GLEN CARBON – Glen Carbon trustees recently approved an updated 25-year vision for the village’s future.
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Village Board members voted unanimously on Nov. 12, 2025 to approve the Glen Carbon 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update. A comprehensive plan essentially serves as a framework for municipalities to guide future policy decisions regarding economic growth and development.
The first section of Glen Carbon’s new comprehensive plan outlines the village’s strengths, such as high resident incomes and property values, as well as challenges ahead, especially concerning housing affordability.
“Glen Carbon’s residents have the highest buying power in Madison County,” the plan’s introduction states. “Glen Carbon, along with Edwardsville, comprise Madison County’s primary retail center.”
The plan states Glen Carbon residents have “the highest median household income in all of Madison County.” Despite population growth slowing over the past decade, property values around Glen Carbon have held steady and high – which benefits the village from an economic standpoint, but makes it largely unaffordable for first-time home buyers.
The plan includes a “Community Vision,” outlining a strategy to see Glen Carbon reach its full potential over the next 25 years:
“To preserve its high quality of life, safe and accessible neighborhoods, and thriving community amenities, the Village of Glen Carbon will embrace its history and economic potential along the I-70/I-270 corridor and enhance its existing parks, infrastructure, and Village services to further distinguish itself as a premier community to live, work, and play in the region.”
The 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update follows and builds upon the village’s existing comprehensive plan, which was first adopted in 2008 and last updated in 2015. The Glen Carbon Planning and Zoning Commission and Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee began the updated planning process in 2023.
Over the past two years, public input was gathered via two public workshops, a public hearing, and a community survey. In total, more than 200 individual Glen Carbon residents participated in the process of updating the comprehensive plan.
At this week’s meeting, Project Manager Tim Breihan with planning team H3 Studio, Inc. gave a final presentation to the board regarding the updated plan. He identified five “early action items” to be completed within five years of the new plan’s adoption.
His recommendations were to establish an “outcome reporting system” within six months to track the village’s progress in implementing the updated plan; to update the village’s Zoning Code within 12 months to be compliant with the new plan; to establish a “marketing initiative” to promote the village within six months; implement road and trail projects identified in the new plan within six months; and to immediately pursue strategic future annexation.
A recording of Breihan’s full presentation, as part of the Nov. 12, 2025 Village Board meeting, is available on the Village of Glen Carbon Facebook page. The full, updated comprehensive plan can be found here on the village’s website.
