Boards & Commissions Supporting Documents - 02/05/2003 - Safety Pathway CommitteeVILLAGE OF OAK BROOK
Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: January 22, 2003
TO: Oak Brook Safety Pathway Committee
FROM: Michael A. Crotty, Acting Village Manager
SUBJECT: Covington Court Community Association - Vacation of Bicycle Easement
The Village Board of Trustees, at its January 14, 2003 meeting, concurred with the recommendation of
Village Staff to refer the above - mentioned subject to the Safety Pathway Committee. Attached are the
materials that were sent to the Village Board regarding this matter. Village Engineer Dale Durfey and
Code Enforcement Director Bob Kallien will also be in attendance at the Special Meeting on
February 5, 2003.
Safety Pathway Committee - Agenda memos.doc
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VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK �.
�A Village Board Transmittal Memorandum
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DATE: January 8, 2003
SUBJECT: Covington Court Community Association — Vacation of Bicycle Easement
FROM: Robert Kallien, Director of Community Development
RECOMMENDATION: If you concur with the Staff recommendation, refer the matter to the
Plan Commission and Safety Pathway Committee.
The Covington Court Community Association has submitted a request seeking vacation of a portion of
the bicycle easement running along lots 21 -25 so that the existing path can be removed and replaced
with a new fence (see attached memorandum).
Village Engineer Durfey has reviewed this request and summarizes his findings in his January 6, 2003
memorandum (see attached).
Because the Village has invested considerable time and effort planning its pathway system, Staff
recommends that it would be appropriate for this request to be referred to the Plan Commission and
Village's Safety Pathway Committee for further study and recommendation. Also, as part of this
review, input will be sought from the Trinity Lakes Homeowners Association.
attachments
BOT- Covington- vacate pathway- REC- REF.dcc r v
Dec -18 -02 03:29P
1 -630- 323 -8910 P_02
Covington Court Community Association
October 18, 2002
Mr. Robert KaWen Jr.
Director of Community Development
P7111age of Oak Brook
1200 Oak Brook Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Dear Bob,
The residents that are building a home at 124 Covington Court (lot 23) are seeking approval to install a
fence along the south property line of their lot. This area contains a bicycle path that runs just a few feet
from the applicant's home. This bicycle path provides easy and inviting access into Covington by
passersby. As you know, Covington was designed to be a gated community and most of its residents
bought into the subdivision because of this feature. However, the community has been unable to
completely fence in the subdivision because of this bicycle path. Despite the existence of gates and a 24-
hour security guard (at significant cost to Covington homeowners), trespassers can enter freely across lots
22, 23 and 24. Consequently, the Covington Court Board of Directors agrees with the request to obtain
approval to fence in this highly vulnerable perimeter of the subdivision, and the Architectural Review
Committee has approved the homeowner's request for a fence. In order for the fence to serve its intended
purpose of creating a safer and more secure subdivision, it must not be limited to lot 23. The Covington
Court Homeowners Association is requesting a permit to install a fence along the same property line
connecting the existing fence on the west side of the property and running east across the south lot line of
lots 21, 22, 23 and 24 (see enclosed map).
This section of bicycle path serves no particular purpose other than to provide a shortcut through
Covington for residents of Trinity Lakes. We respectfully submit that this minor convenience for the
residents of Trinity Lakes subdivision does not justify the easy penetration of a gated community by
unwelcome intruders at the expense of Covington's residents. Since the home invasion burglary that
occurred last year, Covington residents have been concerned with the security and safety of their families.
Thus we are asking the Village to vacate the bicycle easement and authorize the Covington Courts
Community Association to install the requested fence and the homeowners to remove the asphalt bicycle
path-
We hope that you will be able to assist the residents of Covington. Please call to discuss this further and
to give us guidance for qaVm9roval.
st Regards
Dennis M. Brugh
Oak & Dale Properth
For and on Behalf of
Covington Courts
cc: Village President Karen Bushy
Covington Board of Directors
C/o Oak & Dale Properties, Inc. 211 W. Chicago Avenue Suite 20 Hinsdale Illinois 60521630-323-8810
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VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK
Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: January 6, 2003
TO: Robert L. Kallien, Jr., Director of Community Development
FROM: Dale L. Durfey, Jr., P.E., Village Engineer
SUBJECT: Covington Subdivision Bicycle Path Easement
Lots 21 - 25
As per your request, I have reviewed Dennis Brugh's letter to you dated October 18, 2002 and his fax
dated October 28, 2002. I understand that the Covington Court Community Association wishes that the
Village vacate the bicycle easement along the rear of Lots 21 — 25, authorize the Association to install a
fence, and authorize the homeowners to remove the pathway.
In reading Dennis' letter, I note the following:
1. The bicycle path is not "just a few feet from the applicant's home ", the distance is 23 feet.
2. The statement that the community has been unable to completely fence in the subdivision because of
this bicycle path is incorrect. Approximately 1/4 of the subdivision boundary is fenced and that
being along the adjacent roadways. All other areas of side and rear yards adjoining Trinity Lakes
homes are not fenced and could be. This bicycle path length in question accounts for a small fraction
of the perimeter.
It appears that two issues can be identified:
1. Security.
I question whether a 42" high fence significantly helps security. Appropriate vegetation, or a fence
augmented with appropriate vegetation, would work much better. But setting aside the fence height
issue, a fence can be constructed around the entire perimeter of the subdivision. Along the north
side, it could be placed at the edge of the easement.
cov sub bike easement rk.doc
2. Bicycle Path and Easement
This easement area is the subject of several easement documents dating from 1979. The bike path
was built by the developer of the Trinity Lakes Subdivision about 1980 and existed prior to the
creation of either the Whitehall Park or the Covington Subdivisions. This pathway continued a bike
path built within Trinity Lakes Unit I which allows pedestrians and bicyclists safe access between St.
Francis Circle and Trinity Lane rather than a more lengthy route along the subdivision streets
(consideration should be given for children to be off of streets). The Whitehall Park Subdivision and
Covington Subdivision Plats stated these older existing documents and further depicted the easement
which consists of a 15 foot wide bicycle path easement along the north side of Lots 21 — 24, a 25 foot
wide easement along the westerly line of Lot 25, and a variable width easement along the westerly
side of Lot 24. The "Oak Brook Bike /Hike Path" map compiled by the Oak Brook Safety Pathway
Committee (copy attached) shows this and other pathways.
My recollection is that the entire bike path system within the Trinity Lakes area, and later the
Covington area, was the subject of discussions at the various Plan Commission meetings during
subdivision review and subsequent Village Board meetings. I do recall that the development of the
pedestrian/bicycle system was important for a development of that size. Similar paths exist within
the Saddle Brook and Forest Glen Subdivisions.
I recommend that the Village Board discussed these two issues. Concerning the elimination of the
bicycle easement, I recommend it refer this request to the Plan Commission and to the Village's Bike
Path Committee for their review and comments prior to taking formal action. I believe the Trinity Lakes
Homeowner's Association should also be consulted.
cov sub bike easement rk.doc
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