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1991-14RESOLUTION NO. 91- 14 CONCERNING THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO LAKE COOK ROAD BETWEEN RAND RD. (U.S. RT. 12) TO THE TRI -STATE TOLLWAY (I -294) SECTION 89- A5011 -03 -ES COOK COUNTY DEPT. OF HIGHWAYS WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove has organized and participated in the Lake Cook Road Local Corridor Agency for purposes of studying traffic and making recommendations for traffic improvements for the Region, while balancing community interests, for that portion of Lake Cook Road lying east of Rand Road (U. S. Rt. 12) to the Tri -State Tollway (Interstate 294) ; and WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove has secured the support and financial participation of the Cook County Highway Department, the Village of Wheeling, the Village of Arlington Heights and the Village of Palatine to support and fund this study, and the Village of Buffalo Grove and its members have further participated in every step of the review process with regard to the development of the study; and WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove Transportation Plan of 1986 indicated that certain improvements to intersections through the Village of Buffalo Grove and capacity improvements on Lake Cook Road east of Hastings Drive should be considered in the early 19901s; and WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove actively participated in the study, including several meetings with County officials and its consultant to address Buffalo Grove concerns on traffic management, pedestrian and bicycle safety, speed and traffic control, property value protection, noise abatement, ambience, commercial access, right -of -way requirements, regional traffic patterns, and financing equities; and WHEREAS, after exhaustive review and analyses, Buffalo Grove has concerns which cannot be mitigated without altering the basic design of the roadway as proposed by the Cook County Highway Department, and finds that the proposed improvement disporportionately burdens the Village of Buffalo Grove and its citizens and property owners with regard to the proposed and suggested improvements contained in that report. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, as follows: 1. The Village of Buffalo Grove ENDORSES the design, with conditions, of that portion of the study from Rt. 12 eastward to Arlington Heights Road, Station 00 to Station 237 +50. Said conditions contained in Exhibit A of this Resolution. 2. That the Village of Buffalo Grove OPPOSES the design for that portion of the road between Arlington Heights Rd. and Hastings Drive Sections 237 +50 to Section 373 +50, for the reasons stated in Exhibit B of this Resolution. 0 0 -2- 3. The Village of Buffalo Grove ENDORSES, with conditions, that portion of the road improvement lying east of Hastings Rd. to the Tri -State Tollway, I -294, Sections 373 +50 to Section 543 +54. Said conditions listed in Exhibit C of this Resolution. 4. That if presented as an entire road project between Rand Rd. and the Tri -State Tollway (1-294), the Village of Buffalo Grove OPPOSES for the following reasons: a. For the reasons stated in Exhibit B of this Resolution. b. The Study does not take into account concepts of traffic dispersal, and more must be done in south Lake County, particularly with programmed improvements and capacity expansions to Ill. State Route 22, Aptakisic Rd. from Rt. 83, to Rt. 21, and Deerfield Rd. from Milwaukee Ave. to I -294, to balance the current demands and future projected demands of traffic volumes before the suggested Lake Cook Road capacity improvements are constructed. C. The first priority for any improvement on Lake Cook Rd. should be intersection designs which optimally balance peak hour traffic demands with the protection of existing developed properties adjacent to Lake Cook Rd. The Village does not endorse an expansion project which eliminates parking or restricts points of ingress and egress to commercial properties. d. The reductions in the proliferation of traffic signals, particularly private benefit traffic signals, need further attention and emphasis in the study. It is possible to eliminate two private benefit signals east of Portwine Road and one proposed private benefit signal east of Weiland Rd. These should be modified or eliminated to enhance through traffic efficiency of current lane capacities. e. Existing traffic signal operations need further study and must be exhaustively evaluated to ensure their optimal operation before lane addition improvements should occur, particularly when those lane additions have adverse impact on public lands. and commercial properties. Where necessary, new technologies should be employed to create the maximum efficiency in signal operation. f. The Study does not address the balance between adverse impacts on adjacent property owners resulting from the proposed road improvements and the need to meet peak hour traffic demands from an engineering standpoint. Elements of this Study need further attention with considration to modification of the design engineering standards to address the • o WZ adverse impacts on Buffalo Grove which most certainly will result from the proposed improvement, if built. It is impractical to insist on strict engineering standards being met on the Lake Cook Rd. corridor when such gross deficiencies exist on parallel northern routes at Deerfield Rd., Aptakisic Rd. and Rt. 22, in their present and future proposed conditions. g. The Village of Buffalo Grove believes that the proposed extension to Illinois Rt. 53 north of Lake Cook Road will have a more favorable effect in reducing traffic volumes on Lake Cook Road, including the intersection of Arlington Heights Road at Lake Cook Rd., than the County study now projects. The Village recommends that roadway expansion out of the right-of-way or improvements which limit ingress- egress to existing properties be deferred until the full benefits of extending Route 53 north can be observed and analyzed. A YES: 5 - Reid, Shifrin, Mathias, O'Malley, Kahn NA YES: 0 - None ABSENT: 1 - Marienthal ABSTAIN: 0 - None PASSED: March 4, 1991 APPROVED: March 4, 1991 Verna L. Clayton, Villaq4VYresident ATTEST: V-Wage Clerk • -2- 0 3. The double left turn movements, while efficient in peak hour, can be unnecessary in non -peak hour, and needs careful re- examination and re- evaluation. 4. The bank property south of Lake Cook Rd. will lose its full access opportunity on the Lake Cook Rd. and Arlington Heights Rd. leg of its frontage as a result of the intersection improvement project. 5. In addition to the landscaping lost, the present location of the existing buildings, both on the north and south of the road, does not permit good planning and setback standards to be maintained as a result of the additional property taking. 6. The elimination of parking in the commercial property to the north of Lake Cook Rd. is unacceptable and will compromise the zoning standards and plan development standard parking requirements for the subdivision. Station 252 to 266 +60 1. The Village believes it is important for a full turn and access option for the Timber Hill intersection, both north and south of Lake Cook Rd., to facilitate non -peak hour movements. We believe that the peak hour traffic volumes themselves will regulate the ability of left turners and will result in those turners finding alternate points of dispersal from their subdivisions. 2. The entire median is proposed to be removed and repositioned. Inasmuch as the tree and median coverage provides a certain ambience and has bene fitted from 10 years of growth, such a loss and replacement would have an adverse and depreciating effect on the aesthetic qualities of the highway. 3. The adjacency of existing buildings and the loss of landscaping will have an adverse planning and aesthetic impact on the property and will provide an unsuitable setback relationship of the buildings to the road. Station 266 +60 to Station 282 +50 1. The adjacency of the proposed road improvements will have an unfavorable setback relationship with the existing buildings on the north of Lake Cook Road. 2. The improvement will require the acquisition of Park lands of Weidner Park. No public park lands should be taken to accommodate this project. Station 282 +50 to 298 1. The proposed right-of-way acquisition of Village owned property is INZ unacceptable and will result in a loss of function of the Buffalo Grove Municipal Campus parking lot and access drive. The proposed right-of-way taking will eliminate the Buffalo Grove electronic signboard, an important community informational tool. 2. The acquisition of additional Park land for Emmerich Park West is unacceptable and reduces the overall area of the park and adjacent buffer to the Park District's maintenance facility. Additionally, there will be an unacceptable setback relationship between the Park District building and the proposed roadway improvements. 3. The adverse impacts on the bikepath, bikepath bridge and the adjacency of the improvement to the 12th fairway of the Buffalo Grove Golf Course is unacceptable and will result in the loss of quality of play for that portion of the course. No land should be taken from the golf course to accommodate this project. 4. The roadway improvement adversely impacts two detention basins on the Buffalo Grove Municipal Campus property. Station 293 to 314 1. The proposed right -of -way acquisition on the St. Mary's Church property will have a depreciating effect on the utilization of the existing game fields, which is the only game field for this large parochial school. 2. The improvement will result in a house taking in the Village of Buffalo Grove. This is the only residential property along the corridor which will be removed as a result of this improvement. 3. The proposed double left turn for westbound to southbound Lake Cook Road needs to be re- evaluated in light of the proposed County /Buffalo Grove /Wheeling /Weiland extension south of Highway 83, intended to be a by -pass for Buffalo Grove Road and Lake Cook Rd. 4. The St. Mary's Church property will lose parking area already under parked for many of its services, as a result of this improvement. Station 314 to 330 +50 1. The limitation and restriction of the proposed Shell Gas Station is unacceptable and will result in a business loss to the operator and a tax loss to Buffalo Grove. 2. The loss of the landscaping component to the Shell Station will result in a depreciating aesthetic impact with no possible mitigation alternative available. • o 3. The restriction of turning movements to the Ambulatory Care Center and the medical complex could put users at risk in their ability to properly access this system during peak hour. Further, the limited access driveways of the Steeple View Condominiums and shopping center rear access, limit the opportunities for use and access. 4. The detention basin system for the Steeple View Condominiums is encroached upon as a result of this improvement. 5. A parking space loss occurs in the Steeple View area as a result of this improvement. Station 330 +15 to 345 1. The vacant property should have a grassed barrier median consistent with that which exists in other portions of the Village of Buffalo Grove. Also, a continuous bikepath on the north side of Lake Cook Rd., from Weiland east should be provided for. Additionally, care should be taken to eliminate any private benefit signals when alternatives exist for access to these properties using the Weiland Rd. intersection. Station 345 +00 To Station 359 +00 1. Additional right -of -way takings on the north side of Lake Cook Road unreasonably encroach on the front yards of residential properties in the Village of Buffalo Grove. Station 359 +00 To Station 373 +50 1. Additional right -of -way takings on the north side of Lake Cook Road unreasonably encroach on the front yards of residential properties in the Village of Buffalo Grove. • F,XHTRTT A 0 VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE ENDORSEMENT OF ROAD SECTION IMPROVEMENT RAND RD. TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RD. WITH CONDITIONS The Village of Buffalo Grove endorses the proposed Cook County Department of Highways Preliminary Design and Environmental Assessment for the western portion of the Lake Cook Road corridor, subject to the following conditions: 1. An additional traffic lane should be continuously installed westbound on Lake Cook Rd., past the Route 53 interchange. The existing congestion westbound is not being addressed adequately with the proposed design. 2. Station 167 -182 - The Village of Buffalo Grove is concerned on any loss of parking to existing residential properties which would result from this improvement. 3. The Village questions the adequacy of the proposed length of the westbound left turn bay at Hicks Road. • o EXHIBIT B The Village of Buffalo Grove OPPOSES the proposed Cook County Highway Department Design Report and Environmental Assessment for that portion of the Lake Cook Road improvement lying east of Arlington Heights Road to Hastings Dr., Stations 237 +50 to 373 +50. The Village of Buffalo Grove believes that it will experience dramatic and depreciating impacts as a result of the proposed improvement to Lake Cook Road, between Arlington Heights Road and Hastings Dr.. We do not believe that the data presented supports the expansion of this road improvement project as designed. Since the roadway will have the effect of depreciating property values and increasing the risks to traffic safety, modifications in the design are needed to substantially maintain the existing cross section for Lake Cook Road in its present condition. Retaining a 5 -lane cross section is particularly important when one considers the lack of progress to address, design and construst essential traffic capacity expansions on Deerfield Rd. east of Milwaukee Ave., Aptakisic Rd. from Rt. 83 to Rt. 21, and Highway 22. The Village of Buffalo Grove is not prepared to absorb the impact of additional lanes on Lake Cook Road until these other regional road improvement projects are addressed and the impact of improvements to Deerfield Rd., Aptakisic Rd. and Highway 22 is evaluated with the then future needs of Lake Cook Road. The Village of Buffalo Grove further believes that the consultant has not demonstrated that any adverse traffic impacts will result from the proposed 7 -lane facility being reduced to 5 -lanes through the residential and open space portion of Buffalo Grove, and then widening westward of Arlington Heights Road to a 7 -lane improvement. We believe that such a transition is consistent with proper traffic management principles, particularly when considered in light of the adverse consequences such a road widening would have in the community. A station by station analysis follows. Station 237 +50 to 252 - Arlington Heights Rd. Intersection The Arlington Heights Rd. intersection is over designed, and the dual left turn on all legs of the intersection requires additional land and right -of -way taking at an area that can least afford additional property loss. 1. Right -of -way acquisition is required, both to the north and the south of the improvement, which will eliminate parking on the north and eliminate private landscaping on the north and south of the proposed improvement. 2. The full access driveways presently existing, both north and south of Lake Cook Rd., will be restricted in their movements. This is unacceptable to Buffalo Grove and will result in a reduced tax base and result in commercial property and business depreciation. 0 EXHIBIT C VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE ENDORSEMENT OF THE COOK COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR A PORTION OF LAKE COOK RD. LYING EAST OF HASTINGS DR. TO THE TRI -STATE TOLLWAY (I -294) SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS CONDITION 1: Station 373.50 to 389.50 - A bikepath is needed to be provided on the north side of the roadway. CONDITION 2: That the Village of Buffalo Grove endorses the extension of Weiland Road southward to Buffalo Grove Road, south of 83, to provide a traffic bypass to the intersection of Buffalo Grove Road and Lake Cook Road.