Community members disagreed over the future of development and transportation in Champaign Thursday night, and some attacked the city’s present policy of expanding into surrounding agricultural areas.

“We’re eating up this valuable farmland,” said Pattsi Petrie, a local community member in attendance.

Residents of Champaign met for a community conversation at the Illinois Terminal, 45 E. University Ave., to give their input on the city’s Transportation Master Plan, which will eventually determine how the city expands.

Community members were provided with three potential plans: maintaining the present policy of expanding into surrounding farmland with a focus on developing the outskirts of the city, focusing development on Champaign’s downtown area or connecting the city through neighborhoods and centers that would combine housing and employment.

“I think the connected neighborhoods is a compromise,” said Rich Furr, a Champaign resident. “You’re more likely to get people to buy into it. It’s a little bit of both.”

Rebecca Kasten of Champaign, however, said she likes the idea of a compact city because transportation would be more efficient and any adverse effect to the environment would be relatively small. Kasten said she thinks the city will purse the connected neighborhoods option.

“I would conjecture that we would do the connected neighborhoods because we’re sort of moving in that direction right now,” Kasten said. “It might satisfy varying interests.”

Petrie said she believes the city will pursue the connected neighborhoods expansion plan but feels it would be a step in the wrong direction.

“It is more costly from every perspective,” Petrie said. “It will increase property taxes.”

Leah Ostenberg, Champaign resident, is unsure what option the city should pursue.

“I’m split between the compact city and the connected neighborhoods,” said Ostenberg, who was opposed to expanding into the outskirts of Champaign, which she said wastes environmental and financial resources. “I’m an urban development planning student and sprawl is my enemy.”

The Transportation Master Plan will replace the existing Transportation plan which was developed in 1992.

Bruce Knight, Champaign planning director, said the Champaign City Council will take up the matter up next year.

“They’re going to wait and see how this plays out and they’ll be engaged along the way,” Knight said.