DeKalb has seen many changes during the past six years, and the DeKalb Planning Commission is holding a series of meetings to address what the future will hold for the community.

The commission held an open meeting to allow DeKalb residents to discuss what they felt should be in store for the future. The expansion of the town was the focus of a heated debate at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The meetings have been held to decide whether DeKalb should become a small town, a community geared toward the college or a future suburb of Chicago. The commission plans to use the ideas and opinions submitted by community members to make changes to the city’s comprehensive plan, last updated in 1996. The suggested ideas then will be submitted to Mayor Greg Sparrow and City Council.

According to the commission, major changes in the city since the previous plan was drafted include a steady rate of growth, increased housing, changes in city government (mayor and aldermen) and an increase in corporate business.

Community members in attendance, comprised primarily of senior citizens, carried on extensive debates with the Planning Commission about these changes and what they will lead to. The majority of the community members were dismayed with the idea of expanding DeKalb. Many said they believe expansion reduces the amount of water available, increased taxes and destroys the community’s farm land.

“I want growth, but controlled growth,” DeKalb resident Pat Bragg said. “And I do not want to see DeKalb become a suburb of Chicago. I would like it to stay rural.”

Many residents echoed Bragg’s concerns.

Donna Gorski said she doesn’t want to see much more of an increase in DeKalb’s population.

Gorski said she’d like DeKalb to have a small town atmosphere with family-oriented neighborhoods. To accomplish the goal of maintaining a small town environment, she believes there should be boundaries for urban growth.

Residents also spoke out against big corporations coming into DeKalb and taking away business from smaller shops. One example of this was the recent announcement of the closing of the Junction Book Store, which store owner David Sytsma said was due to increased competition from Borders Books and Music, which opened last fall.

In contrast to opinions of community members, commission member Nancy Vedral said she believes it is inevitable that DeKalb will grow and that this growth will be positive for the future development of DeKalb.