Municipal and Community Services

Chapter 4: Previous Plans

Chapter 5: Land Use & Zoning

Chapter 6: Population & Housing

Chapter 7: Economic Development

Chapter 8: Transportation

Chapter 9: Natural Environment

Chapter 10: Looking Forward

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Why Does Bensenville Need a Comprehensive Plan?

The Village of Bensenville is in the midst of updating their existing comprehensive plan. This is to create a new plan to outline the community’s desired development vision for its future and need to accomplish that vision. Having an accurate understanding of existing issues and opportunities is the first step towards developing an appropriate and effective plan.

In the past decade, Bensenville has experienced several unique challenges that have impacted its development character, economy, and social fabric. For example, the economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic affected various facets of the community. Moreover, it is critical that the Village has policies in pace to anticipate the completion of the Elgin O’Hare Western Access (EOWA) project. To accommodate present and future challenges, the Village must undertake initiatives that look at short and long-term revitalization strategies for the industrial areas, commercial corridors, downtown, and aging infrastructure. The first step in shaping these initiatives is to understand the current state of the community.

Purpose of the Existing Conditions Report This Existing Conditions Report, representing the accumulation of approximately 5 months of research analysis, provides an overview of the current conditions in the Bensenville community and is designed to provide a “starting point” to create a shared vision. It also measures the change in community composition since the previous Comprehensive Plan. The Existing Conditions Report is organized into the following chapters: • Chapter 1: Introduction • Chapter 2: Regional Context • Chapter 3: Governance Structure • Chapter 4: Previous Plans • Chapter 5: Land Use and Development • Chapter 6: Population and Housing • Chapter 7: Economic Development • Chapter 8: Transportation • Chapter 9: Natural Environment • Chapter 10: Looking Forward

Existing Conditions Report

The 2025 Comprehensive Plan will help create a consensus-based community wide vision for the future of Bensenville, building upon the success of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan. This includes addressing ongoing issues such as the lack of bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout the Village, increasing access to recreational amenities, improving the Irving Park Road corridor and topics such as the housing needs of the community in terms of types, price points, and locations.

Introduction

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

The new Comprehensive Plan will enable the Village to take full advantage of upcoming opportunities in an effective and efficient manner, based on a fresh understanding of the direction residents wish to see the Village take.

A Comprehensive Plan outlines the vision of a community’s desires as well as the process that will allow it to realize that vision. In addition to providing a well-defined framework for the community’s development and investment goals, the Plan seeks to explore and promote new opportunities and changing community trends.

The Bensenville Comprehensive Plan will specifically benefit the Village by: • Improving coordination among departments, by identifying actions that could be undertaken in a collaborative manner. • Prioritizing actions in the short, mid, and long-term, allowing Village officials to focus their efforts on well-defined and finite tasks. • Improving implementation by setting realistic and achievable goals • Enforcing accountability by assigning tasks to specific individuals/departments/ agencies and emphasizing their leadership role in achieving success • Saving money due to improved efficiency in Village operations, implementation and administration.

Existing Conditions Report

Typically, a comprehensive plan is written to provide guidance for a community to work towards its vision over the next 15 to 20 years. Although the plan should be viewed as a longterm document, it should also be thought of as a living document to be used daily by both Village staff and the community to assist in land use and development decisions. The comprehensive plan should also be considered flexible and one that can adapt with change. At any time, the municipality can update its comprehensive plan to match local needs, interests, or opportunities. It is typically recommended that a municipality update its comprehensive plan every five to ten years to keep the plan as accurate as possible.

Introduction

Elements of a Comprehensive Plan

responsible for preparing and recommending a “comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the municipality.” The code continues to say “that the plan may include reasonable requirements with reference to streets, alleys, public grounds, and other improvements.”

A comprehensive plan is composed of a series of distinct yet interrelated elements defined by the Illinois Local Planning Assistance Act (Public Act 92-0768). That statute will be the basis for the Village of Bensenville plan, whose primary elements will include: • • • • • • •

Planning Process

Land Use Economic Development Housing Parks and Open Space Transportation and Circulation Urban Design Implementation

The planning process to create the Village’s Comprehensive Plan includes multiple steps that will last approximately 9 months. The process has been crafted by Village staff, providing multiple opportunities for both residents and business owners to give input throughout.

In addition, comprehensive plans include additional elements responsive to community needs, which either may be unique sections in the plan or may be incorporated as common themes that run throughout the document. The Bensenville Comprehensive Plan may include yet to be determined additional elements based on issues and opportunities identified by stakeholders during analysis of existing conditions.

At the beginning of December 2024, Village staff announced the start of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update process. The announcement included a project website (www.bensenvilleplan.com), as well as an explanation of the planning process and a resident survey. The project website outlined the timeframe and planning sequence. The Village’s Community Development Commission (CDC) serves as an advisory body to the project. The key steps in the planning process are illustrated below.

Under the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS) 5/11-12-5(1)), a municipal plan commission is

Existing Conditions Report

Introduction

Next Steps After the Existing Conditions Report is presented to the Community Development Commission and Village Board, the next step in the process will be to synthesize and analyze the community data gathered during Phase 1 of the project. The Existing Conditions Report covers where the Village is. Further work, building on the Existing Conditions Report, helps tell the story of where the citizens and Village staff want to take the community. Based upon the results of the resident survey, further engagement work, and the data and information compiled in this Existing Conditions Report, draft plans and recommendations will be crafted.

Existing Conditions Report

CHAPTER 2: REGIONAL CONTEXT In the following years, the area gained strategic transportation connections that enabled trade and attracted further settlement. There was a plank road that paralleled Irving Park Road which provided connections to Chicago, Elgin and Galena. 1849 saw the opening of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad to the south, which further promoted economic and residential growth.

This section provides a historical overview of Bensenville and illustrates how the community fits into the larger northeastern Illinois region. Understanding the community’s past and its regional position will provide a context for the Village’s issues and potential opportunities for growth moving into the future.

History of Bensenville

A big turning point came in 1872, when a group which included Dietrich Struckmann, T.R. Dobbins, and Roselle Hough purchased the land that would become Bensenville. A year later, the plat was recorded and subdivided into lots. The community was named Bensenville, after Bensen, Germany. Soon after, the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroad began service between Chicago and Elgin, and included a stop in the area, bringing additional development.

The origins of Bensenville date back to the early 19th century as a hunting and trapping preserve for Native American settlements located along both Salt Creek and the Des Plaines River. For several decades, Native Americans and white settlers lived in an uneasy coexistence with frequent clashes. In 1833, following the Sauk tribe’s defeat in the Black Hawk War of 1832, white settlers forcibly removed all Native Americans from the area, including the Potawatomi, who had avoided the conflict altogether. To this day, the names of Bensenville’s schools are a reminder of the community’s Native American origins: Blackhawk and Tioga. In 1833, the first permanent white settlers arrived from New England and built a log cabin near Salt Creek in an area west of present-day Bensenville . The settlers’ numbers were soon bolstered with the arrival of German immigrants, and an agricultural society came into being.

Existing Conditions Report

The Village was officially incorporated on May 10, 1884. Over the next several decades Bensenville became fully established as a Chicago suburb, with the first school opening in 1886, and storm sewer construction beginning a year later. The early 1900s brought telephone service, concrete sidewalks, and electricity. In 1916, the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroad constructed a roundhouse and freight yard, creating many jobs and attracting new residents to Bensenville, including many Mexican immigrants.

Regional Context

World War II brought major transformations to Bensenville. The federal government, which was looking for a site to build Douglas C-54 cargo planes, announced plans to construct the manufacturing plant just outside Bensenville, in Cook County. The plant operated from 1943 to 1945, after which Chicago purchased the land to build a large airport, marking the beginning of a new era for Bensenville. The Village’s relationship to O’Hare International Airport has been complex since the beginning. Lacking sufficient land for the proposed facility, Chicago sought to acquire land in unincorporated DuPage County. Bensenville, which had many unincorporated structures on the contested land, challenged Chicago in court but lost, resulting in the relocation and demolition of the buildings.

the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission to this day. The 2000s brought fresh challenges in the relationship between the Village and the airport. In 2003, the Illinois General Assembly voted to pass the O’Hare Modernization Act, which officially recognized the importance of a modernized O’Hare for the health of the Illinois economy. Two years later, the FAA approved the O’Hare Modernization Program, which called for the reconfiguration of runways as well as creation of new runways and airport support buildings located partially on Bensenville land. As land acquisition and demolition proceeded, Bensenville lost about 2,000 residents, 500 homes and 120 businesses. Bensenville challenged Chicago and the expansion in court in a legal battle that lasted years. In late 2009, however, Bensenville decided to accept a settlement agreement, and began to work with O’Hare and Chicago in order to transform the challenges of the airport’s expansion into growth opportunities for the Village.

Bensenville’s population, which was 1,869 in 1940, grew quickly after the war, doubling by 1950, and nearly tripling between 1950 and 1960 when it reached 9,141. O’Hare’s proximity brought opportunities and challenges. The airport stimulated increased industrial development, but also caused significant noise pollution, leading to Bensenville and 16 other nearby suburbs to form the O’Hare Area Noise Abatement Council in 1969. Bensenville is a leading member of

Existing Conditions Report

Since the completion of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan, several local and global shifts have affected Bensenville, serving as both challenges and potential opportunities for growth. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted commuting patterns, changing the way residents work and travel. It also affected the way consumers spend money, influencing the growth of online shopping and reducing the frequency they dine in at restaurants.

Regional Context

Wood Dale, Addison, Elmhurst, Northlake, and Franklin Park surround Bensenville. Bensenville’s north-eastern quadrent abuts O’Hare International Airport. The Village’s strategic location and proximity to regional transportation amenities make it an ideal location for residents and businesses alike.

As of November 2024, peak ridership on the Milwaukee District-West Metra line has only recovered 43% compared to November 2019 levels (placing it in the bottom third of all Metra lines), with weekday ridership only at 49% of November 2019 levels. This has resulted in a less visible downtown Bensenville, with less commuters frequenting local businesses.

The following list summarizes regional transportation options available to Bensenville’s resident and workforce population as well as the major regional destinations or points of interest.

A unique opportunity for Bensenville presents itself in the form of the nearing completion of the Elgin O’Hare Western Access (EOWA) project, The EOWA project includes construction of a new, all-electronic toll road around the western border of O’Hare International Airport linking the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), the extension of the Elgin O’Hare Expressway east along Thorndale Avenue to O’Hare and the rehabilitation and widening of the existing Elgin O’Hare Expressway. Connections to the northern portion of York Road allow for an improved gateway into Bensenville with direct access to O’Hare.

Major Roadways • Irving Park Road, IL-19- Within Village limits • Kingery Highway, IL-83- Within Village limits • Interstate 290- 3.0 miles from Village Hall • Interstate 294- 4.0 miles from Village Hall Regional Public Transit • Bensenville Metra Station (Milwaukee District / West Line) - Within Village limits • Pace Bus Stops (Routes 319 and 332) International Airports • O’Hare International Airport—7.5 miles from Village Hall (existing access)

Regional Setting The Village of Bensenville is located in both Cook County, and DuPage County, with the majority in northeast DuPage County. The DuPage portion of the Village is located in Addison Township. The villages of Elk Grove,

Existing Conditions Report

Other Major Destinations • City of Chicago – 22 miles from Village Hall • Oak Brook Center Mall – 8.5 Miles from Village Hall

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Regional Context

Relationship with the GO TO 2050 Regional Comprehensive Plan

• Maintain the region’s status as North America’s freight hub • Leverage the transportation network to promote inclusive growth

As part of the larger Chicago metropolitan region, Bensenville influences and is influenced by the region. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) developed and now guides the implementation of GO TO 2050, the update to metropolitan Chicago’s first truly comprehensive regional plan, GO TO 2040. To address anticipated population growth of more than 2 million new residents, GO TO 2050 establishes coordinated strategies that will help the region’s 284 communities address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality of life issues. The Plan contains 5 themes and 14 major recommendations.

GO TO 2050 states, “Local governments play an essential role in developing and implementing community goals for the future. Cumulatively, such choices shape quality of life for all residents, help our economy thrive, and determine whether additional regional goals are met. Thus, municipalities and other local governments are the front line for implementing ON TO 2050 through local plans, regulations, infrastructure investments, programs, and services”. By undertaking this Comprehensive Plan, the Village is taking necessary steps to make informed land use and development decisions while demonstrating their commitment to helping shape the future of the region as well.

The Community, Prosperity, and Mobility chapters are of particular relevance to the 2025 Bensenville Comprehensive Plan, especially those that relate to: • Support development of compact, walkable communities • Match regional and local housing supply with the types that residents want • Prioritize pathways for upward economic mobility

Existing Conditions Report

CHAPTER 3: MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Public Works Facility: The Public Works Department is responsible for Village related engineering, GIS, street operations, utility operations, transit services, and capital projects.

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight municipal and community services available to Bensenville residents and businesses. Existing community services are provided by the Village, Cook and DuPage County, regional organizations, and private entities.

Redmond Recreation Complex: The Complex is an 88-acre facility that includes two baseball fields, a soccer field, basketball courts, sand volleyball, canoe launch, band-shell, 1.2-mile walking path, a lake, and wetland natural preserve. It also includes The Edge Ice Arena and Water’s Edge Aquatic Center, both utilized by residents and visitors. The lake serves as the Village’s detention pond.

Village Services Village Hall: Relocated to downtown Bensenville in 2003, the new Village Hall building is an attractive building that serves as an anchor for the downtown. Village Hall hosts the Community & Economic Development and Finance Departments, as well as the newly renovated Bensenville Heritage Center on the lower level. The public open space adjacent to Village Hall hosts various functions throughout the year including Music in the Park and Holiday Magic.

Other Government Services Fire Protection District: In 2006, the Bensenville Fire Department was transitioned into the Bensenville Fire Protection District as a result of a referendum passed by Village residents. Bensenville Fire Protection District #2 serves the Village via two fire stations. Bensenville Fire Station 1 is located in the residential area at the corner of York Road and 3rd Avenue. Bensenville Fire Station 2 is located in the northern industrial area off Foster Avenue.

Police Department: The Bensenville Police Department is located at 345 E Green St. The state-of-the-art facility houses the Crime Prevention Division, Patrol Division, Records Division, Detection Division, and 911 operations. The facility is also home to the Village’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) which provides the community support during disaster or emergency situations.

Existing Conditions Report

Governance Structure

Bensenville Community Foundation: Founded in 1993, the Bensenville Community Foundation brings together the public agencies serving all Bensenville residents. The BCF Board is comprised of representatives from all of the area taxing bodies including the Bensenville Community Public Library, the Bensenville Park District, the Village of Bensenville, the Bensenville Fire Protection District, Bensenville School District 2, and Fenton High School District 100.

Bensenville Park District: The Bensenville Park District is headquartered in the Deer Grove Leisure Center. In addition to the entire Village, the District also serves portions of Wood Dale, Addison, and unincorporated DuPage County. Details about the District amenities and facilities are provided in Chapter 8: Natural Environment.

Non-Profit Services

Bensenville Arts Foundation: The mission of the Bensenville Arts Council, an intergovernmental agency, is to provide a variety of arts experiences to residents of all ages which will enhance the quality of life for all participants.

Bensenville Chamber of Commerce: The Bensenville Chamber of Commerce is a business organization with over 40 years of service in creating and protecting a healthy business environment in Bensenville. The Chamber hosts networking events for local businesses on a regular basis and works to attract and retain business in the Village. According to Chamber officials, there are currently close to 150 members with limited participation from minority owned businesses. Padres Unidos de Fenton: Padres Unidos is a parent group for Latino families sponsored by Fenton High School. It is a forum for information and communication for parents, students, and staff at Fenton High School. Padres Unidos offers an opportunity to stay abreast of academic, social, and cultural themes.

Existing Conditions Report

Educational Institutions

Healthcare Services

Bensenville residents have access to schools in four School Districts for elementary education and three School Districts for high school. Elementary School Districts include Wood Dale School District 7, Bensenville School District 2, Manheim School District 83, and Elmhurst School District 205. High school Districts include Fenton Community High School District 100, Leyden Community High School District 212, and Elmhurst School District 205. A majority of Bensenville residents utilize Bensenville School District 2 and Fenton Community High School District 100.

While there are no large hospitals within Bensenville, residents are within close reach of the newly built, state of the art, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital along Roosevelt Road. The 259-bed hospital opened in the summer of 2011 and provides outpatient services, acute care, diagnostics, inpatient care, and physician offices in one 50-acre campus. Bensenville residents are a 15 minute drive away from the hospital and Pace Bus Route 332 also connects the Bensenville Metra station to the hospital all seven days of the week.

Existing Conditions Report

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CHAPTER 4: PREVIOUS PLANS 2015 Bensenville Comprehensive Plan

This section provides a summary and analysis of existing Village plans, studies, and reports that have been completed since the approval of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan. Relevant, future facing plans that were existing at the time of the 2015 plan are also considered. These will play a unique role, informing and impacting the ultimate recommendation of the new Comprehensive Plan. The documents have been reviewed to build upon current or relevant findings and plans.

The 2015 Bensenville Comprehensive Plan was prepared by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) with assistance from the Village of Bensenville. The first comprehensive planning effort since the 1980s, it was authored in an attempt to help strategically implement the recommendations of previous, goal- and location-specific planning efforts. Completed over the course of 15 months, the plan was designed with resident and business owner input in mind. The stated main outcomes of the 2015 Bensenville Comprehensive Plan were: • Improving coordination among departments by identifying actions that could be undertaken in a collaborative manner. • Prioritizing implementation actions in the near-term and long-term, allowing Village officials to focus their efforts on well-defined and finite tasks. • Improving implementation by setting realistic and achievable goals. • Enforcing accountability by assigning tasks to specific individuals/departments/ agencies and emphasizing their leadership role in achieving success. • Saving money due to improved efficiency in operations and administration.

Previously completed plans, studies, and reports reviewed in this section include: • 2015 Bensenville Comprehensive Plan • 2013 Connected to the World: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy • 2014 Homes for a Changing Region • 2022 Aging in a Changing Region • 2016 Bensenville Active Transportation Plan

Existing Conditions Report

Previous Plans

As the plan serves as a unifying policy document designed to guide progress within the Village of Bensenville, it has several overarching themes that are weaved throughout the document across policy areas.

Connected to the World: Comprehsenive Economic Development Strategy

Those were: • Regulatory Changes- in order to allow for the effective enforcement of Village standards, regulations such as the zoning ordinance had to be changed in order to become more clear and in line with Village goals. • Infrastructure Improvementsinfrastructure had to be improved in order to support the Village’s capacity to accommodate development associated with the competition of the EOWA initiative. • Multi-Jurisdictional Collaboration- issues facing Bensenville at the time of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan’s adopting were not limited to the Village’s municipal boundaries. As such, the plan calls for intergovernmental collaboration with neighboring communities, DuPage County, IDOT, and regional agencies.

In the spring of 2011, Village officials hired the consulting firm AECOM Technical Services Inc. to create a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that would assess existing economic conditions and evaluate how the Village could capitalize on the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and the Elgin O’Hare Western Access (EOWA). The Plan sets out the following guiding principles: • Enhance the Village’s fiscal position • Maximize economic opportunities from OMP/Western Terminal and EOWA investments • Sustain the visibility of the northern and eastern industrial areas as locations for higher value economic activity • Invest in municipal infrastructure • Encourage residential development • Enhance quality of life • Build support for growth in property values • Provide a framework to manage pressure for land use change

Adopted: February 2013

Ultimately, the plan proposed over 50 near- and long-term strategies design to enhance livability in Bensenville, addressing residential areas, 4 commercial areas, 2 industrial districts, as well as plans for transportation and natural areas.

Existing Conditions Report

The Plan discusses Bensenville’s current

Previous Plans

and contextualizes these conditions within the regional, national, and global changes brought about by the Great Recession. It also examines the economic challenges and opportunities presented to the Village given its strategic location in proximity to key transportation infrastructure.

Finally, the Plan addresses implementation, identifying short-, mid-, and long-term economic development priorities; infrastructure investment priorities; strategic opportunities such as foreign trade zones, and renewable energy; and funding opportunities, including Federal and State grants.

The Plan also provides sub-area master plans for the following areas: • Northern Industrial District • Mid-Town/Irving Park Road • Downtown Bensenville • Eastern Industrial District

The Plan’s sub-areas are illustrated on the following page.

Each sub-area plan includes an assessment of existing conditions with a focus on transportation, real estate, and planning issues. It also outlines guiding principles followed by a series of planning and urban design recommendations. Conceptual renderings to illustrate the redevelopment potential of each sub-area are also provided. One of the key chapters in the Plan relates to the impact of aviation on physical planning. The chapter includes a discussion on land use compatibility, height restrictions enforced by runways, noise contours, aviation easements, and the compatibility of these elements with the existing zoning map and potential land uses.

Existing Conditions Report

Exhibit 4.1. Connected to the World: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Sub-Areas

Previous Plans

Homes for a Changing Region

• A workforce housing analysis that focuses on the match between the sub-region’s key employment sectors and the existing housing stock. • A market segmentation analysis that uses industry standard data to separate each community’s housing markets into key household types. Our recommendations will focus on meeting the current and future needs of each segment, along with strategies for attracting targeted segments. • Design, planning, and facilitation of one public workshop for each community. • A series of policy and strategic recommendations for creating a balanced, sustainable future housing supply, along with targeted goals that can be used to determine a community’s future progress in implementing the plan. • Design visualizations for a focus area in each community.

Completed: 2014

CMAP worked with DuPage County to create a Homes for a Changing Region plan for four municipalities: Addison, Bensenville, Villa Park, and Wood Dale. The Homes for a Changing Region reported on future demand and supply trends for housing in their communities in order to help municipal leaders develop long-term housing policy plans. The plan aimed to create a balanced mix of housing, serve current and future populations, and enhance livability. The Homes for a Changing Region report includes the following components: • Analysis of each community’s existing housing supply that compares the type and price of housing stock to the age, income, and tenure (rental or owner-occupied) of the population. • A subregional housing analysis that identifies opportunities and gaps in the housing profile and looks for opportunities for collaboration between neighboring communities.

Existing Conditions Report

Previous Plans

Aging in a Changing Region

As opposed to a plan that includes physical improvements such as streetscaping (found in the Comprehensive Plan and other documents), the Aging in a Changing Region report was designed to be a practical strategic guide tailored to Bensenville on how to elevate its current support of aging-in-community.

Completed: February 2022 Prepared by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Planning/Aging Designed to provide customized support to municipalities to help them place an aging lens on top of local operations, Aging in a Changing Region provided both Policy and Programmatic recommendations to the Village of Bensenville after completing extensive community engagement throughout 2021. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Planning/Aging team identified “aging-incommunity” as one of Bensenville’s top priorities. Key descriptions of aging-incommunity refer to it as a coordinated municipality-wide effort to support the evolving needs and interest of its aging population and that it is inclusive of the narrower term “aging-inplace” which focuses on one’s dwelling, using a broader, community-level lens to identify a set of plans, programs, procedures, and services that in combination help support its older residents.

Existing Conditions Report

Finally, the report highlighted how Bensenville has been steadily aging- at the time of publication, one in every three Bensenville residents was over 50 years old, up about 10 percent from 2000.

Previous Plans

Bensenville Active Transportation Plan

Several of the plan objectives: • Develop a healthy and equitable active transportation network that connects all residents to local destinations and regional trails. • Install facilities and amenities that enhance the environment in pedestrian priority areas and complete gaps in the sidewalk network. • Create a context-specific, diverse, and comprehensive list of bike facilities. • Adopt policies that support the design and development of roadways that encourage the use of active transportation.

Adopted: March 2016

In 2016, the Village began to focus on community wellness by creating health-focused policies, systems, and changes to the environment. As such, the Village sought to develop a network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that will enable people to travel throughout Bensenville on foot or by bike. The Active Transportation Alliance-designed plan provides a framework for Bensenville planners and engineers to develop a complete network of streets and sidewalks that serve the needs of active transportation users; design recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs; and policies that will create and sustain a culture of walking and biking among Bensenville residents and visitors alike.

The plan also included a demographic equity mapping scenario, used to determine how to best implement viable walking and bicycling options and accessibility to key destinations in order to greatly improve quality of life for the significant priority populations in Bensenville. Proposed bike network connections from the Active Transportion plan are on the following page.

Developed over the course of 6 months, the planning team engaged members of the community from a wide range of backgrounds. A key component of the plan was highlighting and communicating to the general public the benefits of active transportation across a broad spectrum of themes- health, safety, economic, social, and environmental.

Existing Conditions Report

Exhibit 4.2. 2016 Active Transportation Plan Bike Network Recommendations

CHAPTER 5: LAND USE & ZONING Land Use Composition

residential land is dedicated to single-family homes, multi-family homes account for 41.7% of the Village’s total housing stock. 41.7% of the total housing stock is confined to just 16.3% of the Village’s residential space, meaning Bensenville’s high-density spaces are geographically constrained.

The following breaks down Bensenville’s land use by category. The number of acres in each category was calculated using GIS data, which includes roads in the calculations. Table 5.1 General Land Use, 2020 Acres Percent Industrial 945.2 26.5% Single-Family Residential 780.6 21.8% Transportation and Other 772.9 21.6% Open Space 386.4 10.8% Vacant 203.7 5.7% Institutional 179.0 5.0% Multi-Family Residential 151.9 4.2% Commercial 147.0 4.1% Mixed Use 2.2 0.1% Agricultural 4.5 0.1% Total 3,573.3 100% Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Analysis of the 2020 Land Use Inventory

This is a significantly different trend from most DuPage County communities, which are predominantly single-family residential in character, both in terms of land coverage and number of housing units. Bensenville is denser than those spaces due to a high concentration of density in a handful of specific places. Single-family residential neighborhoods are linked to one another via a grid-pattern of interconnected roadways with a few exceptions south of George Street and north of Edgewood Avenue. Commercial Irving Park Road and Grand Avenue are the two main commercial corridors due in part to the high volume of traffic they accommodate, the high level of visibility, and convenient access they provide for locals and out-of-town shoppers. This has also resulted in an auto-oriented retail environment that is not conducive for transit riders and pedestrians. In addition to the corridors, retail is also successful at major

Residential Bensenville offers a variety of housing options to its residents. The diversity in terms of price points, types, sizes, locations, and age is an attractive asset that will not only allow residents to ‘age in place’ if they so desired but also attract new residents and investors. Just over 80 percent of the Village’s 932.5 acres of

Existing Conditions Report

Land Use & Zoning

street intersections that include Grand Avenue and York Road, Foster Avenue and IL-83, and downtown Bensenville.

are clustered together in two primary areas of the community to the north of Irving Park Road and east of York Road. Older industrial buildings are also located in the southwestern end of the community along Grand Avenue. These locations allow businesses easy access to Interstate I-290 via Irving Park Road and I-294 and IL- 83 via Grand Avenue. There are vacant and underutilized parcels in the industrial areas, but the Village has been proactive in drawing new investors and these vacancies have decreased significantly over the past few years.

Commercial uses in the corridors and elsewhere in the community consist of mainly one-story retail stores, restaurants, and professional offices in stand-alone buildings or in strip centers. Large format retailers such as auto dealerships and Jewel are also located along the Grand Avenue corridor to take advantage of higher traffic volumes. There are very few mixeduse buildings; most buildings of this type consist of small-scale retail establishments with residential units above. Most of these are located in the downtown area and are 5-6 stories in height.

The O’Hare expansion project and the EOWA project will have a significant impact on the future of the industrial areas. It will enhance connectivity between businesses and the airport, improve travel times for freight traffic, and ease congestion along major roadways

Industrial Bensenville’s industrial businesses have been at the forefront of the community’s economic growth and prosperity for the past several decades and continue to be the primary driver of the Village’s economy. Approximately 26.5% of the Village’s land area is utilized by industries that take advantage of the Village’s connectivity to major roadways including I-290, I-294, IL-83, major railroads including Canadian Pacific (CP) and Union Pacific (UP), intermodal facilities, and O’Hare International Airport to manufacture and distribute their goods in a timely and cost-effective manner. Industrial buildings

Existing Conditions Report

Open Space/Recreation There are two types of open spaces present in Bensenville. From a recreation standpoint, residents have access to 180+ acres of parks and recreational facilities operated by the Park District and Village. A majority of parks are located south of Green Street. Residents on the north side of the railroad have limited options. The Park District also shares open space with School Districts 100 and 2, while the Redmond Complex is also utilized by students of Fenton High School and Robert Morris University.

Land Use & Zoning

The second type of public area open to the public is the 36-hole White Pines Country Club (260 acres), also operated by the Park District. This programmed space is utilized by fewer people but also acts as a regional draw. Open space accounts for almost 11% of the Village’s land area. Institutional Almost 180 acres or 5% of the Village’s land is classified as institutional. Institutional land use includes all land identified as educational, government, institutional, medical and religious. These uses are located south of Main Street for the most part with a few smaller institutions to the north. Vacant Being a built-out community, Bensenville has limited amount of vacant parcels. In total, approximately 5.7% of properties are vacant. These properties are scattered throughout the Village. Downtown Bensenville has smaller parcels, mainly under the ownership of the Village for future redevelopment. Transportation Bensenville’s transportation infrastructure is comprised of the railroad right of way, IL-83 right of way, and all local roadways. This land use accounts for roughly 775 acres within the Village.

Existing Conditions Report

Busse Rd

E Devon Ave

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GIS Consortium

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Bensenville Zoning Districts

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Exhibit 5.1. 2025 Bensenville Zoning Map

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2025 Zoning Map

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GIS Consortium

Land Use & Zoning

The Bensenville Zoning Ordinance was most recently updated in 2019, following recommendations from the previous comprehensive plan. The update simplified the ordinance, making it easier to administer and more user-friendly. It trimmed down the number of residential districts from 10 to 6 and combined 4 industrial districts into 2.

Key Findings The following are key conclusions regarding the existing conditions of Bensenville’s land use and development patterns. Moving forward in the planning process, these key findings will help shape and inform the community’s vision, goals and objectives for land use and the development of Bensenville.

From time to time, the Zoning Ordinance has been amended to address changing community needs. In 2024, the Zoning Ordinance was amended to include more regulations around electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, making them easier to site in the community. This was done as part of the Village’s efforts to earn the EV Ready Community (Bronze) designation from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

Bensenville is a predominantly industrial community with business focused in the northern and eastern areas of the community. Approximately 27% of Bensenville’s land area is made up of industrial parcels located in the northern and eastern sections, making it the largest land use in the Village. Their location can be attributed to the proximate transportation amenities such as freight railroads, highway access, and O’Hare International Airport. Single-family residential parcels are the second largest use in terms of acreage with 28% land coverage, distributed evenly throughout the community.

The Zoning Ordinance also contains regulations for Planned Unit Developments (PUD), off- street parking, landscaping and screening, environmental standards, and sign regulations.

Existing Conditions Report

With the exception of Irving Park Road and Grand Avenue, commercial uses are dispersed throughout the community and account for a very small percentage of the overall land coverage. Commercial uses make up only 4% of Bensenville’s land area overall, and Village stakeholders identified the need for more commercial development as a priority. A majority

Land Use & Zoning

of isolated commercial properties in the industrial and residential areas are underutilized and underperforming due to limited visibility. The Village owns a number of properties spread throughout the Village. Over the years, Village officials have strategically purchased underutilized or undervalued parcels, specifically in the downtown. These parcels are slated for long-term redevelopment as per the vision defined in past planning documents.

Existing Conditions Report

CHAPTER 6: POPULATION & HOUSING The population and housing chapter describes the key characteristics of Bensenville’s resident population and its housing stock. Data analyzed in this section will primarily come from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, as well as the 2010 Census. The 2018-2022 figures are synthesized from the Bensenville Community Data Snapshot complied by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and released in August 2024. The 2010 Census is used as a point of reference, as the previous comprehensive plan was built on the data collected during that effort.

Demographic Profile and Analysis Bensenville’s household size is on par with that of the County, and together they are marginally larger than the Chicago region. With a population of 18,673 residents and 6,831 residents, its average household size is 2.7. The Chicago region has a population of 8,527,041 residents, with 3,250,640 households, for an average household size of 2.6. Bensenville saw a larger positive population increase between 2010 and 2022 than both the County and Chicago region. However, the Village has not yet recovered to 2000 population count (20,703 residents).

Table 6.1. Population, Households, and Household Size, 2022 Bensenville DuPage County Region Population 18,673 930,559 8,527,041 Housing Units 6,831 348,870 3,250,640 Average Household Size 2.7 2.7 2.6 Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Table 6.2. Population and Change in Population, 2010 and 2022 Bensenville Population, 2010 18,352 Population, 2022 18,673 Change, 2010-2022 321 Percentage Change 1.75%

DuPage County 916,924 930,559 13,635 1.49%

Region 8,431,386 8527041 95,655 1.13%

Source: 2010 Census, 2018-2022 Amercian Community Survey five-year estimates

Existing Conditions Report

Population & Housing

In between 2010 and 2022, the White and Black populations increased, while all other populations decreased. The increase in the White population is juxtaposed against population declines in both the County and wider region. Moreover, the Bensenville Black population increased at a significantly higher rate (91.4%) than the County (7.7%)- however, the region saw a loss in Black residents over the study period. The Hispanic or Latino population marginally decreased (-0.1%) while both the County (13.4%) and region (11.0%) saw notable increases. The Asian population saw a high rate of decline between 2010 and 2022, while the County and regional share of the percentage increase by over 25%. This is similar to the population trend for the Other/Multiple Races population- Bensenville saw a decline while the County and regional share of this population almost doubled.

The decline in residents is largely attributed to the O’Hare Modernization Program’s acquisition of almost 500 homes within Bensenville, as well as the conversion of Mohawk Terrace to industrial uses. The positive population growth is notable, as it shows a reversal of previous population loss. According to the 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimate, Bensenville’s population is primarily made up of Hispanic or Latino (47.0%) and White (42.5%) residents. The Black, Asian, and Other/Multiple Race populations are relatively lower in comparison. In relation to the County and regional averages, Bensenville has a higher percentage of Black residents than the County, but lower than the region, while it has lower proportion of white and Asian residents. Bensenville has a notably higher proportion of Hispanic or Latino residents than both the County and region, with over three times as many as the County.

Table 6.3. Race and Ethnicity, 2018-2022 Bensenville

DuPage County

Region

Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent White (Non-Hispanic) 7,943 42.5% 600,034 64.5% 4,211,527 49.4% Hispanic or Latino (of Any Race) 8,772 47.0% 137,806 14.8% 2,023,572 23.7% Black (Non-Hispanic) 1129 6.0% 44,192 4.7% 1,380,647 16.2% Asian (Non-Hispanic) 587 3.1% 116,439 12.5% 648,059 7.6% Other/Multiple Races (Non-Hispanic) 242 1.3% 32,088 3.4% 263,236 3.1% Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Existing Conditions Report

Population & Housing

Table 6.4. Change in Race and Ethnicity, 2010 and 2022 Bensenville DuPage County Region Change in Percent Change in Percent Change in Percent Population Change Population Change Population Change

White (Non-Hispanic) 86 1.09% -46,096 -7.13% -275,030 -6.13% Hispanic or Latino (of Any Race) -9 -0.10% 16,300 13.41% 199,963 10.97% Black (Non-Hispanic) 539 91.36% 3,168 7.72% -84,770 -5.78% Asian (Non-Hispanic) -285 -32.68% 24,646 26.85% 134,365 26.16% Other/Multiple Races (Non-Hispanic) -10 -3.97% 15,617 94.82% 121,127 85.24% Source: 2010 Census, 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Bensenville is a relatively young community with the median age of residents being 37.0 years, almost 3 years younger than the County average. This can be attributed to the higher percent of individuals under the age of 34 and the lower population under the age of 50, compared to the County. The overall region

(34.3%) has a slightly lower share of the population above 50 than Bensenville (34.7%). Bensenville’s median age increased from 2010, when it was 34.4. Moreover, Bensenville’s population over 50 in 2022 has increased 26.8% from its 2010 levels, demonstrating an aging population. This mirrors, but supersedes, the rate of change at the County (17.2%) and regional level (17.6%).

Table 6.5. Age Cohorts & Median Age, 2018-2022 Bensenville Under 19 years 20 to 34 years 35 to 49 years 50 to 64 years 65 to 74 years 75 and older

Count 4,955 3,622 3,615 3,855 1,444 1,182

DuPage County

Percent Count Percent Count Percent 26.5% 230,728 24.8% 2,119,173 24.9% 19.4% 171,939 18.5% 1,773,356 20.8% 19.4% 183,480 19.7% 1,709,186 20.0% 20.6% 191,393 20.6% 1,638,073 19.2% 7.7% 91,005 9.8% 760,750 8.9% 6.3% 62,014 6.7% 526,503 6.2%

Median Age 37.0 39.9 Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Existing Conditions Report

Region

38.1

Population & Housing

The median household income of DuPage County is 1.4 times higher than that for Bensenville. (Table 6.6) Almost half (48.3%) of households in the Village earn less than $75,000 per year, compared to roughly a third (34.4%) of County households. The proportion of households that make less than $25,000 per year is higher at the Village level than the County, and the difference is further magnified when looking households with very high incomes (over $150,000), which are much more prevalent in the remainder of the County than in Bensenville.

Education levels are lower across the board for Bensenville residents aged 25 and over. While a majority of Bensenville residents have high school diplomas, the numbers are notably lower than both the County and region. Additionally, roughly 1 in 5 (22.2%) of Bensenville residents have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, while over 1 in 2 (51.1%) of County residents have at least a Bachelor’s degree and 1 in 4 (41.8%) residents in the overall region have this level of education. 70.5% of residents in Bensenville have no level of college degree.

Table 6.6. Household Income Bensenville Count Less than $25,000 706 $25,000 to $49,000 1,128 $50,000 to $74,999 1,463 $75,000 to $99,999 1,483 $100,000 to $149,000 1,209 $150,000 and over 842

DuPage County

Percentage Count Percentage Count Percentage 10.3% 30,331 8.7% 453,945 14.0% 16.5% 41,792 12.0% 496,759 15.3% 21.4% 47,717 13.7% 466,365 14.3% 21.7% 44,271 12.7% 407,838 12.5% 17.7% 68,972 19.8% 591,558 18.2% 12.3% 115,787 33.2% 834,175 25.7%

Median Income $76,489 $107,035 Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Existing Conditions Report

Region

$87,766

Population & Housing

Table 6.7. Education Levels, 2018-2022 Bensenville DuPage County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Less than High School Diploma 2,155 17.3% 41,844 6.5% 618,095 10.6% High School Diploma or Equivalent 3,841 30.8% 116,010 18.0% 1,295,874 22.1% Some College, No Degree 2,796 22.4% 108,439 16.9% 1,073,120 18.3% Associate’s Degree 909 7.3% 48,302 7.5% 420,974 7.2% Bachelor’s Degree 2,022 16.2% 195,110 30.3% 1,451,809 24.8% Graduate or Professional Degree 741 5.9% 133,176 20.7% 997,294 17.0% Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates *Measures highest degree or level of education completed by an individual 25 years and older

Housing Analysis In 2010, the Village lost more than 500 homes at its northeastern end to make way for the expansion of O’Hare International Airport. While this caused a loss in population that the Village has yet to recover, Bensenville continues to possess a robust and diverse housing stock.

followed by multifamily buildings of 5 or more units, which make up 41.7% of the housing stock. While the percentage of single-family homes in Bensenville is lower than both the County and the region, the multi-family stock is higher than the other two. This indicates a greater overall density of housing in the Village as well as a considerable diversity in terms of housing types and sizes.

The most common housing type in Bensenville is single family detached homes, which makes up 49.6% of the housing stock. This is

Existing Conditions Report

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GIS Consortium

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Population & Housing

Table 6.8. Housing Types (Units), 2018-2022 Bensenville DuPage County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Total 7,172 100.0% 365,347 100.0% 3,501,028 100.0% Single, Detached 3,556 49.6% 214,489 58.7% 1,743,736 49.8% Single, Attached 131 1.8% 43,400 11.9% 264,078 7.5% 2 Units 126 1.8% 3,211 0.9% 235,558 6.7% 3 to 4 Units 293 4.1% 13,343 3.7% 273,909 7.8% 5+ Units 2,992 41.7% 89,764 24.6% 953,590 27.2% Other 74 1.0% 1,140 0.3% 30,157 0.9% Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates *Other includes mobile homes, boats, vans, recreational vehicles, etc.

While just over half of Bensenville’s housing is owner-occupied, the Village has a much more even split between owner and rental units than either the County or region. A majority of the rental units are contained in larger apartment buildings, e.g. Linden Towers Apartment, York Brook Apartments, Westwood Apartments, etc.

The Village’s single-family homes are organized around a grid street network for the most part, with the exception of neighborhoods south of George Street and north of Edgewood Avenue. Multi-family units are dispersed throughout the community, primarily along York Road and Irving Park Road. Residential vacancy rates have decreased over the study period, going from 6.4% in 2010 to 4.8% in 2022. At the same time, the overall number of housing units has increased from 6,743 units in 2010 to 7,172 units in 2022.

Table 6.9. Housing Occupancy, 2018-2022 Bensenville

DuPage County

Region

Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Occupied 6,831 95.2% 348,870 95.5% 3,250,640 92.8% Vacant 341 4.8% 16,477 4.5% 250,388 7.2% Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Existing Conditions Report

Population & Housing

Table 6.10. Housing Tenure, 2018-2022 Bensenville

DuPage County

Region

Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Total Occupied Units 6,831 100.0% 348,870 100.0% 3,250,640 100.0% Owner-Occupied 3,624 53.1% 255,186 73.1% 2,097,657 64.5% Renter-Occupied 3,207 46.9% 93,684 26.9% 1,152,983 35.5% Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

1970 and 72% of it was built before 1990. The pre-1970 regional levels mirror that of Bensenville, while the pre-1990 levels mirror that of the County. The County and region both have had more post-2010 construction than the Village, leaving Bensenville with an older

In terms of housing size, the large number of rental units has resulted in the Village’s median housing size being significantly smaller than the County’s, which has a higher proportion of single-family homes.

Table 6.11. Housing Size, 2018-2022 Bensenville DuPage County Region Median Number of Rooms, 2022 4.8 6.2 6.0 Median Number of Rooms, 2010 4.5 6.1 N/A Source: 2006-10 American Community Survey, 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Bensenville’s housing stock is slightly older compared to the County’s, and roughly the same age as the region’s. Almost half of Bensenville’s stock was built before 1970, and over 80% was built before 1990. Comparatively, only about a third of the County’s stock was built before

Existing Conditions Report

median housing age. The removal of nearly 500 homes does factor into the median age, although it is impossible to gauge whether it has a positive or negative effect on the median age of housing in Bensenville.

Population & Housing

Table 6.12. Housing Age, 2018-2022 Bensenville

DuPage County

Region

Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Built 2010 or Later 246 3.4% 15,571 4.3% 145,701 4.2% Built 1990 to 2009 931 13.0% 86,315 23.6% 767,059 21.9% Built 1970 to 1989 2,572 35.9% 148,341 40.6% 814,595 23.3% Built 1940 to 1969 3,124 43.6% 95,148 26.0% 1,039,675 29.7% Built Before 1940 299 4.2% 19,972 5.5% 733,998 21.0% Median Year Built 1971 1978 1969 Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Housing Goals In order to help the Village chart future demand and supply trends for housing and develop long-term housing policy plans, Bensenville participated in a multi-jurisdictional Homes for a Changing Region study in collaboration with the Villages of Villa Park and Addison, and the City of Wood Dale. The plan aims to create a balanced mix of housing, serve current and future populations, and enhance livability. Further detailed information about the project can be found in Chapter 3: Previous Plans.

Existing Conditions Report

Moreover, Village staff are currently participating in the Missing Middle Housing Peer Network organized by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. In this series, they are learning how to best add gentle density to the Village and increase the number of ownership-achievable housing units within Bensenville.

Population & Housing

Employment Less than 5% of the residents of Bensenville in the labor force are unemployed. This figure is slightly lower than DuPage County and notably lower than the overall region Table 6.13. Employment Status, 2018-2022 Bensenville

DuPage County

Region

Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent In Labor Force 10,544 71.30% 514,215 68.70% 4,610,142 67.30% Employed 10,106 95.80% 489,400 95.30% 4,310,832 93.80% Unemployed 438 4.20% 24,398 4.70% 286,166 6.20% Not in Labor Force 4,240 28.70% 234,313 31.30% 2,243,854 32.70% Source: 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates * Measures those in labor force 16 years and older

Manufacturing and wholesale trade, a related industry, together employ more than 1 in 5 (22.7%) Bensenville residents. Of the 10,544 Bensenville residents in the labor force, 6.0% of them work within the Village. The health care industry employs 807 Bensenville residents- the close proximity to Elmhurst Hospital is an advantage for Bensenville. Table 6.14. Employment of Bensenville Residents, 2021 Top Industry Sector Count Percent Manufacturing 1,065 14.1% Retail Trade 886 11.7% Health Care 807 10.7% Administration 724 9.6% Wholesale Trade 648 8.6% Top Employment LocationsCount Percent Chicago 1,155 15.3% Bensenville 631 8.3% Elk Grove Village 470 6.2% Elmhurst 258 3.4% Schaumburg 244 3.2% Source: U.S Census Bureau, Longitudinal EmployerHousehold Dynamics program (2021)

Existing Conditions Report

Population & Housing

Key Findings The following are key conclusions regarding the existing conditions of Bensenville’s population and housing sector. Moving forward in the planning process, these key findings will help shape and inform the community’s vision, goals, and objectives for housing in Bensenville.

Bensenville’s population is growing. After a decade of population loss, mainly due to the removal of nearly 500 homes for the O’Hare Modernization Program, Bensenville has begun to regain population. While the Village has not yet reached the population it had in the year 2000, growth is encouraging.

The education level of Bensenville residents is significantly lower than DuPage County and the Chicago region. While a majority of Bensenville residents have high school diplomas, the numbers are notably lower than both the County and region. Additionally, roughly 1 in 5 (22.2%) of Bensenville residents have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, while over 1 in 2 (51.1%) of County residents has at least a Bachelor’s degree and 1 in 4 (41.8%) residents in the overall region have this level of education.

Ethnic diversity in Bensenville is not matching larger trends. While Bensenville is gaining White and Black residents, both the County and region are losing these residents. On the other hand, while Bensenville is losing Hispanic or Latino and Asian residents, the County and region are gaining these residents at a high rate. Bensenville is seeing slightly lower rates of new home construction. The County (4.3% of the housing stock) and region (4.2% of the housing stock) both have had more post-2010 construction than the Village (3.4% of the housing stock), leaving Bensenville with an older median housing age. As the population continues to grow, there must be adequate housing to accommodate new residents.

Bensenville’s housing stock is an almost even split between owners and renters. While just over half of Bensenville’s housing is owneroccupied, the Village has a much more even split between owner and rental units than either the County or region. This means that Bensenville residents own their homes at a lower rate than their counterparts within DuPage County and across the Chicago region. Renters have a wide option of singleand multi-family units to choose from, with multi-family ranging from duplexes to large-scale apartment buildings.

Existing Conditions Report

Bensenville has not seen the tear-down trend that other communities nearby have seen. The median construction date of homes is 1971- this does not lend to a renewal of the housing stock like other communities.

CHAPTER 7: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT This section examines key economic and market indicators in Bensenville such as employment trends, dominating industries, equalized property values, and commercial property trends. Various data resources were utilized and analyzed in assesmbling this assessment including the Illinois Department of Economic Security, Illinois Department of Revenue, and Census Data.

Moreover, Bensenville has added to the private sector workforce at a faster than both the County and overall Chicago region. They experienced moderate growth over the measured period. The daytime private sector population exceeds the residential population by over a thousand. This is a strong market for consumer-facing businesses, giving them a combined population of almost 40,000 on a daily basis.

Employment As of 2023, Bensenville has almost recovered its private sector workforce to 2000 levels. Like the Village’s loss of population, this can be mainly attributed to the O’Hare Modernization Program’s property acquisitions. However, the employment base is recovering at a much faster rate than the overall population.

Table 7.1. Private Sector Employment Estimates Bensenville DuPage County Region* Percent Percent Percent Count Count Count Change Change Change

Private Sector Employment 20,377 N/A 564,134 N/A 3,559,560 N/A Job Change, 2013-23 1,828 9.9% 34,402 6.5% 245,298 7.4% Job Change, 2003-23 -750 -3.5% 56,870 11.2% 247,631 7.5% Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security, 2023 *Does not include Kendall County

Existing Conditions Report

Economic Development

Bensenville’s jobs are highly concentrated in manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation, and the administrative functions that support them. 73% of Bensenville’s jobs are concentrated in these sectors, with the remaining distributed across other sectors. Manufacturing is the single largest employer in Bensenville, employing over 1/4 of the total workforce. This is atypical for a municipality in DuPage.

Bensenville’s employment base is dominated by large employers. According to the data gathered, Bensenville’s list of top employers is led by US Foods, Inc. Most of the top employers are predictably industrial employers.

Table 7.2. Bensenville’s Top Employers, 2023 Employer Type US Foods, Inc. Food Service-Distributors (Whls) Fortune Fish & Gourmet Seafood-Retail Expeditors International of Washington, Freight-Forwarding Inc. AMTAB Manufacturing Co. Table Manufacturing Victor Envelope Manufacturing Co. Envelopes-Manufacturers AllMetal, Inc. Roll Formed and Site Utility Chicago White Metal Casting, Inc. Dies and Tools Ewing-Doherty Mechanical, Inc. Plumbing Contractors UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. Freight-Forwarding The Protectoseal Co. Vapor & flame control equipment Source: 2024 Manufacturings Directory, 2024 Illinois Services Directory

Existing Conditions Report

Count Over 250 Over 250 Over 250 250 or less 250 or less 250 or less 250 or less 250 or less 250 or less 250 or less

Economic Development

Existing Retail, Industrial, and Office Development According to data from the Illinois Department of Revenue, Bensenville’s total property value is almost evenly split between residential property (44.9%) and industrial property (41.5%). This is unique, as residential property typically dominates the property value generation in most suburban communities. It is only within the last decade that Bensenville has come in line with other DuPage communities, where most of the property value comes from residential. Commercial property is the last significant generator, with 13.0% percent of total value.

Bensenville has over 20 million square feet of commercial space, with over 18.5 million square feet, or 93%, being industrial space. Retail and office space make up the rest. Bensenville is relatively unique in terms of its share and composition of commercial space. In the O’Hare submarket, industrial space is dominant, but only accounts for 80% of total commercial space. Bensenville contains one sixth of all industrial space within the O’Hare submarket. Vacancy rates across all categories are relatively comparable to those of the O’Hare submarket. The total square feet of industrial square footage has recovered to its pre-O’Hare Moderization Project levels, increasing 3.2% from where the market was a decade ago. Also noticeable is that vacancy rates for all commercial property types decreased over the past decade, with industrial vacancy rates decreasing 62% over the study period. There was an almost 50% decrease in the amount of office space within Bensenville between 2013 and 2024. At the same time, there was an almost 50% increase in the amount of retail space. Compared to the overall submarket, Bensenville is growing its industrial and retail space more quickly. However, while Bensenville lost roughly half of its office space, the availability of office space in the O’Hare submarket grew by 6.9% over the study period.

Table 7.3. Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) by Property Type Estimated EAV Percent Residential $304,754,464 44.9% Industrial $281,448,918 41.5% Commercial $88,484,231 13.0% Farm $3,849,015 0.6% Railroad $1,574 0.0% Mineral $0 0.0% Total $678,538,202 100.0% Source: Illinois Department of Revenue, 2022

Existing Conditions Report

Economic Development

Table 7.4 Commercial Square footage and Vacancy, 2024 Q1 Bensenville Total Square Feet Industrial 18,566,770 Retail 1,051,212 Office 390,825 Total 20,008,807 Source: CoStar

O’Hare Submarket

Vacancy Rate 4.7% 4.2% 10.0% 4.8%

Total Square Vacancy Feet Rate 105,217,986 4.4% 9,361,613 3.8% 17,152,098 15.4% 131,731,697 5.8%

*O’Hare Submarket includes communities such as Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale, Franklin Park, Des Plaines, Itasca and other nearby communities

Table 7.5 Trends in commercial square footage and vacany, Bensenville 2013 1Q - 2024 4Q 2013

Bensenville 2024 % Change

Industrial Total Square Feet 17,996,196 18,566,770 Vacancy Rate 12.30% Retail Total Square Feet 711,687 Vacancy Rate 6.50% Office Total Square Feet 776,334 Vacancy Rate 15.50% Source: CoStar

3.2%

4.70% 1,051,212

47.7%

4.20% 390,825

-49.7%

10.00%

2013

O’Hare Submarket 2024

% Change

105,164,434

105,217,986

0.1%

10.40%

4.40%

7,318,822

9,361,613

7.10%

3.80%

16,046,021

17,152,098

19.60%

131,731,697

27.9%

6.9%

*O’Hare Submarket includes communities such as Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale, Franklin Park, Des Plaines, Itasca and other nearby communities

Existing Conditions Report

Economic Development

Bensenville generates substantially more revenue from retail sales on a per capita basis than the County and the region. In 2023, Bensenville generated approximately $674 million in general merchandise retail sales, or $36,069 per resident. In contrast, the per capita retail sales in the County were just under $30,000 and the region was $20,507, over $15,000 less than Bensenville. This can be partly attributed to large industrial distributors paying local sales tax, thereby increasing retail sales per capita. Also, Bensenville has limited retail space, meaning that the sales tax generated per retailer is quite high.

Economic Impact of EOWA and Western Terminal According to the CEDS, the EOWA and Western Terminal will fuel land use changes in the long-term. The scale of these changes will link directly to the final runway flight path configurations and decisions made by the Illinois Tollway regarding final configuration of access road connections with or without the Western Terminal.

Table 7.6. General Merchandise Retail Sales, 2023 Bensenville DuPage County Region Total Retail Sales $673,552,941 $27,806,399,332 $174,866,101,053 Total Sales per Capita* $36,069 $29,881 $20,507 Source: Illinois Department of Revenue, 2023 *Per capita calculations based on population from 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates

Existing Conditions Report

Economic Development

Economic Development Incentives and Resource Programs The Village offers incentive programs and resources for local businesses in order to help retain them or help them expand within Bensenville. These programs include: • Facade Improvement Program: The Façade Improvement Program is a Village grant aimed at assisting businesses in improving their building facades. All commercial properties located within the Village are eligible to participate in this program, where the Village will provide 50% of the project cost up to $10,000. • Enterprise Zone Program: The Enterprise Zone is a specially designated area in which tax incentives and direct financial assistance are provided to new and expanding businesses. The Illinois Enterprise Zone program offers a number of state and local tax incentives to encourage and facilitate new construction and redevelopment of properties. Some examples of possible incentives are Sales Tax Exemption Certificates for Building Materials, Property Tax Abatement, and State Utility Tax Exemption.

Existing Conditions Report

• Tax Increment Financing Districts: There are currently two active TIF districts in the Village. These have been created for a number of reasons, ranging from downtown revitalization to funding infrastructure improvements in the northern industrial area. No residential areas are included in any TIF district. • Sales Tax Sharing Agreement: A rebate sharing agreement is an agreement made by a local government (municipality or county) to share or rebate any portion of retailers’ occupation taxes (including, but not limited to, the local share of the state retailer’s occupation taxes, or home rule, non-home rule, or business district taxes) generated by retail sales of tangible personal property. This includes agreements with retailers, developers, consultants, or other local governments or taxing jurisdictions.

Elmhurst Rd N York Rd

Busse Rd

Lively Blvd

TIF District (IV)

E Devon Ave

Il Rte 83

E Devon Ave

TIF District (XII) Bensenville Limits County Boundary Unincorporated Area

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Figure 7.1. TIF Districts Source: DuPage County GIS, Village of Bensenville

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Economic Development

Bensenville’s EAV generation is becoming more similar to other communities in DuPage County. Historically, Bensenville’s total property value has come from industrial property. A decade ago, when the previous Comprehensive Plan was created, this was the case. Now, residential property is the largest value generator, bringing it in line with other suburban communities in DuPage.

Key Findings The following are key considerations regarding the existing conditions of Bensenville’s economy. Moving forward in the planning process, these key findings will help shape and inform the community’s vision, goals, and objectives for the economic prosperity of Bensenville. The industrial sector is Bensenville’s economic engine. Industrial properties account for roughly 42% of all property value in Bensenville, and 93% of all commercial property square footage in the Village. The largest employers are all within the industrial sector, and Bensenville’s total industrial square footage accounts for more than one sixth of the O’Hare Submarket’s space.

Growing industrial and retail sectors in Bensenville. In a fully built out community like Bensenville, space is a commodity. The noticeable growth in total square footage for these sectors, especially compared to the overall O’Hare Submarket, came at the expense of Bensenville’s office space, which decreased by almost 50% over the measured period. Aging industrial buildings may pose future issues. Large portions of the industrial districts in Bensenville are home to aging buildings that lack features found in more contemporary buildings. Potential obsolesence could pose an issue in the future.

Bensenville generates substantially more revenue from retail sales on a per capita basis than the County and the region. In 2023, Bensenville generated approximately $36,069 per resident, as compared to the County’s per capita rate of $29,881, and the region’s rate of $20,507. This can be attributed to large distribution facilities located in the industrial areas that pay sales tax to the Village, rather than sales tax generation through retail sales.

Existing Conditions Report

COVID-19 pandemic shifted office market trends. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, office space is not a significant land use. The rise of hybrid work has created an environment where office buildings are less desirable, as less workers go in every day.

CHAPTER 8: TRANSPORTATION This section provides information on the existing transportation system within Bensenville with a focus on streets, public transportation, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and freight. The information in this section was obtained from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Metra, Pace, DuPage County, Cook County, the Village of Bensenville, and based upon a visual assessment of existing conditions in the community.

• Collectors: Bensenville has seven collectors as well, performing the role of distributing traffic from local streets to the arterials and highways: Foster Avenue, Main Street, Green Street, Jefferson Street, and George Street running east-west and Church Street running north-south. Most of these roads have one lane in each direction with the occasional turning lane or median. • Local Roads: All remaining streets in Bensenville are classified as local roads. By definition, local roads provide access to private property. Travel speeds, trips lengths, and traffic volumes are generally low and access to adjoining property is generally unrestricted.

Roadways The following is a breakdown of roadways by functional classification based on IDOT’s analysis of and then a further review of the roads based on their context and existing design features. • Principal Arterials: Bensenville has three principal arterials within the Village- IL Rt 83, York Road (Foster Avenue to Irving Park Road), and Thorndale Avenue. These roads are designed for higher speed travel and to accommodate longer distance trips. Some principal arterials may have pedestrian facilities. • Minor Arterials: Bensenville has five minor arterials in Devon Avenue, Irving Park Road (IL-19), Grand Avenue, York Road, and County Line Road. Most of these roads have two lanes in each direction with a turning lane or median.

Existing Conditions Report

Transportation

Table 8.1. Jurisdiction of Non-Local Roads Road Name

Right-of-Way (ft.) Traffic Count (ADT)

Jurisdiction

IL 83 IDOT Grand Avenue DuPage County York Road DuPage County Thorndale Avenue DuPage County Irving Park Road/IL 19 IDOT County Line Road Cook County Devon Avenue Cook County Source: IDOT

200 140 118 100 66 66 60

Table 8.2 shows that the number of annual miles driven annually by Bensenville households is notably lower than the DuPage County average, but higher than the regional average. This includes travel for work as well as travel for other daily activities. The availability of the Metra station and the relationship between

45,000 23,100 16,100 5,500 29,300 5,750 14,900

work and residents may factor in the comparison to DuPage County. The regional average may be lower because of remote work opportunities- as a predominantly industrial town, it is more difficult for residents in this sector to work remotely as compared to others.

Table 8.2. Total Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per Household Village of Bensenville DuPage County Chicago Region (MSA) 17,012 Average Annual Miles 17,551 Average Annual Miles 15,769 Average Annual Miles Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index” website: https:// htaindex.cnt.org/map/#

Existing Conditions Report

Elmhurst Rd N York Rd

Busse Rd Il Rte 83

Lively Blvd

E Devon Ave

Village of Bensenville Private Addison Township Cook County DuPage County

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Foster Ave

N York Rd

N Ch ur ch Rd

19 W Irvin À ¾ g Park Rd

0.5

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0.75

Figure 8.1. Jurisdiction of Roads and Streets in Bensenville Source: DuPage County, Village of Bensenville, Illinois Department of Transportation

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Transportation

Connectivity Bensenville’s street network and level of connectivity varies by land use. Within the residential areas, there is a grid street pattern with the exception of a few pockets north of Irving Park Road. The industrial area north of Irving Park Road has a much greater need for connectivity as most of the existing streets are dead-end streets or ciruitous. This makes it very difficult for freight and vehicular traffic to connect from within the industrial areas to the arterial roads. The problem is even more pronounced in the north-south direction with very few roads connecting Foster Avenue to Thorndale Road and Irving Park Road to Foster Avenue.

The specific improvements that will directly impact Bensenville include: • Western Bypass linking I-294 to I-90 • Extension and redesign of Thorndale Avenue as a western access to O’Hare airport • System interchange at Thorndale Avenue and Western Bypass • Partial interchange at Irving Park Road and Western Bypass • Full interchange at IL 83 and redesigned western access • Direct access to O’Hare airport from York Road Additional improvements such as the construction of the Taft Avenue connector, partial interchange at Green Street and Western Bypass, and the new I-294 interchange at the southern end in Franklin Park will also benefit Bensenville businesses and residents.

Elgin O’Hare Western Bypass Project (EOWA): The EOWA Project includes the construction of a new toll road around the western border of O’Hare International Airport linking I-90 to I-294 expressway, the extension of the Elgin O’Hare Expressway east along Thorndale Avenue to O’Hare and the rehabilitation and widening of the existing Elgin O’Hare Expressway. The construction plan, projected to finish in 2027-2028, will have a major impact on Bensenville’s residents and business alike in terms of movement of goods and people. The western bypass is aimed at improving travel efficiency, providing western access to O’Hare, enhancing multi-modal connections and reducing congestion.

Existing Conditions Report

Transit Bensenville is served by Metra rail and Pace bus routes that provide connections to nearby communities. The following is a discussion regarding the transit issues and opportunities within the community. Pace Bus Routes: Pace provides a variety of transit services for communities including fixed bus routes, vanpools, and Dial-a-Ride programs. Within the Village of Bensenville, Pace provides

Transportation

service between Bensenville, downtown Chicago, O’Hare airport, and adjacent communities. Service is fairly limited, and ridership on most routes is low.

which is less than ten minutes’ drive to the west and is closer than the Bensenville station from some parts of the community. Table 9.5 summarizes ridership information provided by Metra for each station. Most riders access the Bensenville station by driving although the parking lot is not well utilized. As of 2024, the MD-W is among the lowest in terms of ridership among all Metra lines.

Metra: The Milwaukee District-West Metra line running from downtown Chicago to Elgin travels through the community with a station in downtown Bensenville. Additionally, residents and employees also use the Wood Dale station,

Table 8.3. Pace Route Ridership, 2023 PACE Bus Route Weekday Ridership Saturday Ridership Sunday Ridership

332 1,408 894 223 1,075 361 Source: RTAMS Note: Ridership is averaged over the course of the year

Metra Station Walked Bensenville 36% Wood Dale 8% Source: RTAMS

Existing Conditions Report

514 334

Table 8.4. Metra Mode Access, 2018 Drove Alone Dropped Off Carpool Bus Bike Other 46% 12% 0% 2% 2% 1% 72% 10% 5% 0% 0% 4%

Transportation

Mode share indicates what percentage of trips are taken using a specific type of transportation, such as driving alone or transit. The vast majority of Bensenville residents drive alone at a higher rate than both the County and region. The rate of carpooling is closer to the

other geographies, and the transit usage is lowest. This is particularly of note because Bensenville has one Metra station with another in close proximity. The percentage of residents who walk or bike to work is the lowest of the measured areas.

Table 8.5. Mode Share as a Percentage of Commuting Workers Bensenville DuPage County Chicago MSA Total Workers 9,626 476,422 4,625,828 Worked at Home 963 90,520 721,629 Total Commuting Population 8,663 385,902 3,904,199 Drove Alone 76.20% 66.50% 63.60% Carpool 8.50% 6.80% 7.80% Transit 2.40% 4.50% 8.20% Walk 1.10% 1.40% 2.80% Biked 0.10% 0.20% 0.60% Other 1.70% 1.20% 1.50% Source: 2023 Amercian Community Survey 5 year estimates Note: Mode shares are expressed as percentages of the working population excluding those who work from home

Existing Conditions Report

Transportation

Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Non-motorized transportation is a unique component of a community’s transportation infrastructure. Unlike motorized transportation modes that focus on efficient and fast movement of individuals, bicycle and pedestrian circulation plays an important role in improving the community’s urban character, physical and mental health, and perception of safety.

Freight: Bensenville has a significant amount ofacreage devoted to industrial uses which makes efficient and safe freight movement an important component of the Village’s economy. The Village is also uniquely placed to take advantage of three major modes of freight transportation: rail, road, and air. While a limited number of industrial businesses are taking advantage of the O’Hare International airport at present, this is bound to change in the future with the O’Hare expansion project providing increased access to the airport and attracting new businesses into the region.

Sidewalks: Bensenville’s residential neighborhoods, with a few exceptions, have a network of sidewalks that create a pedestrian friendly environment. The commercial corridors have sidewalks in most areas with a few gaps in the system and areas where pedestrian friendliness is lacking. Village staff is exploring the possibility of a Sidewalk Audit to understand where the gaps in the network are.

In December 2021, the Canadian Pacific rail line acquired the Kansas City Southern rail line, becoming the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), as authorized by the United States Surface Transportation Board in March 2023. In February 2022, Bensenville joined 7 other west suburban communities (Bartlett, Itasca, Hanover Park, Roselle, Wood Dale, and Schaumburg) in the “Coalition to Stop CPKC” due to concerns over health, safety, and resources as a result of the projected 300% increase in freight traffic over three years due to the merger. The Village is currently in a monitoring period with the Surface Transportation Board and is in the process of installing technology to assist with that monitoring.

Bike Routes and Trails: The 2016 Active Transportation Plan called for the creation of more bicycle routes within the Village. One completed route stretches along Church Road from Grand Avenue to Irving Park Road, with others planned. The O’Hare Connector Trail along Thorndale from IL 83 to York Road, connects the Village to regional trails including the Des Plaines River Trail and the Salt Creek Greenway Trail.

Existing Conditions Report

Major Capital Projects The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is metropolitan Chicago’s agenda of surface transportation projects. The TIP lists all federally funded projects and regionally significant, non-federally funded projects programmed. The TIP is updated and amended regularly through the CMAP Transportation Committee. The TIP helps both the transportation community, and the general public, track the use of local, state, and federal transportation funds. The TIP also helps Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) members, other transportation implementers, and planning organizations establish a transportation program that implements the goals of GO TO 2050.

Existing Conditions Report

Transportation

Table 8.6. Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Projects in Bensenville Project Location Project Type Programming Agency Cost Totals Green Street From Church Street To York Road of Road Modernization DuPage Council $7,192,000 Distance Evergreen Street From Green Street To Road Modernization DuPage Council $9,401,487 Jefferson Street Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning TIP Database

Table 8.7. Jobs Accessible in 30 Minute Transit Ride

2024 Average

Bensenville

DuPage County

Chicago MSA

62,845

35,696

198,695

Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology

Table 8.8. Housing and Transportation Costs as a Percentage of Income Per Household Chicago Region Village of Bensenville DuPage County (MSA) Housing Costs as % of Income 23% 31% 27% Transportations Costs as % of Income 18% 17% 16% H+T Costs as % of Income 41% 49% 43% Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index”

Existing Conditions Report

Exhibit 8.1. 2016 Active Transportation Plan Proposed Active Transportation Network

Supreme Dr

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Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Thomas Rd

Foster Avenue

Marshall Rd

Country Club Dr

York Rd

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Center St

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Main St

Addison St

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Veterans Park

Silver Path Creek

Grand Ave Mount Emblem Cemetery

1 Miles

Proposed Active Transportation Network CrossingImprovements

Marked Shared Lanes, Planned

Sidewalk Gaps

Bike Boulevard, Programmed

Path, Existing

Bike Route, Existing

Bike Boulevard, Planned

Path, Planned

Bike Route, Planned

Bike Lane, Planned

Shared Use Path, Programmed

Marked Shared Lanes, Programmed

Shared Use Path, Planned

CHAPteR 3 | ACtiVe tRAnsPoRtAtion netWoRk

Transportation

Safety Since the adoption of the previous Comprehensive Plan, the Village has adopted policies to promote safety for all roadway users in Bensenville.

Transportation, Employment, & Affordability Bensenville’s transit network easily connects it to jobs in the region. Proximity to the City of Chicago, as well as major employment destinations such as Elmhurst Hospital and Oakbrook Center, works in Bensenville’s favor. There are almost twice as many jobs accessible by a 30-minute transit ride in Bensenville as compared to DuPage County. However, as earlier data shows, just because there is high transit access to jobs, does not necessarily translate into high transit ridership.

Complete Streets: In 2016, in addition to the Active Transportation Plan, the Village of Bensenville adopted a Complete Streets policy. It laid out the vision for the Village to achieve its goal of creating a comprehensive, integrated, and connected transportation network where every roadway use can travel safely and comfortably and where sustainable transportation options are available to everyone.

The combined cost of housing and transportation in Bensenville is lower than the DuPage County average, and similar to regional averages. The average household in DuPage County spends roughly 31% of their monthly income on housing alone. According to the U.S Census Bureau, these households are considered cost burdened- cost burdened households are households that spend 30% or more of their income on rent, mortgage, and other housing needs. Bensenville has important locational advantages that make it more affordable than other communities. While the average household in Bensenville spends less on housing than the County and region, they pay more for transportation.

Existing Conditions Report

Vision Zero: Complementing the Complete Streets Ordinance, the Village adopted a Vision Zero policy in 2024. It is an internationally recognized design philosophy that aims to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities and serious injuries. While Complete Streets ensures equitable access for all roadway users, Vision Zero builds on that and ensures that these spaces are design with protection and prevention in mind.

Transportation

Key Findings The following are key conclusions regarding the existing conditions of Bensenville’s transportation system. Moving forward in the planning process, these key findings will help shape and inform the community’s vision, goals and objectives for transportation systems serving Bensenville.

Bensenville’s public transportation system does not adequately serve the current needs of residents and employees. While the Metra station is located conveniently in downtown, there are limited riders. Bus service is also limited. Overall, transit makes up a smaller share of trips in Bensenville than would be expected, given its population demographics and the presence of several major employers.

Bensenville is divided by a combination of arterial roads, commuter railroads, and freight railroads. The Metra railroad and Canadian Pacific railroad act as major deterrents to the smooth flow of traffic at various points in the community and interrupt network connectivity, both north-south and east-west. Additionally, several arterials such as Thorndale Avenue, Irving Park Road, IL-83, and York Road carry high volumes of traffic through the community at relatively high speeds, making them barriers to safe circulation.

There are challenges to a complete pedestrian and bicycle network. Challenges to developing a bicycle-friendly environment include high-volume arterials such as York Road, Irving Park Road, Thorndale Avenue, and Grand Avenue, which discourages residents from traveling in and across town by bicycle. Additionally, there are several local roadways which dead-end in residential neighborhoods and industrial or commercial areas, presenting challenges to linking neighborhoods to one another via bike trails or lanes.

There is a lack of north-south roadway connections through the northern industrial area. The CEDS identifies the lack of northsouth roads within the industrial area, making it difficult for trucks to access major arterials such as Devon Avenue, Thorndale Avenue, and Irving Park Road. Similarly, the local roadway network in the district is disjointed, resulting in trucks taking longer, circuitous routes to exit the industrial area.

Existing Conditions Report

CHAPTER 9: NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Water Resources

This section provides information on the environmental features in the Village of Bensenville, also referred in this section as its green infrastructure system. The information was obtained from DuPage County, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Village of Bensenville, and is based upon a visual assessment of existing conditions in the community.

Watershed Bensenville is located within three watersheds that include Willow Creek Watershed, Bensenville Ditch-Des Plaines River Watershed, and Addison Creek Watershed. There are three water bodies in the Village. At the northern end, Willow Creek runs east-west through the industrial park. The Creek runs between Industrial Drive and Fairway Drive for the most part. The businesses along the creek are included in the Special Service areas (SSA), receiving streambank stabilization and channel improvements. Addison Creek, a tributary of Salt Creek, originates in Bensenville and runs southeast, passing along the growing athletic and recreation district at the southern end of the Village.

Green Infrastructure The Bensenville green infrastructure system is comprised of the interconnected network of land and water resources that conserve natural ecosystem values and functions, sustain clean air and water, and provide a variety of benefits to people and wildlife. In the context of this plan, land resources and water resources are discussed separately. As a compilation of resources, the green infrastructure of Bensenville includes areas that are protected through existing laws and ownership, as well as areas that are not currently protected but are important resources to be considered in development decisions such as flood plain areas.

Existing Conditions Report

Water Quality Reports Bensenville is required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to produce an annual water quality report as a result of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The latest report for 2023 can be found on the Village’s website. For 2023, there were two reported drinking water quality violations.

Natural Environment

Land Resources

Water Source and Supply The Village of Bensenville receives all of its drinking water supply from Lake Michigan through the DuPage Water Commission. In 2024 the Village purchased 530,813,282 gallons of water from the DuPage Water Commission and had distributed a daily average of 1,454,282 gallons.

Bensenville Recreation & Community Programming Department The Village of Bensenville’s Recreation & Community Programming Department owns and maintains the 88-acre Redmond Recreational Complex that contains a number of recreational activities open to Bensenville residents and visitors. The facility includes a soccer field, softball/baseball fields, three indoor ice arenas, a skating rink, skateboard park, a 1.2- mile walking path, volleyball courts, and basketball courts.

Flooding Flooding has historically been an issue in Bensenville. It is not solely caused by local practices or confined within local municipal boundaries. The stormwater management practices in one community will have an impact on a neighboring community within the same watershed. Given that Bensenville is located within three watersheds, the Village is faced with stormwater runoff from several neighboring communities, and its actions likewise affect downstream communities.

Bensenville Park District The Bensenville Park District owns and operates 14 parks that take up over 65 acres within the Village. The Park District covers the entire Village of Bensenville, as well as parts of the City of Wood Dale, the Village of Addison, and unincorporated DuPage County. This allows Bensenville residents to access parks and recreational amenities outside municipal limits.

The Village has made a commitment to combat flooding with Capital Improvement Projects funded through a combination of Capital Investment Plan (CIP) funding, Long-Term General Obligation (LTGO) bonds, excess fund balance policy, and grants.

Existing Conditions Report

Some of the key open spaces owned and operated by the Park District are: • Fischer Farm: Believed to be one of the oldest remaining homesteads in DuPage County, Fischer Farm is located west of Grand Avenue and Church Road. The 5-acre property is utilized by the Park District as recreational space. The Park District is working in partnership with DuPage County Forest Preserve to restore the property and land. The Park District’s parks and facilities are listed in the following table.

Green Space Bensenville Limits County Boundary Unincorporated Area

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Figure 9.1 Bensenville Green Space Source: DuPage County GIS, Village of Bensenville

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Natural Environment

• Deer Grove Leisure Center: The Center is located at the corner of Wood Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue, offering a variety of amenities that include an indoor track, racquetball courts, and open gym accessible with daily or monthly passes. • Bensenville Water Park: Located opposite the Leisure Center, the Bensenville Water Park draws a large number of residents and visitors. The Park is open seven days a week with a variety of activities for children, youth, and adults. • White Pines Golf Course: The White Pines Golf Club’s two 18-hole golf courses cover over 260 acres in Bensenville. It hosts a pro shop, banquet and event space, as well as a bar and grill for the community to enjoy. In 2022, the Bensenville Park District explored the possibility of selling roughly 125 acres of the golf course. The Park District board ultimately decided not to sell the land at that time. The state law allowing the Park District to sell the land is no longer in effect as of July 2024.

Existing Conditions Report

The entire Bensenville Park District System is comprised of the following: • Arbor Woods • Breiter-Palm Park • Creekside Park • DiOrio Field • Hyatt-Hubbard Site • Krempels Park • Lions Park • Pines Park • Poplar Park • Rose Park • Sunrise Park • Sunset Park • Varble Park • Veterans Park • Woodcrest Park • Woodland Area • Woodside Park

Key Findings The following are key conclusions regarding the existing conditions of Bensenville’s natural environment. Moving forward in the planning process, these key findings should help shape and inform the community’s vision, goals, and objectives for Bensenville’s natural environment. Taxing bodies in Bensenville offer a large amount of green space. Between the Village, Park District, and School District, there are almost 400 acres of green space publicly available in Bensenville (this includes the 36-hole White Pines Golf Club). When the golf course is included, the national standard of 10 acres per 1,000 residents is met. A wide range of recreation opportunities are available in Bensenville. Indoor and outdoor swimming, basketball courts, baseball fields, multiple golf courses- all can be found within Bensenville, provided by local taxing bodies. That does not count the new indoor volleyball dome located at the corner of Grand Ave and County Line Road. Location on three watersheds complicates Bensenville’s flooding issues. Due to the placement of the Village on three watersheds, water resource management is a regional issue. The Village along cannot resolve all of its flooding issues.

Existing Conditions Report

CHAPTER 10: LOOKING FORWARD County and the Chicago region, Bensenville has a lower rate of new home construction, and residents are less likely to own a home. Steps should be taken to increase the number of housing units to create an environment where home ownership is achievable for Bensenville residents. Higher rates of home construction will also raise the residential EAV, bringing it more in line with other DuPage communities.

The existing conditions report has identified a number of issues, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that exist in Bensenville. The 2025 Bensenville Comprehensive Plan will utilize the data gathered to formulate recommendations for Bensenville’s economic, physical, and cultural growth in a sustainable and organized manner. Based on the information compiled, key topic areas of the Comprehensive Plan are identified in this chapter. It should be noted that the following summary does not include all issues that will be addressed in the Plan.

Continue to prepare for the completition of EOWA. It is imperative that the Village has the necessary policies in place, ranging from land use to infrastructure, to accommodate the projected commercial growth and transportation impacts of the Elgin O’Hare Western Access project. The northern portion of Bensenville will see extremely heightened levels of traffic and preparing for this should be one of the highest priorities moving forward.

The Bensenville Comprehensive Plan will address the following topic areas that have been identified as key issues through analysis of existing conditions. Increase retail accessibility village-wide and revitalization along major corridors. Irving Park Road serves as the main gateway in the community and should be a major focus of revitalization efforts. With new housing developments underway, it should prove to be an attractive market for retail uses. All major corridors should continually be improved when feasible to create an attractive, safe, and pedestrian-friendly community.

Build off the work of the Active Transportation Plan and improve multi-modal access to Village and regional destinations. Several key destinations across Bensenville are not accessible by bus and only have limited access for those who choose to travel by foot or bicycle. A complete evaluation of multi-modal access capabilities should be taken to understand where any gaps in the transportation network are located, and work should be done to fill the gaps.

Accelerate housing construction and improve market affordability. Compared to both DuPage

Existing Conditions Report

Looking Forward

Improve interjurisdictional collaboration. In order to stay a strong contributor to the regional economy, it is critical for the Village to reach beyond its boundaries and collaborate with neighboring communities and regional agencies. These include, but are not limited to, DuPage and Cook County, the City of Chicago, IDOT, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, Park and School Districts, Metra, Pace, CTA, and others. The Comprehensive Plan will identify these strategic partnerships and their roles in advancing the Village’s priorities. Promote sustainability. The Village should build upon its efforts to increase environmental sustainability in Bensenville by promoting and refining the work they have done to make both solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations more accessible for residents and businesses in town.

Existing Conditions Report