Fairmont Neighborhood Plan Update Prioritizes Infrastructure and Beautification Following Demographic Shift

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | February 3, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved an update to the Fairmont Neighborhood Plan, addressing significant demographic changes and calling for urgent infrastructure improvements. The 2025 addendum emphasizes flood reduction, better communication, and aesthetic improvements for the unincorporated community between Lockport and Joliet.

Fairmont Neighborhood Plan Key Points:

• Demographic Shift: The neighborhood has transitioned from a majority African American population in 2010 to a plurality Hispanic or Latino population in 2020.

• Top Priorities: Residents identified flood reduction, clean drinking water, and lower crime rates as their most critical needs.

• New Goals: The plan adds four new goals: beautification/code enforcement, improved community engagement, better information dispersal (newsletters), and utility modernization.

• Community Input: The update utilized extensive outreach, including four community events and surveys in English, Spanish, and a version for children.

The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, moved to update the guiding document for the Fairmont community, approving a plan that seeks to address decades of infrastructure neglect while acknowledging a changing population.

Community Planner Nicholas Hernandez presented the “Envision Fairmont: Neighborhood Plan Update 2025,” which serves as an addendum to the original plan adopted in 2012. Hernandez detailed a two-year process of re-evaluating the neighborhood’s needs through surveys and town hall meetings.

“Most of the respondents were from Fairmont with many of them being there for over 20 years,” Hernandez told the commission. “A lot of the main focus for a lot of folks were sidewalks, streetlights, cleanliness, community events, and transparency.”

A significant portion of the presentation focused on the changing face of Fairmont. Data included in the plan highlights that while the neighborhood was majority African American in 2010, the Hispanic or Latino population has grown significantly, now representing the largest demographic group. To accommodate this, county staff ensured surveys and outreach materials were available in Spanish.

The update identified “flood reduction” as the single most important issue for residents, trumping other concerns in a “This or That” prioritization exercise conducted by staff. Hernandez noted that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recently conducted a flood study, with potential work using ARPA funds slated to be used by late 2026.

Commissioners reacted positively to the depth of the report. One commissioner noted the stark rise in property values since the original 2012 plan, observing that in 2023, the area recorded six homes valued over a million dollars.

Hernandez also addressed the community’s desire for blight reduction. “There have been a lot of demolitions that have taken place for blighted homes… homes that are just either eyesores or falling apart, dangerous,” Hernandez said. He indicated he is compiling a report to determine how to ensure demolished lots do not sit vacant for long periods.

The plan update now moves to the full Will County Board for final approval.

News Briefs:

Joliet Industrial Variance Approved:
The commission approved two variances for minimum lot frontage for an industrial property located at 2200 Channahon Road in Joliet Township. The property, formerly a Caterpillar hydraulic plant, lost its direct legal frontage to Route 6 following an annexation of a strip of land by the City of Joliet in 2012. Presenter Brian Radner noted the site has had physical access via a private drive for over 70 years, but the variances were necessary to correct the legal non-conformity caused by the city’s action. The measure passed 7-0.

Fairmont Plan Public Hearing:
During the approval process for the Fairmont Neighborhood Plan Update, the commission held a designated public hearing. No members of the public stepped forward to speak during this specific comment period. The plan, which emphasizes infrastructure upgrades like storm sewers and sidewalks, was subsequently adopted by a unanimous vote.

Next Meeting Date:
The Planning and Zoning Commission announced that its next scheduled meeting will take place on February 17, 2026. Staff also noted that upcoming meetings conflicting with holidays, such as St. Patrick’s Day, have been advised to find alternative dates or locations.