VILLAGE OF
VERNON HILLS, IL
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
With a quorum being in attendance the meeting of the
Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) was called to order at 7:04 PM CDT. In
attendance were:
Larry LaLuzerne, Chairman
Susan Oster, Member
James Schultz, Member
Linda Reilly, Member
Ed Laudenslager, Director of Public Works, Member
Ex-Officio
Thom Koch, Village Trustee, Member Ex-Officio
Absent:
Anthony Ugaste, Member
Cindy Hebda, Village Trustee, Member Ex-Officio
Mark Fleischhauer, Chief of Police, Member
Ex-Officio
X/copies:
Mike Allison, Village Manager
Evan Teich, Assistant Village Manager
Guests:
None
·
The minutes of the October 15, 2003 meeting were reviewed.
Motion: Approve minutes as
published: By Mr. Schultz; Seconded Mr.
LaLuzerne.
Vote: Mr. LaLuzerne - Yes;
Ms. Oster - Absent; Ms. Reilley – Present; Mr. Schultz – Yes;
Mr. Ugaste - Absent . Motion adopted 2
to 0 .
·
Mr. LaLuzerne introduced the newest member of the Committee. Ms. Linda
Reilley has been appointed to the Traffic Advisory Committee. Ms. Reilley has
extensive experience in traffic matters, as she is the Village liaison to the
Traffic Advisory Committee of Wilmette.
·
Issue
Sight lines down Hawthorn Parkway
at Lafayette are obstructed by parked vehicles along Hawthorn Parkway, making
entrance from Lafayette Street hazardous.
·
Details / Concerns
If a no parking zone could be
established along Hawthorn Parkway, sight lines would be greatly improved.
·
Update:
Mr. Laudenschlager advised that
the “No parking” signs have been installed.
2) Monterrey Drive No Parking Request
· Issue
A safety concern has been observed on
Monterey Drive. Specifically, there is a curve in the road where when vehicles
are parked on both sides of the street. Drivers have very limited visibility
for oncoming vehicles and for children who might dart into the street. He is particularly concerned, as Monterey
Drive has increasingly become a through street for traffic. Mr. Lachman, a resident of the area, is
requesting that a no parking zone be installed on the inside radius of this
curve.
· Details / Concerns
It is apparent that this lack of visibility
is a genuine hazard. It was further noted that while there are many other 90
degree curves on residential streets in the village, Monterey has a
significantly higher traffic volume due to the perception / use as a “short
cut” or bypass of Deerpath Rd between Aspen Rd and US 45.
·
Update
Mr Laudenschlager indicated that the signs
have been installed for a three month trial period. Upon completion of the
trial period, Mr. Laudenschlager and Chief Fleischhauer will present their
findings to the Village Board of Trustees for review and final action.
Several letters have been received indicating
a level of surprise at the installation of the signs. No specific complaints
were noted in the letters, only surprise.
3) Lakeview and Greggs Parkway Stop Sign
·
Issue
Traffic volumes and warrants along with
increased level of accidents at this intersection now indicate that a control
device (Stop sign) is warranted.
·
Update
The permanent Stop sign has been installed on
Greggs Parkway, creating a 3 –way stop at this intersection. As an aside, the
original stop sign was lit with blinking red trim lights around the perimeter
and down the post. This sign elicited complimentary comments from various
members of the community.
4) Aspen Drive No Left Turn / Do Not Block
Driveway signage.
·
Issue
During peak traffic periods, Northbound
traffic on Aspen Drive blocked the entrance to the strip mall. Southbound
traffic wishing to turn into the plaza was blocked by the northbound traffic
from doing so. The result was that southbound traffic on Aspen Drive was
backing up on to IL-60.
·
Update
Mr. Koch indicated that the traffic pattern
has improved somewhat but that there are still many violators of both the No
Left Turn signs and the Do Not Block Driveway signs / area. In addition some
new violations are occurring. Northbound vehicles are making right turns into
the plaza from the left lane where the traffic in the right hand lane has
stopped to keep out of the “Do Not Block” area.
III.
New Business
1)
Proposed Stop Sign Request at Lakeview Parkway and Continental Drive
& Lakeview Parkway and Executive Way
·
Issue
In a letter from Mr. Chuck
Solomonson of Libertyville, it was pointed out that during peak traffic volume
periods Eastbound Traffic on both Continental Drive and Executive Way, which
are main feeders from Milwaukee Ave into Continental Executive Park, have
difficulty in turning either north or southbound on to Lakeview Parkway.
·
Details / Concerns
If the intersections could be
controlled with lights or stop signs, riskier movements to enter onto Lakeview
Parkway would not be attempted as frequently.
Mr. Laudenschlager presented
aerial photos of the intersection along with accidents reports which indicated
that a total of 5 accidents have occurred at these intersections over the last
18 months.
·
Motion
Recommend to the Director of
Public Works to conduct Traffic Counts in order to ascertain if the
intersections meet the State warrants for control devices.
Motion made by: Ms Oster; Seconded
by: Ms Reilley.
Vote: Mr LaLuzerne – Yes; Ms Oster
– Yes; Ms. Reilley – Yes; Mr. Schultz – Yes:
Mr. Ugaste – Absent. Motion adopted 4 to 0.
2)
Elimination of On-Street Parking on Aspen Drive between Route 60 &
Abbey Lane.
·
Issue
With construction of the new
school and the revised curb cuts nearly completed the existing No Parking Zone
is not in sync with the new turn lanes.
·
Details / Concerns
The new curb cuts shown in the
aerial photos, provided by Mr. Laudenschlager, indicate that from a sight line
perspective with the new location of turning lanes into the Hawthorn School a
reasonable alternative is to eliminate on street parking along Aspen Drive from
Abbey Lane to Route 60. In addition, with the large increase in off street
parking spaces on the school property the need for additional street parking to
supplement the off-street parking has been negated.
·
Motion
Recommend that the Director of
Public Works gather additional input from the School, the Park District, the
Police and other interested parties on the impact of a complete parking ban on
Aspen Road.
Motion made by: Mr. Schultz;
Seconded by: Ms Oster.
Vote: Mr LaLuzerne – Yes; Ms Oster
– Yes; Ms. Reilley – Yes; Mr. Schultz – Yes:
Mr. Ugaste – Absent. Motion adopted 4 to 0.
3)
Review of the 11/25/03 Draft Plan for the Village of Vernon Hills Bicycle
& Pedestrian Plan.
·
Issue
The Village has established a
draft long term plan to move bicycle and pedestrian traffic throughout the
community on a separate path system. This system would then inter-connect with
the Lake County Forest Preserve District and the Lake County DOT existing
pathway system.
·
Details / Concerns
The committee reviewed the map
provided and made several comments concerning certain annotations that were of
a questionable nature. Mr. Laudenschlager, indicated that he will take those
revisions back to the Village staff for review and clarification, in
preparation for the February 18, 2004 public forum.
In general the committee expressed
their desire to see a network of paths move forward as a positive step in
providing alternate means of transportation within the community.
A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Schultz and
seconded by Ms. Reilley.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 PM.
The above constitutes the authors understandings of
the proceedings.
James E. Schultz
Acting Secretary
Traffic Advisory Committee
Vernon Hills, IL