Oswego board OKs $185,000 contract with Ginkgo to update comprehensive plan

The Village of Oswego Village Board on Feb. 18 approved a resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Ginkgo Planning and Design to update the village’s comprehensive plan at a cost of $185,000.

Staff said the 2025 update follows the village’s 2015 comprehensive plan (itself an update of a 2006 plan) and will include data collection, stakeholder interviews, public workshops, an online participation portal, a steering committee and a market-driven analysis. Staff told the board they issued an RFP, received eight qualified proposals, interviewed finalists and selected Ginkgo based on past work with the village, research methodology and cost effectiveness. Staff said the consultant will begin data gathering in February or March and that the contract includes a focused “key project area” study of Wolf’s Crossing to provide actionable guidance for remaining properties in that corridor.

Trustees discussed public engagement methods at length. Several members said prior studies have had limited resident participation and urged multiple outreach methods, including the village newsletter and in-person booths at events such as Wine on the Fox, Christmas Walk and Prairie Fest; staff said the consultant plans a multi-pronged outreach program and that previous success included “Village Board on Your Block” neighborhood visits. One trustee emphasized the distinction between last year’s housing study (which focused on affordability) and this plan’s market-driven approach; staff said the selected consultant has a market research firm that will analyze what builders and the market realistically support.

Trustees asked about cost and relevance because much developable land is currently unincorporated. One trustee said the $185,000 figure seemed high given annexation realities; another said the plan provides the village with a clear strategy to guide future annexation and developer negotiations rather than leaving decisions to ad hoc proposals.

The board approved the professional services agreement by roll call; recorded votes in the transcript were: Trustee McCarthy Lang — yes; Trustee Novey — yes; Trustee Torres — yes; Trustee Jones Sennott — yes; Trustee Kerr — no; Trustee Geist — yes. The resolution passed.

Staff described the plan’s expected outputs as draft sections to be reviewed by the board, opportunities for public input, and an adopted plan the village can use to guide decisions and to share with developers and builders. The record shows no implementation timeline beyond the consultant’s imminent start of data gathering and outreach.