Press Room

Montgomery Director of Community Development Announces Resignation

The Village of Montgomery’s Director of Community Development, Amy Furfori, has announced that she will be resigning her position effective December 7, 2006. She was originally hired by the Village on October 9, 2001 after working as a consultant for the Village for several years. She will be returning to work in the private sector on a part-time basis to pursue other career goals and be able to spend more time with her children.

When Furfori was hired as the Village’s first Director of Community Development in 2001, she was that department’s sole employee, and brought a new level of training and professionalism to the Village at a time when its rapid growth was just beginning. In 2002, she was responsible for the first Comprehensive Update to the Comprehensive Plan in ten years, including the Land Use and Development Plan and the Transportation Plan. This process included long-range planning for bicycle trails, future roadways, green/open spaces, schools, parks and commercial areas, as well as new residential subdivisions. Furfori updated the zoning ordinance that formalized Village requirements for development review, residential lot sizes and commercial use by district, and guided residential and commercial development as Montgomery’s population grew from 5,471 to more than 15,000. Prior to the establishment of the Montgomery Economic Development Corporation in 2003, Furfori was also responsible for coordinating economic development in Montgomery. She played a major role in annexing areas designated for future commercial development, including land on both sides of Orchard Road south of Route 30, and the property at Route 30 & 34 where Menard’s, JCPenney and Office Depot are currently under construction. She also played a leading role in the establishment of the Village’s first Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to aid development of approximately 90 acres encumbered by floodplain north of Route 30 near Fifth Street. This area, called Montgomery Preserve, will be developed as a regional stormwater detention facility and will include a future library site, open space, baseball and softball fields, an apartment community, bicycle trails and retail development.

Recognizing that neighborhood schools are an important foundation of a community, Furfori was instrumental in planning for school sites in newly developing areas of the Village. She successfully helped negotiate developer land donations to provide elementary school sites in the Foxmoor subdivision (Kaneland School District) and at the intersection of four subdivisions in the Oswego School District: Lakewood Creek, Lakewood Creek West, Montgomery Crossings and Blackberry Crossing. In addition to securing these two new elementary schools for the community, she served on the Task Force organized to explore options to keep Nicholson Elementary School in the West Aurora School District portion of Montgomery.

Other accomplishments during Furfori’s tenure in Montgomery include the plan for the Civic Center Campus and implementation of the new Police Department; sub-area plans for the Montgomery Road Corridor, Blackberry Creek/Orchard Road Corridor, Downtown Mill District and Montgomery Preserve; preservation of the Dickson-Murst Farm; and planning for the new Village Hall in the historic downtown and redevelopment plans for the surrounding area.

Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura characterized Furfori as a highly qualified professional who will be greatly missed. “Amy established the framework and foundation for the successful development of Montgomery’s new growth. Her understanding of sustainable growth and quality of life issues have resulted in well-designed, livable new subdivisions with substantial open space. Amy also played a key role in attracting new businesses to Montgomery that will be an asset to our tax base for years to come.” In addition, Gaura said, “Amy’s unparalled professionalism has set an extremely high standard for the Village staff. She has made an indelible mark in the history of Montgomery. Her departure is a great loss to the community.”

Furfori expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to serve Montgomery and its residents, saying, “It has been a pleasure to work for and with the elected and appointed officials, staff, business owners and residents to help Montgomery make smart choices as it grows. I am grateful to have been a part of the Village's 'growing up' in many ways – from new neighborhoods, to new shopping centers, to new regulations – all of which continue to preserve Montgomery's friendly, small-town character with big opportunity which first drew me here."