Anchoring the Future!
The Village of Fox Lake is proud to announce that the Community Reflections Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Plan were officially adopted on November 25. This milestone marks the culmination of a year-long, engagement-driven planning process conducted in partnership with The Lakota Group. Throughout the process, community voices shaped every chapter of the plan, resulting in eight themes that chart a clear path forward while honoring Fox Lake’s history, character, and quality of life.
To learn more about how community feedback guided these plans, scroll down to the “Fox Lake Speaks” section.
Use the links below to download the final Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Plan.
Fox Lake Speaks!
Village leadership ensured the process was inclusive, every step of the way! Below is a list of engagement touchpoints that encouraged Fox Lake residents to share their input:
Fox Lake Conversations – Kickoff event at Lakefront Park that celebrated recent Village achievements and invited residents into round-table discussions on housing, economic development, Downtown revitalization, and placemaking.
Fox Lake Tales – A podcast series sharing personal stories from longtime residents and newcomers, helping to shape a shared vision for Fox Lake’s future.
Pop-Up Series – Informal engagement at events like the Friday Night Concert Series and the Mayor’s Fish Fry, where residents joined creative exercises to highlight priorities that should “rise to the surface” or “sink to the bottom.”
Community Workshop 1 – The largest engagement event, blending information with interactive exercises such as visual preference boards, mapping, and priority-setting activities.
Community Workshop 2 – Held at the Farmers Market, giving residents the chance to weigh in on goals, strategies, and action steps either in person or through a QR code.
Planning Documents
All project exhibits, drafts, and final reports will be available for download below.
Existing Conditions Report (2024): This report marks the completion of Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Planning Process, offering an in-depth look at the engagement efforts so far and initial findings that paint a picture of Fox Lake today. Click on the link below to download.
Draft Comprehensive Plan (Aug 2025): The Comprehensive Plan is the culmination of this planning process and is the blueprint for the Village’s future. This plan includes eight different themes, with dedicated strategies, and action steps. Click on the link below to download.
Draft Downtown Plan (Aug 2025): The Downtown Plan focuses on Fox Lake’s core and expands on the Downtown theme presented in the Comprehensive Plan, with targeted redevelopment sites and a future vision for your downtown! Click on the link below to download.
Welcome to the Fox Lake Tales podcast! We’ve been collecting Tales from residents in Fox Lake at each community event. Through personal stories and cherished memories, we uncover what makes this community unique one episode at a time.
Listen to the three episodes of the podcast below.
Stay in the Know
Want to be the first to know about Fox Lake Comprehensive Plan news or want to provide the Planning Team your thoughts and ideas? Please fill out the form!