Village Hall |
255 East Wilson Ave. |
Lombard, IL 60148 |
villageoflombard.org |
Trustee Steve Sebby-Chairperson |
Trustee Richard Tross-Alternate Chairperson |
John Schwarz, Nancy Sherretz, Paul Larkin, |
Arthur Kuehl, Thomas Murphy, Robert DiFino |
Staff Liaisons: Deputy Chief Dane Cuny, Patrol Division, Police, |
Richard J. Tross, John Schwarz, Robert DiFino, Arthur Kuehl, Nancy Sherretz |
and Paul Larkin |
All Public in attendance were present to speak on Item No. 050692. Comments were |
taken at the time the committee discussed that item. |
Ray Bartels, 813 E. Maple |
Art Frerichs, Art's Master Mechanics |
Bob Goldin, 1120 S. Fairfield |
John & Luann Ahrens, 10 S. Highland |
Residential Traffic Speed and Enforcement |
I. Recommendation of Transportation & Safety Committee - West Road |
(Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation & Safety Committee revising the No Parking |
zones on West Road north of the intersection of St. Charles Road. (DISTRICT #1) |
It was moved by Schwarz, seconded by Larkin, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval of staff recommendation to eliminate the |
"No Parking" zone on the east side of West Road and to revise the ordinance for |
the west to "No Parking from St. Charles Road to a point 110 feet north. The |
motion carried by a voice vote |
J. Recommendation of Transportation & Safety Committee - Highland Avenue at |
the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail (Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation & Safety Committee approving the installation of |
No Parking signs on the east and west sides of Highland Avenue south of the |
intersection with the Great Western Trail. (DISTRICT #5) |
Chairperson Tross explained to the committee that this item was referred back to |
committee regarding sight distance. The Board of Trustees rejected the |
recommendation of No Parking on Highland because it was too great of a distance. It |
was requested that if in fact the Board was going to act, maybe we should look at all |
crossings. The Board recommended it be sent back with clear parameters that 200 plus |
feet on one side and close to 200 feet on the other was not acceptable. The issue was |
not prohibiting parking, but clearly safety and sight distance. |
Public Participation |
Mr. Frerichs asked how far south of the Prairie Path it goes. Chairperson Tross |
explained that the recommendation on the table is after review by staff of all crossings. |
The only one they felt that needed remedy was the one at Highland. The staff |
recommendation is to prohibit parking on both sides from St. Charles Road to a point |
approximately at 14 S Highland on the west side and to a point almost at the end of the |
Park District lot by the bicycle crossing sign on the east side. Ms. Ahrens asked for |
clarification of scope. Anderson explained that if we're going by restrictive stand point |
for sight distance, it would be 75'. Mr. Goldin commented that when this came to his |
attention some trustees came out and the agreement at the last Board meeting was 50' |
south of the Great Western Trail where the existing bicycle sign is. Another thing to take |
into consideration, coming north there's a stop sign 40' after the Great Western Trail, so |
people are decreasing speed coming down there. He agreed that 50' distance gave |
enough sight line, more importantly the people on the trail have the visibility. He further |
commented that he would appreciate staying within that 50' distance. Mr. Bartels told |
the committee he is with the Ad Hoc Trail Committee and he is Director for the Illinois |
Prairie Path Association, we thought this was an opportunity to make safe crossings |
throughout Lombard. We feel all crossings should go by at least the minimum. |
Highland is a dangerous intersection. He further commented that he has had the |
pleasure of talking to Mr. Goldin and has witnessed some of the cars in the business |
next door. On three different occasions, there are pictures of a car 2' off the path. That |
is unacceptable for anybody using the trail. The trails throughout Lombard pose several |
different unique situations. The crossing at Grace with feeder streets coming in right |
there, in certain locations there are driveways 10' from path in some areas there are |
two driveways 6' from the path. It [no parking] does pose some problems and there |
would be some upset neighbors. He went today and looked at all of the crossings. |
There are several 1-hour Parking, and several No Parking in front of peoples houses. |
We need to come up with a full plan to go through all trail crossings and create a buffer. |
He further commented that he doesn't believe that all the intersections listed there [on |
the memo] don't need anything done to them. Mr. Bartels handed out a document with |
suggestions from the Trails Committee and the Illinois Prairie Path Association. Larking |
asked staff if it is appropriate to have a blanket restriction. Anderson responded that it is |
not, it has to based on each particular situation. This particular location was checked for |
three days, five different periods. For those periods of time, there was no problems |
found accept at Highland and the Great Western Trail. Mr. Bartels commented that the |
trustees purpose to kick it back was not to make an immediate decision on Highland, but |
to examine the whole thing and bring it as a package to the Board. Larking responded |
that the committee is not prepared to answer anything for a blanket action. |
There was general discussion regarding notification to affected properties when issues |
are being discussed at Transportation & Safety Committee meetings. |
Ms. Ahrens stated that she is in support of no parking for 75' and is willing to give up |
parking in front of her house. She further commented that although the businesses say |
that they are concerned, she hasn't seen since meeting that they have made an effort to |
back off of the trail. The parking lot is empty most of the time. She would also very |
much like to know where the parking spaces are for the used car business. DiFino |
asked if the cars from the used car lot are under repair. Ms. Ahrens explained that they |
were supposed to stop that, but at least half of the cars had temporary license plates. |
Chairperson Tross explained that when it was at the Board, the Board without exception |
had indicated going to the full depth of their lot, why would you go beyond that? On the |
east side the suggestion was between the utility pole and the current crosswalk sign to |
be parallel to 10 S. Highland. Mr. Goldin reiterated that his staff have all been directed |
to park beyond the sign. He further commented that he cannot control tenants that are |
parking there, because there is not a No Parking sign. |
DiFino commented that it's no longer considered a nuisance, it's a safety standpoint and |
we have to decide if the proposal takes care of that. At 50' we would protect the trail |
users. Larkin added that if we're going to err on anyside we should err on the side of |
another 25'. Chairperson Tross explained that the question that Board brought up is if |
it's vacant property, what is the purpose of going beyond that lot. Mr. Frerichs |
commented that if it's a safety issue that's one thing, however, there are also people |
parking there to go on the path. Schwarz asked what a good standard for line of sight is. |
Anderson responded that it depends on the characteristics of the intersection. |
Chairperson Tross asked what the State's standard is. Deputy Chief Cuny answered |
that it is 20'. Schwarz summarized that because it is a marked crosswalk, according to |
Illinois Vehicle Code, vehicles parked that close are against code. Chairperson Tross |
(in looking at pictures provided by Ms. Ahrens) pointed out that if you're tooling down the |
street you won't see a bicyclists, also, the Park District property and the trail are not |
cleared 40' back. Schwarz commented that there is not a 40' clear zone along Illinois |
Prairie Path either. Mr. Bartels interjected that if you go beyond 50' you're setting up a |
dangerous precedent for all the other crossings in town. Schwarz commented that to |
stay in keeping with the 40' it would make sense to keep the vehicles from parking within |
40'. Ms. Ahrens added that you also want to consider that every crossing is different. |
Highland is busy and there's quite a bit of traffic on the trail. Larkin added that you |
would obviously need a longer sight distance on a four lane road. Larking stated his |
preference for 75'. Chairperson Tross pointed out that you have to think of all the other |
intersections. Larking responded that is not setting precedent, if they need to do a more |
detailed analysis on the other crossings, then so be it. Sherretz stated her preference |
for 75'. Schwarz stated that it didn't make a difference to him what the length of the no |
parking is. Kuehl agreed with Schwarz, but wanted to make it clear that this does not |
set a precedent for the rest of the trail crossings. Chairperson Tross requested staff put |
this item on the Board agenda for separate action. Schwarz asked that staff check all |
locations for the 40' clear zone. Anderson explained that staff does that once a year. |
Schwarz commented that at Highland/Illinois Prairie Path there is not 40', you can't see |
more than 20' down path. Chairperson Tross stated that he believes somewhere |
parameters should be set, by setting it at 75' on Highland, which is clearer than most |
crossings, what will happen at other crossings. He personally feels that 75' becomes |
very harsh, the path is 48', that becomes 198' of no parking in either direction which is |
very harsh on any residential block. Parameters need to be set so the next time a |
resident comes in we have an answer. |
It was moved by Schwarz, seconded by Larkin, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval that No Parking at anytime be posted on |
Highland from point beginning at the Great Western Trail to a point 75 feet south |
on the east and west sides. The motion carried by the following vote: |
K. Recommendation of the Transportation & Safety Committee - Technology |
Drive (Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation & Safety Committee approving the posting of No |
Truck Traffic Over 60,000 Pounds Except Local Deliveries signage on Technology Drive |
at Butterfield Road. (DISTRICT #3) |
It was moved by Schwarz, seconded by Larkin, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval of staff recommendation to post |
Technology Drive "No Truck Traffic Over 60,000 Pounds, Except Local |
Deliveries". The motion carried by a voice vote |
View Street, Charlotte-Main - Request for Traffic Control |
It was moved by Larkin, seconded by DiFino, that this matter be table. The |
motion carried by a voice vote |
Due to the Holidays, the January meeting will be cancelled. |
Mr. Frerichs commented that the sight distance needs to be checked at Highland at |
Washington and Maple. |
It was moved by Kuehl, seconded by Sherretz, to adjourn. The motion carried by |
a voice vote |