Kendall growth nation's 2nd fast
Not alone at top: Kane, Will, Lake, McHenry counties also among 100 fastest rising populations

By Art Golab
Chicago Sun Times

Better schools and more house forthe money led Mike McCammond and his family to Oswego and Kendall County last year.

They weren't alone. More than 5,500 others also moved into Kendall County, boosting the population 8.3 percent and making it the second fastest growing county in the nation, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

"I think you get a little more here for your money "said McCammond, an ironworker who moved from Romeoville in Will County. "It's an up-and-coming area like Naperville was, and I wanted tot be apart of it and get in before it gets expensive.

Will County is still drawing plenty of newcomers, adding 28,000 people and growing 4.8 percent, placing 44th on he national growth list and 10th on the overall population growth list.

Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties also made the top 100 counties on the overall population list.

Land is cheap and plentiful in Kendall County, which is why McCammond was able to buy a new 3,500-square-foot, five bedroom home for $314,000, less than similar-size homes in Will, County.

Growth along Route 34

McCammond says the school system in Oswego provides more of a challenge to his daughters, who are straight-A students. "It's harder for them," he said. "They still get A's, but they're learning more. I couldn't be happier."

Route 34 is Kendall County's main artery and a large factor in its growth.

"It goes through Lisle, Naperville, and Aurora - the growth is heading along this Route 34 corridor," said Michael Cassa, executive director of the Oswego Economic Development Corp.

Cassa sees people moving to his community from Kane and Dupage counties, as well as from Chicago and cities across the country.

Big numbers actually down

Kane County Officials pointed out they do not have one main corridor of growth like Route 34 through Kendall County - they have several. Interstate 90 and Route 20 in the north end connect Eglin with Dundee, Algonquin, Gilberts, Huntley and Hamshire. In the south end, Interstate 80 and Route 30 bypass drive development through Aurora to Montgomery and Sugar Grove.

Phil Bus, Kane County's development director, points out that while Kendall leads Kane in percentage growth, Kane dwarfs its neighbor to the south in actual numbers. The census figures just released show that 14,039 people moved to Kane between July 2003 and July 2004, while 5,330 moved to Kendall.

And those numbers are actually down for Kane. The average of the same census figures for the past three years show Kane has averaged 16,500 new residents each of those years.

Bus and Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay, R -St. Charles, said the numbers bear out what officials have been talking about and planning for during the past 10 years.

"Certainly all of the predictions we have been making prove out year after year," McConnaughay said. "All these planning agencies have been pretty much on the mark. It suggests we're not issuing any false warnings here as far as growth goes."

Traffic: the price of growth

With all the new residents moving in, Kane and Kendall counties are experiencing more and more traffic congestion. Last week, a sales tax increase that would have paid to build roads and bridges in Kendall ws shot down by county voters. Pland remain to widen three of the state routes to four lanes, and Oswego and Yorkville are trying to reduce growth by requiring larger lot sizes and more impact fees from developers.

McConnaughay said traffic is one of the main issues sprouting from the continued rapid growth.

This past year, Kane began establishing a closer link between land use planning and transportation planning, bringing forth 2030 updated plans for both land use and road projects.

She said counties will have to work together throughout the region to attack the cost and planning for highways.

"I continue to stress that we need regional consensus as it relates to transportation," she said.

Despite the growing traffic, McCammond says Kendall compares well to the older collar counties:: "It's less crowded - for now at least."