HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-28 Special MinutesMINUTES OF THE JANUARY 28, 2009, SPECIAL MEETING/OPEN HOUSE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
FIRE STATION #4 LOWER LEVEL MEETLNG ROOM
6250 LINCOLN AVENUE
MORTON GROVE, ILLINOIS 60053
Pursuant to proper notice in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the Special Meeting/Open
House was called to order at 6:35 pm by Mayor Richard Krier. Clerk Fritzshall called the roll.
In attendance were:
Elected Officials: President Richard Krier, Trustees Shel Marcus, Rita Minx, Dan
Staaclanann, acid John Thill
Absent: Trustees Georgianne Brunner and Roy Kogstad
Village Staff: Village Administrator.losephE. Wade, Community and Economic
Development Director Bill Neuendorf, Village Planner Bonnie
Jacobson, and Fire Chief Tom Frel
Also Present: Tim Doron from KLOA, Jim Ganible from Land Design
Collaborative, and approximately forty residents.
Village Administrator Joseph Wade stated the presentation this evening would be centered on the
Lehigh/Ferris Avenue Proposed Streetscape and Roadway Improvements. He stated the Village
intends to improve the public infrastructure in the neighborhood surrounding the Metra train
station.. Funding for this project has already been obtained and the construction is scheduled to
begin in the later part of 2009. The Village has already engaged engineering, traffic, and
landscape professionals to shady this areaand prepare conceptplans.
Mr. Tim Doron from KLOA (the Village's traffic consulting firm) summarized the key aspects
of the traffic safety and parking in the area along Lincoln and Ferris Avenues. He noted
pedestrian safety and convenience was an important component when deveioping~ plans for this
area. The plan also calls for heavy truck traffic to be redirected.
Community and Economic Development Director Bill Neuendorf stated the Village has been
working with various consultants to provide guidance and gather ideas from other communities.
He noted this meeting was intended to share conceptual plans with residents and business o~nmers
so any concerns or suggestions could be considered before the engineering plans were finalized.
Mr. Jim Gamble from Land Design Collaborative (the Village's landscape design consultant)
summarized some key aspects of the overall landscape and streetscape design. I~Ie noted calming
traffic is a vital component to the design which can be accomplished by adding center medians
near Lincoln and Ferris Avenues and near Lincoln and School Streets. These medians will be
used to announce a more pedestrian-oriented area of Lincoln and Penis Avenues. "Knuckles"
will be used to narrow portions of the street while still allowing for on-street parking.
"Knuckles" will actually reduce the distance pedestrians travel to cross the street thereby
creating additional safety. Street lights, planters, and street furniture such as benches and
garbage receptacles will be placed at convenient locations for pedestrian use. Mr. Gamble also
noted the improved railroad crossing, which is being proposed, along with abicycle/pedestrian
walkway parallel to the Metra tracks is also being considered in future development plans.
Mr. Neuendorf then briefly recapped the presentations made by the consultants. He noted four
major components slated for public improvements, those included:
• Streetseape improvements along Lincoln Avenue from School to Ferris;
• Streetscape improvements along Ferris Avenue from Lincoln to Dempster;
A bicycle/pedestrian walkway parallel with the Metra tracks from Lincoln to Dempster; and
• An improved railroad crossing at Lincoln and Lehigh Avenues.
Mr. Wade concluded the professional presentation by discussing the priority of each of the
aforementioned projects. He noted some of the components can be constructed fairly quickly,
such as the streetseaping, while others will require a much longer construction time due to the
platming required between utility companies, state agencies, and Metra. IIe noted the Village is
dedicated to all these improvements and will work diligently to achieve lasting aesthetic and
Safety eiiatigcS.
Mayor Krier then asked if Trustees or anyone from the audience had any questions for the
consultants or staff members. Various residents had a variety of questions related to the
proposed improvements which were answered. A general roundtable discussion then ensued
among all present.
Trustee Mime then moved to adjourn the Special Meeting/OpemHouse. The motion was
seconded by Trustee Thill and approved unanimously pursuant to a voice vote at 9:10 pm.
Mhiu s by: Carol A. Fritzshall
Special meeting minutes.01-28-09