MARENGO – Unlike its suburban neighbors, Marengo would be transformed into a self-reliant city filled with industrial and commercial development under an expansion outline presented Monday.

But transforming a rural community into an atypical suburb is predicated on the city’s ability to court the Illinois Tollway Authority to build an interchange at Route 23 and Interstate 90.

“In this plan, we are more about a more rounded, a more evolved, a more independent city type of development,” City Manager Gary Boden told about 15 residents in a joint meeting with the City Council and Plan Commission.