The planning commission studied and discussed at length the physical, economic, and social conditions of Morris in projecting what the future of the City should be. As a result they developed a set of goals, objectives, and policies for: general development, land use, housing and residential development, historic preservation, commercial development, public utilities, community facilities, open space and recreation, and ongoing planning.To receive additional public input a public meeting was March 27, 2002, to discuss a draft of the goals, objectives, and policies. This was a participatory meeting in which the residents were asked to take an active role reviewing the goals, objectives, and policies. Citizens were also asked to offer any suggestions for how to improve the policies that would later be implemented. The residents were asked to try to foresee how the city will develop and/or how they want the city to develop in the future while reviewing the proposed future land use maps.

This Comprehensive Plan is a working document. The purpose of the plan is to help City officials in making day-to-day decisions. The plan will serve as a guide for many public decisions, especially land use changes and preparation of capital improvements programs. The Comprehensive Plan will be a guide on which zoning and subdivision decisions are based. The plan is very important because as elected and appointed officials change over the years, the plan will be there to guide the new officials towards the vision of the City of Morris.

The Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year vision for the City of Morris. Although the Morris Comprehensive Plan is a complete and final document, the comprehensive planning process is never complete. In the future, changing conditions will require reassessment of various parts of the plan. The plan should be reviewed and updated periodically, either as a whole or by section, as needed.

The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific railroad was constructed and opened for service in 1851. It was not until 1853 that passenger service on the Pacific railroad was opened to Morris.The speed and efficiency of train service surpassed the canal and quickly took over as the transportation of choice.Barge and freight traffic, however, continued to utilize the canal, which allowed for business growth in Chicago as well as Morris. Morris was the largest inland grain port and was said to ship sixteen million bushels a year.

Religious services in Morris date back to the 1840’s. Public buildings and homes were commonly utilized until permanent church buildings were made available. Over the century, these buildings have been built, some destroyed, expanded, rebuilt, and restored. In 1927, there were eight churches of the following denominations: Baptist, Federated (Congregational and Presbyterian), Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, Norwegian Lutheran, Christian Science, and Roman Catholic. Since then, a number of churches have been established. The following is a list of over twenty churches that serve the Morris community:

The Fire King Engine Company was the first fire department in Morris. The company was organized under a city ordinance in 1859 and was comprised of engineers, wardens, and firemen. Within a few years, there were two hand engine companies, the aforementioned Fire King and the Niagara. In 1868, the Eagle Hose Company, a volunteer department, was organized and replaced the existing companies. The hand engines were substituted with a steam engine. By 1927, there were twenty-five volunteers. Their equipment consisted of a one thousand-gallon metropolitan triple combination American LaFrance pumper, two double combination trucks with booster pumps, and one hook and ladder truck. In 1990, the Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District was formed and taxes are collected to pay for fire protection and ambulance service. The district includes 140 square miles of service area. At present, there are forty volunteers in the fire department. They have their own building and modern equipment. Their emergency services include a rescue squad and ambulance service. Bi-annual pancake breakfasts and an annual carnival are their primary fund raising events.

Morris does not have a park district. There are six developed city parks having a combined area of over thirty acres. The city owns an additional forty acres of undeveloped open space designated for parks and recreation. The site management agency of these parks is the Department of Public Works. The Department of Natural Resources owns and manages 47 acres in the city, consisting of two state parks and the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail. Morris also has additional youth activities organized by the City, District 101 Recreation Center, and private associations and organizations.

The city and residents of Morris take pride in their education system. It is estimated that the first school was opened in 1843. Lessons took place in a log cabin located southeast of the train depot, privately run by Ann Nagle. Private classes were also taught in the public courthouse when court was not in session as well as a room above the local saloon. Records of a school board date back to 1843 and the establishment of district schools took place in 1851. Old Center School House was a wooden building built in 1853 on East Jackson Street. The school serviced all grades through the eighth year. In 1876, a three-story stone building was erected, in a different location, to replace the old wooden school building. It was located where the gymnasium of the existing Center School is now.

By 1888, the school had ten classrooms, a library, and a large hall. Each room had sixty-three seats with desks and a blackboard. Four rooms in the basement were used for recreation during bad weather. It was torn down in 1923 to make room for the new Center School, which is now in the process of being torn down. Nearly eighty years later, public education took place in five brick and stone school buildings. Private schools at that time were St. Angela’s Catholic Academy and the Morris Normal and Scientific School.

Morris Community High School is a significant asset to the city. It is a one-school district with facilities that serve not only students but the community as well. MCHS’s attendance and graduation rate rank in the 90 th percentile, above the overall state statistics. In addition, MCHS students’ American College Testing Program composite scores fare slightly above the overall state composite score. District 101 allows residents access to its facilities for recreation, meetings, or a variety of other purposes.

Located in the heart of Grundy County, Morris High School was established in 1872 on the second floor of the old Center School building. In 1898, classes opened at the new site on Franklin Street. Two new wings were added to the building in 1914. In 1927, enrollment reached 265 and the building was becoming overcrowded. In 1944, the present designation of Morris Community High School, District 101, was founded. In the spring of 1949, a $1,200,000 bond referendum was passed for a new building. Northern Illinois Coal Corporation donated 25 acres of land for the site of the new building. In 1960, a new wing was completed and facilities for industrial arts and agriculture were added. From a tiny enrollment limited to two classrooms in 1872, Morris High School has grown to 1,003 students and 69 faculty members.

Morris is located within the seven-county district of Joliet Junior College (JJC). Morris Community High School and Grundy Area Vocational Center were previous off-campus instructional sites. JJC now offers satellite courses from their permanent off-campus instructional site located in Morris on Division Street. In addition to the JJC, there are two Catholic four-year Universities nearby. They are the University of St. Francis, located in Joliet, and Lewis University located in Romeoville with additional campuses in Oak Brook, Hickory Hills, and Schaumburg, Illinois.

The City of Morris is located in northern Grundy County in northeastern Illinois. Morris is the county seat. It is approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. Morris is within 75 miles of Bloomington/Normal, Peoria, Rockford, and 100 miles from Champaign-Urbana. It is within 250 miles of many metropolitan areas including Indianapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. Morris is a growing community of nearly 12,000 residents. Most necessary services are provided, though some cultural and social activities can be found in Joliet or the Chicago metro area.

Many forms of transportation serve Morris, including highways, railroads, and waterways. These ensure that industrial development has the proper means with which to transport goods and services. The current transportation infrastructure continues to be enhanced to provide the needs of a growing population. The map to the right shows the existing transportation options within the 1½ mile planning area and proposed future improvements.

• Arterials

These are the major roadways that move vehicles in and out of the city. They act as connections to major points. Arterials are meant to carry more than 5,000 vehicles per day or 500 vehicles per hour. On-street parking is generally prohibited and driveways and curb cuts are kept to a minimum. Morris has three such roads. Morris is located just south of the heavily traveled Interstate 80, which connects New York and San Francisco. U.S. Route 6 runs east-west through the town, paralleling I-80. Seneca and Channahon are located about 10 miles to the west and east respectively on U.S. 6.

Illinois Route 47 is one of the major north-south State Routes. It connects Morris with Yorkville to the north and Dwight to the south. According to 1999 Illinois Department of Transportation average daily traffic counts, 28,150 vehicles travel on I-80 past the Morris exit. There is an average of 11,933 vehicles daily on U.S. 6 west of Illinois 47 and 9,900 vehicles east of Illinois 47. More than 24,000 vehicles come through the city limits daily along Illinois 47.

• Collectors

The purpose of the collectors is to provide for the movement of traffic through the city on a more local basis. They act as the connection between arterials and smaller residential streets. Ideally, collectors transport vehicles quickly to arterials with the least amount of necessary intersections. Generally, a wide array of development occurs on collectors. It can range from heavy manufacturing industries to low density residential development. Collector roads typically carry between 1,000 and 8,000 vehicles per day and are two lanes wide. Such examples in Morris include Lisbon Road, Railroad Street, and Union Street.

• Local or Residential Streets

The third category of roads is intended only for the access to housing. They are not constructed for any other type of land use. Speed limits are intentionally kept at a minimum to ensure a safe environment for citizens and pedestrians in the area and to minimize the number of additional vehicles from using the roads. This is often done through the use of cul-de-sacs and loops. Residential streets generally flow into collectors. Many new subdivision developments have added to the number of residential streets in Morris.

Morris is served by the CSX freight line, which runs between Joliet and Henry. One round trip freight train runs on a typical day on the line. It connects with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Iowa Interstate, and Union Pacific (UP) Railroads. As two of the largest railroads in the country, the BNSF and UP move a large percentage of the nation’s freight. Morris does lack industrial sites with freight railroad access. Passenger rail does not currently serve Morris. The nearest Amtrak rail stations are located in Dwight, Joliet, and Plano, 15-25 miles away.

Free parking facilities can be found at various locations around the downtown area as well as on most streets. On-street parking helps improve car access, slows traffic, and buffers walking areas from the travel lanes. Parking is generally available, though any new development should be considerate of parking demand that could be created. Parking facilities should blend in with the surrounding downtown through the use of landscaping and benches. Mixing of land uses is encouraged. Parking garages can be constructed as part of a development with ground level retail. If garages are considered, they must stay within the scale of the existing downtown and be no more than three stories.

Visitors need better recognition of the city when entering via automobile. Landscaped gateways offer a feeling of sense of place. They should ideally be located on well-traveled roads that funnel traffic through Morris. The gateways can include additional signage that points out important locations such as the downtown or museums and the mileages to each destination. For example, a potential sign could read “Morris: County Seat of Grundy County.” There are many locations where these would be found in Morris. They include:

• Illinois 47 North of Interstate 80

• Illinois 47 at Southmor Road

• U.S. 6 at Pioneer Road

• U.S. 6 at Ashley Road

• Commercial Cooridors

• Train Stations

• Downtown

• Parks

• Schools

• Subdivisions

Soils are responsible for producing our food, filtering our water supply, and supporting our buildings and development. Because there are hundreds of soil types and formations, certain types of soil are better than others for certain uses. Five general factors determine the type of soil that is formed in a certain location. These factors include the composition of the parent material, climate, plants and organisms, land relief, and time.

The disintegration and decomposition of rock form soil parent materials. Parent materials can be distributed by water, wind, or glaciers, resulting in varying mixes and densities. Climate and vegetation are active factors in the soil formation process by altering the accumulated parent material and developing its characteristics to a certain soil classification. The climate accomplishes this by its processes of weathering and erosion. Freezing and thawing help break down minerals and rock fragments. Dead plants and other organisms add to the formation process by contributing rich nutrients and organic matter to the soil through decay.

A soil association is a landscape or geographic area that has a distinctive proportional pattern of different soils. It represents an area containing one or more major soils and one or more minor soils. Normally the soil association is named for its major soil/soils or the most extensive land type. The Grundy County Soil Survey of 1976 identified major associations throughout the county. The following are general descriptions of soil associations identified by the survey that are found in the Morris vicinity. The Morris Area Soil Association map (left) shows where each association exists within the city boundary and planning area. The numbers in parentheses after the name of the soil association corresponds with the soil association map.

The Elliot-Ashkum-Drummer association (Figure 1) makes up about 28 percent of the country. It is about 34 percent Elliot soils, 26 percent Ashkum soils, 10 percent Drummer soils, and 30 percent soils of minor extent. The nearly level Elliott soils are on ridges at slightly higher elevations than Ashkum and Drummer soils and are somewhat poorly drained. Ashkum and Drummer soils are in poorly drained, broad depressional areas. All have a black surface layer more than 10 inches thick. The 10-inch or more surface layer in Elliot soils is silt loam. In Ashkum and Drummer soils it is silty clay loam that is sticky when wet.

The Reddick-Andres association (Figure 2) covers about 15 percent of the county. It is made up of about 65 percent Reddick soils, 22 percent Andres soils, and 13 percent minor soils. Reddick soils are in broad depression and are poorly drained. Andres soils are in nearly level areas at slightly higher elevations where surface drainage is better but is still somewhat poorly drained. The surface layer is at least 10 inches in Reddick soils, which is silty clay loam that is sticky when wet, and in Andres soils, which is silt loam. Both soils have a silty clay loam, clay loam, or sandy loam subsoil.

The Drummer-Selma-Brenton association makes up about 20 percent of the country. It is about 39 percent Drummer soils, 20 percent Selma soils, 18 percent Brenton soils, and 23 percent minor soils. Drummer and Selma soils are in broad depressions and are poorly drained. The nearly level Brenton soils are at slightly higher elevations where surface drainage is better but still are somewhat poorly drained. The 10-inch or more surface layer is silty clay loam that is sticky when wet in Drummer soils. In Selma soils it is loam, and in Brenton soils it is silt loam.

Minor in this association are the well drained Proctor and Jasper soils on ridges and side slopes, the somewhat poorly drained Starks and Darroch soils in level areas, and the poorly drained Sawmill and Comfrey soils along creek bottoms.

This association is used mostly for corn and soybeans. Wetness is the main limitation for farming and for most other uses. However, if adequately drained they would have good potential for cultivated crops. Small ponded areas are common early in spring. Blowing soil and drought are other management problems to be considered. The wetness of this association causes a severe limitation for residential uses.

Morris lies within the area of North America and Illinois that was covered by continental glaciers during the Ice Age, or Pleistocene. At least three of the four major glacial stages during the Ice Age covered the Morris area. As each glacier advanced through the Midwest during each stage, it picked up soil, pebbles, rocks, and large boulders that were released in this area when the glaciers melted and retreated. This material, called glacial drift, from the Kansan Stage, Illinoisan Stage, and finally the Wisconsonian Stage, blanketed most of Illinois when released. Drift material from the Wisconsonian Stage is what we now see as the land surface of Morris and all of Grundy County. The thickness of the glacial drift deposited during that period varies from 50 feet to over 500 feet. Loess, or windblown silt, was picked up from the dry valley floors and deposited in the hills above the glacial drift, occurring in thicknesses from four to six feet.

The main hydrological feature in the Morris area is the Illinois River. The Illinois River originates at the confluence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers in northeastern Grundy County. It then flows west to Hennepin and then south before joining the Mississippi River north of Alton. The river is 273 miles in length with a watershed that covers a sizeable portion of the state. The river and adjoining backwaters provide an aquatic resource of some 87,000 surface acres, while the floodplain consists of about 400,000 acres. The building of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal diverted Chicago’s untreated wastewaters from Lake Michigan into the river. Pollution and flooding have been problems since the canal’s inception.

Besides a dam on the Mississippi at Alton in which pool the lower 80 miles of the Illinois River is included, there are the LaGrange and Peoria dams on the lower 228 miles of sluggish river, and the Starved Rock, Marseilles, and Dresden Island dams on the upper 45 miles of faster flowing river. Many streams and rivers are tributaries. Water from Lake Michigan flows into the Chicago River, which flows into the Des Plaines River, and finally into the Illinois River. The Illinois Waterway project began in 1919 and helped create a continuous navigation route, nine feet deep and a minimum of 300 feet wide, from Joliet to the Mississippi River. Barges were then able to navigate the length of the river. Diverse aquatic habitats are the basis for the diversity of sport fish present, as each species favors certain habitats over others. The Lieutenant Governor’s office operates the Illinois River 2020 Program. Through various educational, environmental, and preservation groups, it is attempting to rehabilitate the river and its watershed to the original state. The state will continue restoring more than 200 acres of wetlands south of the Illinois River near the Route 47 Bridge.

Residents of Morris depend on three deep wells for their water supply. These wells are between 1,100 and 1,450 feet and obtain water from either Franconia (dolomite) or Galesville (sandstone) formations. At the bottom end of the Franconian, the material turns somewhat rapidly from dolomite to sandstone. The walls tap into groundwater supplied by aquifers lying below the water table. The aquifer is recharged (filled) as precipitation on the surface percolates through the soil layers, clay, silt, sand, and gravel into the aquifer. The water becomes purified and fortified with nutrients and minerals as it comes in contact with this glacial drift material and gases. The groundwater supply throughout Grundy County, including the Morris area, is pure and plentiful for all types of use.

Grundy County also saw a sharp increase in its median age. It went from 33.3 to 36.3 years of age. The state’s median age for 2000 of 34.7 was 2.2 years younger than the residents of Morris and 1.6 years younger than the median age of Grundy County. Both populations are becoming considerably older.

The age group for Grundy County that saw the largest percentage increase was also the 45-54 group at 2.8 percent. The 35-44 age group made up the largest percent of the county adult population in 1990 and 2000 at 15.0 percent and 17.1 percent. The age group that saw the largest percent decrease was the 25-34 group at a 3.4 percent decrease followed closely by the 55-64 group at 3.3 percent.

The population characteristics of Morris closely resembled those of Grundy County. Each has seen a decline in those between the ages of 0-10, followed by a rise between the ages of 15-19. Both have felt a drop in the percentage of people aged 20-34. However, as would be expected of an aging population, there is a sharp increase for the age group 35-54. This helps indicate the number of college-aged people and young professionals who are leaving Morris and Grundy County.

The percentage of the county population Morris accounted for decreased from 1980 to 1990. In 1980, Morris made up 40.7 percent of the county population, while in 1990, Morris only made up 31.8 percent of the county population. The town continues to account for 31.8 percent of the county population in 2000. These numbers show that while Morris and Grundy County populations grow, Morris is not the only area that is growing.

The City of Morris has grown at unprecedented levels the last two decades. The city has seen a 35 percent increase in population between 1980 and 2000. The table below projects future population levels based on three separate scenarios. The low estimate uses the average rate for Grundy County growth through 2020. This rate would be nearly half the rate of the last two decades for Morris. A low estimate would mean a strictly controlled pattern of growth by encouraging more infill development. New development would generally occur along existing corridors and where existing infrastructure is already sufficient. It encourages a greater awareness and preservation of agricultural and conservation land. This would also dictate a leveling of population levels in Grundy County and areas southwest of Chicago.

A medium rate assumes population growth at a rate equal to that of the last two decades in Morris. It is also based on the number of residential and commercial permits issued within the last six years. This would dictate residential development occurring primarily to the west and north of the current city limits. Some additional industrial and commercial development would result, particularly north of I-80. This rate takes into account the current patterns of growth while figuring that new development would occur north of the Illinois River.

A high rate dictates an unusually rapid surge in population growth. This assumes that an extended commuter rail line will pass through Morris, linking LaSalle and Joliet. It also figures that annexations along with residential and commercial development will follow shortly following the completion of the new Illinois 47 bridge across the Illinois River. The rate should be viewed as a probable overestimation. It is used as a benchmark for controlling growth and to understand what peripheral options could do to the size of the city. It also dictates policy that extends water and sewer service to previously undeveloped areas of the 1½ mile planning area and encourages population growth.

The table to the right (top) shows population projections for Grundy County and the State of Illinois and is provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA). The county population is projected to rise at a rate approximately twice that of Illinois. Growth would remain fairly consistent through the next two decades. DCCA projections are generally viewed as conservative. The actual population for Grundy County for 2000 was moderately higher than was projected.