Minutes - 01/19/1995 - Safety Pathway CommitteeORK BROOK
SAFETY PATHWAY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING, JANUARY 19, 1995 - MODIFIED
Committee Members:
Heidi Huizenga*
John Hartmann*
Steve McShane*
Connie Craig
Tom Richardson*
Cathy Giangrasse*
Sue Walters*
Ana Sisson
Dale Durfey* Village of Oak Brook
Tom Hawk, Village of Oak Brook
Bruce Kapff* Village of Oak Brook
Jon Sommer* Oak Brook Park District
* Present
1. Minutes of the October, 1994 meeting were approved. Village
is President Karen Bushy was resent along with Trustee Lexi
present, 9
Payovich, and residents Howard Trier, Arlene Birkhahn and Joe
Nestle. Mark Hine and another engineer from Civiltech Engineering
were present.
2. Required maintenance: Tom Richardson reported on his
conversation with Mike Miranda.
At 31st and Midwest Road, curbing is too high to ride over. The
village is trying to get permission from the county to resolve this
summer.
31st Street East of Midwest Road, there are dips and valleys in the
pathway. This will be part of a larger project for completion in
1995, including asphalting this pathway. At the southwest corner of
Trinity Lakes, behind 376 Trinity Lane, there is a drainage problem.
Will try to resolve.
Storm sewer grates in Brook Forest - 50% to be replaced, throughout
the village in 1995, 50% in 1996 to make them more bicycle
friendly.
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400 tons of new screened gravel was spread on the pathways, and
some sections were replaced with asphalt. There will be new slurry
seal on all asphalt in 1995, and a recommendation has been made
that all gravel be converted to asphalt. This will actually save
money in the long term. The committee was asked to take a position
on the gravel vs. asphalt issue. The committee will decide after
resident survey is complete.
Route 83 underpass: Pipes are in. Restoration is planned before
summer per Dale Durfey.
The committee is very pleased with the village's progress in
maintenance of pathways.
3. 22nd Street Pathway: According to Jon Sommer, there is still
a problem related to easements from NiGas, and there is now a
question of property ownership along the side of the tollway. He
hopes to resolve these issues so work can proceed this year.
4. York Road: Bruce Kapff reminded the committee that village
• board action was tabled after public hearing last summer.
Co- Chairman Tom Richardson indicated that all options for the
pathway have been discussed: safety, connections with other
pathway systems, access, etc. The least intrusive alternative has
been determined to be coming south from 31st Street to Robin Hood
Ranch, on the west side of York Road, and then using the forest
preserve pathway. He did acknowledge some safety concern with
using a hidden pathway in the forest preserve.
Bruce
indicated
that
the county will rebuild the bridge over Salt
Creek
in 1995.
The
county will not be repaving or expanding York
Road
at least for
five
years.
Tom further indicated that the suggested pathway along the west
side would only require one easement at 3212 York Road, a home
owned by Christ Church. Resident Arlene Birkhahn in attendance at
the meeting objected to the pathway going in front of her house even
though the planned pathway does not cross her property. She
contended that there would be a safety problem when she backs out
of her driveway.
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Mark Hine, engineer, said that we need to get design approval from
IDOT if we ever want to proceed. Tom Richardson made the P oint
that the safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic should be the first
priority. Tom pointed out that the pathway also needs to link up
with Canterberry Lane so that it can be part of the regional pathway
going under the Tollway. This is also part of the funding mandate.
The lot next to Arlene Birkhahn's house: 3306 York Road is for sale.
If the owner of this lot were to give up an easement, the pathway
could go into the forest preserve north of Arlene's home. No one felt
this was a likely prospect. The property is held by South Holland
Trust & Savings Bank, trust 9370, Tax ID 06 -36- 103 -006, at 2 Mid
America Plaza, Oak Brook Terrace, 60181.
Another alternative suggested was to have the pathway go west to
the forest preserve trail at the south end of the property owned by
Christ Church, approximately 800 to 900 feet south of 31st Street.
Any of the plans would require an easement from the church.
There was a motion to recommend that the pathway be built on the
west side of York Road down to Robin Hood Ranch, with a crossing at
• Canterberry Lane. The motion was seconded and discussed at length.
It was obvious that resident Birkhahn was not happy with the
prospect of the pathway going in front of her house under any
conditions. Trustee Lexi Payovich proposed that the alternative of
going west into the forest preserve, through the south edge of the
church's property (3212 York Road) should be considered. The motion
was tabled pending further consideration of this other option.
Mark Hine suggested that Bruce take the matter before the Mayors
and Managers, that Mark and Dale Durfey take the issue to IDOT, and
that the property owner (Christ Church) be approached.
A new motion was made to pursue the possibility of having the
pathway go south from 31st street to the south boundary of the
church property (3212 York Road), then to go west into the forest
preserve, and following the forest preserve pathway south to Graue
Mill. The motion was amended to include going far enough south to
reach Canteberry Lane on the other side of York Road. If obtaining an
easement and building the pathway through 3212, does not prove
feasible, the committee will recommend that the pathway proceed
• all the way from 31st Street to Robin Hood Ranch. This motion was
seconded and carried. It was suggested that committee member
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e
Heidi Huezenga approach the chruch since she is a member there. It
was decided to et advice from Mayors and Managers and IDOT first
9 Y 9
before approaching the church. Mark indicated that flags would be
placed at the points that the proposed pathway would cross
Birkhahn's driveway, and the south end of the chruch property so that
committee members can observe for themselves. After exploration
of these possibilities, the matter will be considered at the
committee's February meeting.
5. 31 st Street: Sue Walters questioned what action was being
planned for 31st Street. It is understood that there are no plans for
31st Street until widening is planned for 1997.
6. Harger /York Road bridges: Bruce Kapff reported that the
project funding of $1.1 million, with the village's share: 25% or
$278,000 has been approved. Phase I engineering has been approved,
with construction planned over a four year period.
7. 31st Street bridge across Route 83: Bruce reporting that
funding of $400,000 with village participation of 20% has been
approved. Currently plans are being reviewed with Civiltech
• Engineering.
8. Regional Trail: Engineering money has been approved including
crossing Roosevelt along Salt Creek, Timber Edge Drive, and York
Road sectors.
9. The committee recognized the tremendous contributions of
Bruce Kapff in obtaining funding for these projects.
10. It was suggested that McDonalds consider further pathways as
part of their new building plans.
11. Discussion of Spring Road pathway was postponed to a future
meeting.
Steve McShane
Secretary
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