HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 5859 06/07/2011MAYOR
Irvana K. Wilks
TRUSTEES
Paul Wm. Hoefert
Arlene A. Juracek
A. John Kom
John J. Matuszak
Steven S. Polit
Michael A. Zadel
Village of Mount Prospect
50 South Emerson Street, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056
STATE OF ILLINOIS )
SS
COUNTY OF COOK )
VILLAGE MANAGER
Michael E. Janonis
VILLAGE CLERK
M. Lisa Angell
Phone: 847/392 -6000
Fax 847/392 -6022
TDD: 847/392 -6064
wunu. mountprogpect.org
I, M. Lisa Angell, do hereby certify that I am the duly appointed Village Clerk of the Village of
Mount Prospect and as such, am keeper of the records and files of said Village.
I do further certify that attached hereto is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 5859 entitled
"AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE VILLAGE
OF MOUNT PROSPECT TO INCLUDE THE NORTHWEST HIGHWAY CORRIDOR PLAN"
passed at the regular meeting of the President Pro Tern and Board of Trustees held June 7,
2011 at which time the Village Board voted as follows:
AYES: Hoefert, Juracek, Korn, Matuszak
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Wilks, Zadel
all as appears in the official records and files in my care and custody.
Dated this 14 day of June, 2011
M. Lisa Angell /J
Village Clerk
Village of Mount Prospect
Cook County, Illinois
ORDINANCE NO. 5859
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
OF THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT TO INCLUDE
THE NORTHWEST HIGHWAY CORRIDOR PLAN
WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Mount Prospect did adopt the
Official Comprehensive Plan on June 5, 2007 and on November 9, 2009 pursuant to Ordinance
No. 5769 amended the Comprehensive Plan to include the South Mount Prospect Sub -Area Plan;
and
WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Mount Prospect have
determined that a need exists to further amend the Official Comprehensive Plan of 2007; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11 -12 -7, the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village
of Mount Prospect held a Public Hearing on May 26, 2011 pursuant to legal notice being
published in the Mount Prospect Journal & Topics on May 11, 2011, to consider the proposed
amendment to the Official Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees have considered the proposed amendment to
the Official Comprehensive Plan of 2007 and have determined that the best interests of the
Village would be served by amending the Official Comprehensive Plan of the Village of Mount
Prospect and include the Northwest Highway Corridor Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS ACTING
IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR HOME RULE POWERS:
SECTION ONE: The President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Mount Prospect do
hereby amend Official Comprehensive Plan of the Village of Mount Prospect and include the
Northwest Highway Corridor Plan dated May 2011 as part of the Appendix of the Official
Comprehensive Plan, a copy of said Northwest Highway Corridor Plan is attached as Exhibit "A"
and hereby made a part of this ordinance.
SECTION TWO: The Village Clerk of the Village of Mount Prospect is hereby authorized and
directed to file a copy of the notice of the amendment to the Official Comprehensive Plan of the
Village of Mount Prospect with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds pursuant to the Statutes of
the State of Illinois and provided by law.
SECTION THREE: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
approval and publication in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law.
AYES: Hoefert, Juracek, Korn, Matuszak
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Wilks, Zadel
PASSED and APPROVED this 7' day of June, 2011.
even S. Polit
Mayor Pro Tern
ATT
M. Lisa Angell
Village Clerk
H: \CLKO\ files\ WIN\ ORDINANCECOMPLANNWCORRIDORJUNCOMPLANNWCORRIDORJUNE2011 .doc
PLAN ADOPTED JUNE 7, 2011
ORDINANCE 5859
PREPARED BY:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT
50 S EMERSON STREET
MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056
www.mountprospect.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Board of Trustees
Irvana K. Wilks, Mayor
Paul Wm. Hoefert
Arlene A. Juracek
A. John Korn
John J. Matuszak
Steven S. Polit
Michael A. Zadel
Plan Commissioners
Joseph Donnelly
Theo Foggy
Richard Rogers
William Beattie
Ronald Roberts
Leo Floros
Keith Youngquist
Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Steering Committee
Consuelo Andrade, Development Review Planner
William J. Cooney, Jr., AICP, Community Development Director
Maura El Metenanni, Public Information Officer
Clare L. O'Shea, AICP, Senior Planner
Bryan Loomis, Fire Marshal
Brian Simmons, AICP, Deputy Dir. of Community Development
Jeff Wulbecker, Village Engineer
The Northwest Highway Corridor Plan was developed with
input from the public through interviews and public workshop
meetings. Several organizations and governmental offi ces
were contacted and contributed to the fact finding process
for the plan. Our thanks to these organizations, partners, and
the public for their time and opinions.
INTRODUCTION
The Northwest Highway corridor was the first commercial corridor in
Mount Prospect and has played a vital role in the development of the
community. Northwest Highway was the primary vehicular linkage to
other communities in the Northwest Suburbs throughout the first half of
the twentieth century. It continues to connect the central business districts
of several communities along the Union Pacific Northwest train line.
As development of the northwest suburbs continued throughout the
late 20th century, other corridors supplanted the Northwest Highway
Corridor as primary commercial corridors. In Mount Prospect, the Rand,
Elmhurst, and Golf Road corridors have been developed with regional
shopping centers.
The importance of Northwest Highway prompted the Village of Mount
Prospectto complete a study on the Northwest Highway Corridor to sustain
it as an essential corridor and an asset to the community. Additionally,
the Village of Mount Prospect Comprehensive Plan recommended a more
detailed corridor study of Northwest Highway. The Northwest Highway
Corridor Study ( "Study') identifies current issues within the corridor
and recommends actions to address these issues. The Study provides
existing and prospective businesses and residents with a future vision for
the corridor and an action plan for achieving goals. The Study strives to
highlight key forces impacting the corridor and to enhance the character
and economic viability of the Northwest Highway Corridor. The Study
was developed through an interactive planning process that involved
input from the public on their views of the corridor and suggestions to
continue the vitality of the corridor.
The Northwest Highway Corridor Study is broken up into the following
sections:
• Study Area Definition: Discusses the boundaries and rationale for
the study area.
• Background: Includes a description of the Village's Comprehensive
Plan and how it relates to the corridor study. Describes other
corridor studies that have been completed by the Village.
• Planning Process: Describes the development of the Northwest
Highway Corridor Study.
• Existing Conditions: Documents the conditions of the corridor in
2010.
• Issue Identification & Recommendations: Discusses the issues
within the corridor as identified by the public and Village staff.
Discusses strategies to mitigate issues or accentuate positive aspects
of the corridor.
• Vision, Goals, and Objectives: Provides a vision for the corridor and
goals and objectives to achieve the vision.
• Implementation Program: Contains an actionable plan for meeting
the recommendations of the study.
Page 1 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
STUDY AREA DEFINITION
The study area includes Northwest Highway from Mount Prospect Road
(east Village boundary) to Waterman Ave (west Village boundary), and
includes Prospect Avenue from Central Road to School Street. Part of
Prospect Avenue was included in the study area because it is located within
the Village's downtown area and includes comparable characteristics to
Northwest Highway, including a mix of uses, compact development, and
a variety of building types.
The study area is broken down into three distinct areas: East Northwest
Highway, Downtown Northwest Highway, and West Northwest
Highway. The three segments of the study area each have different
attributes and characteristics. For purposes of discussion, the Prospect
Avenue portion of the study will be included in the downtown area.
The downtown segment of the study includes properties that border
Northwest Highway or Prospect Avenue. The Downtown Strategic Plan
addresses the larger footprint of the downtown for planning purposes.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 2
BACKGROUND
In 2007, the Village of Mount Prospect updated its Comprehensive
Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a land use and policy document that
guides development for the entire Village over a period of 10 to 15 years.
Included in the Comprehensive Plan is an implementation program,
which addresses how the goals of the community will be met. One
implementation strategy of the Comprehensive Plan recommended
that the Village undertake a more detailed corridor study of Northwest
Highway. Corridor studies and sub -area plans are similar in scope to a
Comprehensive Plan but take a more detailed look at a specific geographic
area and act as a sub - section of the Comprehensive Plan.
The Village of Mount Prospect has completed other sub -area plans
or corridor studies based on Comprehensive Plan directives. Other
completed plans or studies are the South Mount Prospect Sub -area
Plan, Rand Road Corridor Study, Central Road Corridor Study, and the
Downtown Strategic Plan.
The land use designations from the Comprehensive Plan guide the land
use decisions throughout town. East Northwest Highway is designated
as Neighborhood Commercial, which allows for office, retail and
commercial service uses. The designation is typical for smaller properties
along major Village thoroughfares. Neighborhood Commercial areas
are often located in close proximity to residential neighborhoods. This
designation is appropriate for the existing land uses and it preserves the
commercial characteristic of the corridor.
The Comprehensive Plan designates the downtown area along Northwest
Highway and Prospect Avenue as Central Commercial. The Central
Commercial designation encourages dense development with a mix of
retail, dining, commercial, and residential uses. The designation also
encourages pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access to the area.
Finally, the Comprehensive Plan provides a range of land use designations
for West Northwest Highway: Single - family, Multi- family, Institutional,
and Neighborhood Commercial. The land uses are more varied along the
west segment of Northwest Highway, but the uses are not as intensive
or as dense as the mixed uses in the downtown district. Similarly, these
land use designations are clustered within West Northwest Highway
with commercial uses being located primarily adjacent to downtown,
residential in the center, and institutional/ offices to the west.
Page 3 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
THE PLANNING PROCESS
Public involvement is an important component to all planning and land
use documents for the Village. To produce this document, the public
was consulted through several forums: interviews, public meetings
and surveys. The Economic Development Commission dedicated their
May 2010 Business Retention Program Visits to the Northwest Highway
Corridor Study and interviewed thirteen businesses located within the
study area. The purposes of the visits were to understand strengths
of the area as a business location and to learn about opportunities for
improvements. The next opportunity for input was a public meeting
on May 25, 2010. The Village sent a mailing to all addresses located
in the study area boundary notifying property owners of the meeting.
The meeting included a presentation on the corridor study and an open
discussion on attendees' perceptions of the corridor. From the meeting
and the interviews, staff compiled a distribution list to keep interested
parties involved in the process and to notify them of updates and
upcoming meetings.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Corridor Characteristics
East Northwest Highway has 1950s architectural style buildings with
office and retail buildings set close to the front property line and alleyways
behind the buildings for parking and access. A select number of properties
in the east segment do not follow this lot configuration and primarily
consist of small retail shopping centers or automotive uses with vehicle
bays visible from the street. Because the service drives or private parking
lots are situated to the sides or rears of buildings, curb cuts leading to
parking lots and alleyways may be in close proximity to one another.
East Northwest Highway has many examples of parking lots that break
up the continuous storefront. The aerial image below demonstrates how
parking areas located to the sides and rears of buildings on Northwest
Highway are accessed. East Northwest Highway segment is comprised of
very narrow lots. As redevelopment occurs, opportunities to consolidate
lots and eliminate or combine curb cuts for parking and access should
be explored to provide more cohesive development, lot access, and
continuous storefronts.
Downtown Mount Prospect includes a mix of new and old buildings. The
north side of the railroad tracks has experienced significant residential and
retail redevelopment over the last two decades centered around the Metra
Train Station. Most of the development follows the recommendations
from the Downtown TIF District Strategic Plan. Since the mid 1990s, 442
condominiums or townhomes have been constructed in the downtown
area to accommodate residents seeking to "down size" and commuters
looking for a convenient way to live near the train. The area south of
the tracks, along Prospect Avenue, consists primarily of single story
commercial buildings in a boulevard setting. Several structures located
throughout the corridor are aging structures and will need significant
upgrades to meet current standards. Items such as water service upgrades,
fire sprinklers and accessibility will need to be addressed when there is
a change of use in any of these structures. The cost associated with the
upgrades can be challenging to prospective new tenants.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Page 4
West Northwest Highway area shares some similarities with the east
segment. As in East Northwest Highway, several blocks in the west
segment have buildings situated in front of parking lots and alleyways.
However, the area west of the downtown has a greater mix of uses. The
west segment has access to large public uses such as Meadows Park and
Aquatic Center, commercial/ office buildings, and residential townhomes
and single family homes. The single - family homes do not have frontage
onto Northwest Highway and are separated from the roadway with
fencing and landscaping. Prior to the recent economic downturn, there
was strong interest from the development community to convert the
offices uses located at the western edge of the corridor to residential uses.
This interest will likely resurface in the coming years.
Page 5 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
DEMOGRAPHICS
The demographics within the Northwest Highway Corridor mirror those
throughout the rest of the community, while household income and
housing values averaging slightly higher than the rest of Mount Prospect.
Within one mile of the downtown area, there are approximately 6,000
households with a median household income in the upper $70,000 (see
chart below). According to demographic projections through Costar, a
commercial real estate information company, the number of households
in all three of the segments studied is projected to slightly decline by 2015
primarily due to an aging population. Businesses and retailers continually
target Mount Prospect for store locations because of Mount Prospect' s
favorable demographics.
Costar Report, April 2010 (10-90 E. Northwest Hwy)
Occupancy Rate
According to a Costar vacancy report for the fourth quarter of 2010, the
regional retail and office markets are experiencing an 8.9% and 15.5%
vacancy rate, respectfully. Within the corridor study area, approximately
17% of commercial, office, or retail space is for lease (Costar). The
Northwest Highway Corridor is likely experiencing a slightly higher
vacancy rate than the region due to the building stock's functional
obsolescence and relatively low traffic counts for a commercial corridor.
The vacancies are not limited to one area along the corridor study area,
but are scattered throughout the study area. This study provides several
recommendations to improve the commercial occupancy rate.
Land Uses & Compatibility
Comprehensive Plan land use designations identify land use patterns
for future development. Existing land uses are not always consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan category. In this section, the existing land
uses for each section and their compatibility with the zoning or land use
designation will be discussed.
Overall, the Northwest Highway Corridor consists of a mix of land uses,
including commercial, residential, institutional, and industrial. Each
distinct area (east, downtown, and west) of Northwest Highway has
some or all of these uses. However, each area differs from one another in
land use composition and housing density.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 6
1 -Mile
3 -Mile
5 -Mile
2010 Population (estimate)
15,189
125,757
299,002
2010 Households (est.)
5,952
49,549
114,946
Median HH Income
$77,269
$68,202
$66,935
Median Housing Value
$270,939
$264,173
$240,439
Costar Report, April 2010 (10-90 E. Northwest Hwy)
Occupancy Rate
According to a Costar vacancy report for the fourth quarter of 2010, the
regional retail and office markets are experiencing an 8.9% and 15.5%
vacancy rate, respectfully. Within the corridor study area, approximately
17% of commercial, office, or retail space is for lease (Costar). The
Northwest Highway Corridor is likely experiencing a slightly higher
vacancy rate than the region due to the building stock's functional
obsolescence and relatively low traffic counts for a commercial corridor.
The vacancies are not limited to one area along the corridor study area,
but are scattered throughout the study area. This study provides several
recommendations to improve the commercial occupancy rate.
Land Uses & Compatibility
Comprehensive Plan land use designations identify land use patterns
for future development. Existing land uses are not always consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan category. In this section, the existing land
uses for each section and their compatibility with the zoning or land use
designation will be discussed.
Overall, the Northwest Highway Corridor consists of a mix of land uses,
including commercial, residential, institutional, and industrial. Each
distinct area (east, downtown, and west) of Northwest Highway has
some or all of these uses. However, each area differs from one another in
land use composition and housing density.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 6
The East Northwest Highway segment includes the Village water tower,
commercial, offices, and residential uses. Offices and commercial uses
occupy sixty five percent (65 %) of the segment's land area, and typically
back up to residential. Commercial uses include personal service,
merchandise sales, a financial institution, and restaurants. Personal
service uses consist of hair salons, child care, and computer and auto
repair. Merchandise sales include jewelry, bikes, luggage, flooring, and
appliances stores. Future commercial land uses should be evaluated
to ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses. Residential uses make
up thirty three percent (33 %) of the land area and include a fifty four
(54) unit townhouse development, which backs to Northwest Highway,
and rentals units located above commercial spaces. The remaining land
area is occupied by the Village water tower (2 %). The aerial image below
illustrates the east segment.
The downtown area of the Northwest Highway Corridor has a wider range
of land uses and increased density. The downtown segment includes
office, retail, personal service facilities, institutional uses, Metra Train
Station, eating establishments, financial institutions and residential uses.
Institutional uses include the fire and police station and public parking
lots, which combined occupy fifteen percent (15 %) of the downtown land
area. Other institutional uses, such as the Village Hall, parking deck and
Mount Prospect Public Library, are located a block from the study area
boundaries. Commercial and office uses take up the largest land area in
the downtown area with sixty two percent (62 %). The residential uses
make up twelve percent (12 %) and include a five unit (5) townhouse
development on Prospect Avenue, eighteen (18) unit condominium
building on Central Road, thirty -four (34) unit condominium building
on Northwest Highway, and two condominium buildings with ninety
(90) units. Additionally, Prospect Avenue has parking, commercial, light
manufacturing, and some auto oriented uses, which include a repair shop
and a car wash. Industrial uses make up eleven percent (11%) of the
downtown land area of Northwest Highway.
Page 7 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
West Northwest Highway includes a park and aquatic center, office
buildings, and residential. Meadows Park and Aquatic Center occupies
fifty four percent (54 %) of the land in West Northwest Highway. The
residential uses take up twenty -six percent (26 %) and consist of a fifty -four
(54) unit condominium building, seven (7) unit townhome development,
and eight (8) detached single- family homes, which back up to Northwest
Highway. The remaining office and commercial uses are limited in
density and dispersal throughout the West Northwest Highway segment.
Office and commercial uses occupy twenty percent (20 %) of the land area
in this segment. The aerial image below illustrates the west area.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 8
Zoning
The Northwest Highway Corridor study area is made up of several
zoning districts. The largest land area within the study area is zoned CR
Conservation Recreation due to the Meadows Park and Aquatic Center.
Half of the land area within the study area is zoned for commercial and
office uses. Thirty percent (30 %) is zoned B5, and fourteen percent (14 %)
is zoned B5C. Six percent (6 %) of the land area is zoned B1 Business
Office. The area zoned for residential makes up nineteen percent (19 %)
of the total land area within the study area. This includes single family
and multi- family residential. Finally, six percent (6 %) of the study area is
zoned for industrial. The table below provides a breakdown of the land
area by zoning classification.
Page 9
Zoning District
Description
Acres
Percent
Il
Limited Industrial
3.7
6%
B5C
Core Central Commercial
9.4
14%
B5
Central Commercial
20.1
30%
B1
Business Office
3.9
6%
P1
Off Street Parking
2.2
3%
R4
Multi Family
2
3%
R3
Low Density Residence
5.1
8%
R2
Attached Single Family Residence
1.1
2%
RA
Single Family
.2
0%
RX
Single Family
4.2
6%
CR
Conversion Recreation
14.6
22%
TOTAL
66.5
1007.
The Zoning Map below illustrates current zoning designation for the
parcels within the Northwest Highway Corridor Study Area.
Northwest Highway Corridor Study N
Zoning Map A
Ld pnd
® Car M Sltq' Bandry - -
- Reikotl Track$ _
swomonce
06 CanYatComeoic6l — -
B ac Con CU*W Co...c.i
N t.mbd NrwY r
P1 ON Boe.t pa" -
RA SWO8 FW* Rwidsow
RX SWOo FW* Rwwnw ♦ — r
R2 Amd+od SkO Farr*
R] tdw n -' M.Mwo
R4 ww fan* Rwldmn
_ o a+a as _ — U
M— iPRupweom.M 0, o.r...r auto
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Utilities
The Village of Mount Prospect provides municipal public utilities in the
study area. The Village owns and maintains the water mains, which have
sufficient capacity to meet the water supply demands of the corridor,
and the combined sewers, which provide adequate capacity to meet the
sanitary and storm water drainage needs of the corridor. The Village
recently upgraded the water mains within the corridor study area
through the replacement of an aging water main located between Maple
Street and Elmhurst Avenue. Overall, storm water drainage operates
efficiently throughout the study area. While the storm water drainage is
generally adequate, portions of Northwest Highway in the west segment
experience slow drainage. These areas, located primarily to the west of
Forest Avenue, may require improvements to the drainage systems as
part of any future improvements to the roadway.
The water service to private properties has been identified as a barrier to
development in the study area. A change of use or occupancy classification
for a space or building may trigger a property to comply with current fire
code requirements (automatic fire sprinkler systems and/or fire detection
systems). In some cases, it might also require a fire pump and water
service upgrade depending on the use and size of the space. The cost to
new businesses opening in the Northwest Highway Corridor will likely
be impacted if these improvements are required to be installed. These are
costs that the business may not have to incur if they were to locate to a
new building elsewhere in the community.
Circulation
The study area is bifurcated by the railroad tracks and Northwest
Highway. There are four streets that provide the primary means of
vehicular and pedestrian circulation: Central Road, Main Street/
Elmhurst Road, Emerson Street, and Mt. Prospect Road. The Northwest
Highway intersections at Central Road and Main Street, in particular,
experience heavier traffic and make pedestrian crossing more difficult.
Combined, these intersections experience approximately 64,900 vehicles
a day. The adjacency of the Union Pacific Rail Line causes additional
delay for motorists during peak time periods to accommodate commuter
rail traffic.
Several residents at the public meeting stated they would like to see safer
crossings throughout the corridor. While crosswalks with pedestrian
signals exist at Northwest Highway, the perception of traffic along Main
Street/ Elmhurst Road acts as an inhibitor for people to cross this roadway.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 10
Traffic - Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Counts
Northwest Highway (U.S. Route 14) is a federal route, which is maintained
by the State of Illinois. The Village of Mount Prospect Comprehensive
Plan designates Northwest Highway as one of ten major arterial roads
in the Village. Northwest Highway experiences higher traffic volumes
and congestion delays because of train service and number of street
intersections located along the corridor in close proximity to one another.
Traffic delays are most prevalent during the morning and evening peak
hours when demand and train services are increased.
Because Northwest Highway is an arterial road, traffic counts are
higher than on the surrounding local roads. The Illinois Department
of Transportation (IDOT) provides Average Daily Traffic counts
for Northwest Highway. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts are
measurements of traffic volume on a roadway, which indicate the average
number of vehicles that travel on the roadway daily. The current ADT
counts for Northwest Highway are 12,800 in the east segment, 12,500 in
the downtown segment, and 13,500 in the west segment. Approximately
5% of the ADT Counts are truck traffic which is typical of a roadway of
this type.
Prospect Avenue is a local road maintained by the Village of Mount
Prospect. Traffic on Prospect Avenue is not as intense as the traffic on
Northwest Highway because it primarily serves local properties versus a
larger region. The ADT counts for Prospect Avenue range from 1,900 to
3,200 vehicles per day. The map below illustrates the ADT for Northwest
Highway and parts of Prospect Avenue within the study area:
Page 1 1 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Village ai Mautprmpeat a min &Z a3 wau N
Nattreft HIgtw" Condor 9Nay i A
Peak Hour Turing Movement Counts along Northwest Highway
The map below illustrates 2007/2008 peak hour traffic counts for
Northwest Highway and Prospect Avenue. The traffic counts were
conducted in September and October 2007 and April 2008 during
weekday morning (7:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M), weekday evening (4:00 P.M.
to 6:00 P.M.) and Saturday midday (Noon to 2:00 P.M.) peak periods. The
results of the traffic counts show that the weekday morning peak hour of
traffic occurs from 7:35 to 8:35 A.M., the weekday evening peak hour of
traffic occurs from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. and the Saturday midday peak hour
of traffic occurs from 12:45 to 1:45 P.M.
Based on the traffic counts, there are no significant traffic movements
that are over capacity that would require additional improvements
to increase traffic flow, such as additional turn lanes. The existing
roadway configuration is adequate to meet the current traffic demands.
Improvements to increase the efficiency therefore would be limited to
traffic signal optimization to reduce delays. The presence of the Union
Pacific Northwest Line makes signal optimization difficult but should
still remain a priority in order to improve access to the corridor and
downtown area.
f
10T To SC"
I DOWNTOWN MOUNT PROSPECT I 2007/2008 EXISTING PEAK HOUR VOLUMES
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 12
Parking
The Northwest Highway Corridor provides both public and private
parking options. Public parking spaces are located within and outside
the study area, and include the Village parking garage, on -street parking,
and surface parking lots. There are approximately six hundred fifty
(650) off -street public parking spaces available at no cost to the public.
In addition, there are over two- hundred (200) on -street parking spaces
provided along Northwest Highway and Prospect Avenue.
The Village parking garage and two of the surface parking lots are located
approximately one block north of Northwest Highway. Although the
parking garage and two surface parking lots are not located within the
study area, they are located in close proximity and serve the uses within
the study area. Visitors to downtown Mount Prospect generally utilize
the free on -street parking and parking garage.
The public off -street pay parking lots available are primarily used by
Metra commuters. The largest of the pay parking lots is located on Maple
Street, just south of Prospect Avenue. This pay parking lot provides two
hundred eighty -four (284) parking spaces intended for Mount Prospect
residents. There are also approximately three hundred (300) parking
spaces located on Northwest Highway, just north of the railroad tracks.
Busse Car Wash also offers their private parking lot for commuter and
overnight parking.
The number of private parking spaces for commercial buildings within
the study area is limited. Generally, businesses located within the study
area provide little to no parking spaces on their lot. Those businesses with
private parking spaces usually provide less than ten (10) parking spaces
on the side or rear of the building. Private parking lots are commonly
accessed off the existing alley system.
Overall, there appears to be sufficient parking in the downtown area to
meet demand. Parking is available to all business locations within a short
walking distance. The map below illustrates the parking available within
the study area and the surrounding Downtown area.
Page 13 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Village of Mount Prospect Downtown Parking
Parking Code Analysis
The Village's parking requirements vary depending on the type of use. For
example, a professional office space requires four (4) parking spaces per
one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area. Similarly, a retail store
up to 30,000 square feet requires four (4) parking spaces per one thousand
(1,000) square feet of gross floor area. The parking requirement for food
establishments differs from that of an office or retail use. Depending if
the food establishment is a sit down or fast food restaurant, the required
parking spaces can be based on the number of seats, employees, or gross
floor area. A complete list of parking requirements for uses is provided
in Section 14.2224 of the Village Code.
The Village Code acknowledges that there are existing properties in the
downtown with little or no off -street parking spaces for their property.
For this reason, the parking requirements are less stringent in the B5
Central Commercial and the 135C Core Central Commercial District. To
allow existing conditions to continue, additional off -street parking is not
required at locations within the B5 and 135C Districts where limited or
no off -street parking is currently provided. New uses which are similar
to those previously in operation at a property are not required to add
additional parking. There are parking spaces available to support
downtown businesses, such as the Village parking deck. However,
when there is new construction or major rehabilitation (50% or more),
or a change in use which warrants additional parking, the Village Code
requires additional parking to be provided on -site or through off -site
parking agreements.
Streetscape
In 1997, the Village implemented a streetscape program for the downtown
district In 2000, the Village of Mount Prospect adopted the Corridor Design
Guidelines to develop a consistent streetscape throughout the Village.
Some of the study area in the Northwest Highway Corridor Study area
benefitted from the recommendations of the study. As indicated through the
planning process, the public would like to see more aesthetic improvements
throughout the corridor.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 14
East Northwest Highway was identified as a "gateway" opportunity in the
Corridor Design Guidelines. At Mount Prospect Road, there is a "Welcome to
Mount Prospect" Gateway sign and landscaping. The sign is located on the
south side of Northwest Highway adjacent to the railroad tracks. The Village
has worked very closely with the Union Pacific to improve the appearance
of the area and, as a result, has placed more landscaping along the railroad
easement. The future recommendations from the Corridor Design Guidelines
are to continue urban forestry efforts, enforce regulatory controls (i.e.
setbacks, screening), and to strengthen edges with walls, fences, trees, lights,
signs, and /or buildings. Depending on the capital improvements budget, all
of East Northwest Highway will eventually have streetscape improvements
performed from downtown to Mount Prospect Road.
The Corridor Design Guidelines specifically identified downtown Mount
Prospect as an area to show the distinction of the district and to improve
accessibility to the train station. The streetscape in Downtown Mount
Prospect has been implemented by installing decorative brick paver
sidewalks, landscape areas, banners, gateway signs, and improved street and
pedestrian lighting. The improvements have been implemented on Prospect
Avenue and Northwest Highway. The streetscape is consistent throughout
the downtown section of the corridor study.
The western boundary of the Village currently has a gateway sign; however,
there is an opportunity for a more prominent gateway sign. The landscaping
along the railroad easement continues along the corridor and frames the
street. The Corridor Design Guidelines recommend taking advantage
of gateway signage, enforcing regulatory controls and continuing urban
forestry efforts. The Village of Mount Prospect does not have plans to
continue the streetscape design of brick sidewalk and planter boxes west of
Fairview Avenue because the land uses in this area are not consistent when
compared with the downtown and east corridor areas. The area west of
Fairview Avenue currently has a considerable amount of landscaping behind
the residential properties that adds to the aesthetic appeal of the corridor and
screens uses from Northwest Highway.
Pedestrian & Bicycle considerations
Generally, the downtown area is pedestrian friendly because of
streetscape improvements, wide walkways, curbed streets, and push
buttons at signalized intersections to cross the streets. Further away
from downtown, the area begins to lose some of the pedestrian friendly
elements. Sidewalks and service walks are showing signs of aging and
some of the sidewalks are narrow and close to the street. Traffic signals
do not exist at intersections or pedestrian push buttons have not been
installed. The pictures below illustrate some of the areas which could
benefit from additional improvements as the streetscape program is
implemented.
Page 15 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
The Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) updated their regional
bike plan in 2010 and identified Northwest Highway as a regional bike
corridor. Bicyclists identified the corridor as a direct route from the city
to the suburbs; however, improvements to the corridor should be made
to allow for safer travel. One suggestion is to utilize the Union Pacific
railroad right -of -way to enlarge the area where bicyclists ride.
Signs
Signage within the Northwest Highway corridor is either public or
private. Public signs are located within the public right-of-way and
identify the Village of Mount Prospect, streets or a bus stop. Village public
signs within the Northwest Corridor are generally freestanding and act as
gateway signs for the Village.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 16
North side of Northwest Highway between George and Albert St.
Northeast Corner of William St. and Northwest Hwy.
Private signs are located on private property and identify a business.
The majority of private signs are wall signs that are either attached to
the building fagade or to an architectural building component, such as an
awning. In some cases, a business on a large lot and building setbacks
has a freestanding sign. Since most of the buildings within the corridor
have little to no setback between the building and property line, it is
uncommon for a business to have a freestanding sign. However, a few
do exist within the corridor.
Recognizing the unique characteristic of the corridor, the Village has
implemented a Special Area of Control for signs within the Central
Business District. A majority of the properties within the Northwest
Highway Corridor Study Area fall within the Village of Mount Prospect's
Special Area of Control for signs. The map below illustrates the properties
designated as "Special Area of Control ".
The Special Area of Control is defined by the Village Sign Code as an area
in which special sign standards are applicable. Areas of special control
permit projecting signs and awnings /canopy signs that extend over the
public right -of -way by four to five feet or within two feet of the curb line,
whichever is less. This is a special provision that allows businesses along
Northwest Highway to have wall signage that is better viewed from the
sidewalk and the street based on the orientation of the buildings on the
lot. Projecting signs and awnings /canopy signs that extend over the
Northwest Highway public right -of -way will be subject to compliance
with applicable regulations from IDOT because the right -of -way is under
IDOT's jurisdiction.
Page 17 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
ISSUE IDENTIFICATION & RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS
Through the public input process, residents and businesses identified key
issues that currently exist in the study area. The following is a summary of
the issues and recommendations, broken down into categories, identified
by Village staff members and the public.
Visibility /Public Awareness
Businesses and residents reported a lack of public awareness about
businesses located on Emerson Street, Busse Avenue, and Prospect
Avenue. Automobile and pedestrian traffic may only see the businesses
that front the corridor and not the businesses located off of Northwest
Highway. In addition to the lack of Northwest Highway street frontage,
canopies of mature trees were also mentioned as contributing to the
poor visibility. Some trees along Prospect Avenue, in particular, were
mentioned as blocking business signage.
Lack of public awareness of public transportation and public parking
was also expressed. Most people who participated in the meetings and
interviews were unaware of existing Pace bus routes along the corridor
and throughout the Village. Additionally, residents were not aware of
the public parking facilities, including free parking spaces, available for
people shopping and dining in downtown Mount Prospect. Visitors to
downtown Mount Prospect stated that street parking can be difficult or
unavailable.
Proposed Actions:
1. Way - finding signage program: The Village received several
comments about the lack of visibility or awareness about local
shopping areas on Prospect Avenue, Emerson Street, and Busse
Avenue. A way finding sign system would help to notify visitors
and residents about these areas. The system would have a
directory at a public, high traffic location such as the Library
or train station. This directory would highlight the areas for
shopping, public parking lots, and local destinations. As a
complement, signs throughout the downtown area would direct
people to businesses, parking and shopping areas.
2. Off premise tenant signs: Off premise signs are not permitted
by the sign code; however, the public stated that an off - premise
tenant board would benefit businesses located off of Northwest
Highway. Staff will review this option to understand the
impact of the request, but the way finding sign program may
accomplish the same goal of notifying the public that there are
more businesses throughout downtown
3. Temporary Signs: Businesses indicated that they would like to
have more opportunities for temporary signs on their building,
but the Village's temporary sign regulations are too strict. Staff
will review the regulations and research other communities'
sign regulations to evaluate options that may increase local
business visibility.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 18
4. Newsletter: The Village will investigate the option of promoting
areas of the Village through the Village Newsletter, such as
focusing on Prospect Avenue or sections of the corridor study
area
5. Wall Signs: Businesses may not be aware of sign options
permissible within the Village Sign Code. Staff will continue to
work with business owners to explore permissible sign options.
The Village should also continue its parkway tree maintenance
program to ensure that adequate visibility to business locations
is maintained as landscaping matures.
Land Uses
The public stated they would like a wider variety of commercial uses
than what currently exists within the corridor. Specifically, the public
expressed their desire for a grocery store, retail and entertainment uses.
Entertainment uses that are kid/ family friendly are currently lacking and
could generate downtown activity and revenue. The public stated that
these uses would complement existing businesses and bring more people
into downtown Mount Prospect.
Retailers outside of the downtown district would like to see more traffic
generating uses. One retailer indicated that beauty salons create synergy
because people will shop in the local retail stores before or after their salon
appointment. The businesses would also like to see more consignment
stores, specifically those that re -sell clothing and household goods. A year -
round farmers market would also be a destination in Mount Prospect.
Proposed Actions:
1. Residents and businesses would like to see a wider range of land
uses in the study area because they believe that more people
would patronize Mount Prospect stores if there were more
reasons to visit the study area. The Village will continue to work
with brokers and local entrepreneurs to establish desired uses
in the corridor. Some of the desired uses include consignment
stores, year round farmers market, grocery store, restaurants,
retail, entertainment uses, and family friendly uses.
1. Residents indicated a positive attribute of Mount Prospect was
having "something for everyone' with respect to housing,
commercial, retail, and restaurant options. The Village should
continue to attract a range of housing and commercial uses to
the corridor.
1. The public was pleased with the open public areas, such as the
Village Green outside of Village Hall, and are supportive of
more open space opportunities, both public and private.
Page 19 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Aesthetics & Occupancy
The public identified a lack of visual interest in some areas of the corridor
as an issue. Building and site conditions could be improved to make
the corridor more aesthetically pleasing. For example, some areas
of the corridor have not been improved with streetscape. Suggested
improvements include installing streetscape and making improvements
consistent throughout the corridor.
Vacant storefronts and lots are other contributing factors to the lack of
visual interest. The corridor lacks a continuous storefront in some areas
due to vacant spaces, vacant lots, or parking lots. The public mentioned
an art incubation program where a store front is utilized by emerging
artists as one idea to address vacant storefronts. An incubation program
is a tool to cultivate small businesses through business support resources
and services. Examples of support services include marketing assistance,
help with financial and accounting management, access to loans and
financing, networking activities, and links to strategic partners. In Mount
Prospect's case, the art sector would receive assistance in business start-
up and administration through a program where an organization shares
the risk and. responsibilities of opening a business.
The age and appearance of the buildings is another concern of the public.
The Village has a retail grant program in the Tax Increment Financing
(TIF) District, which is limited to downtown Mount Prospect, north of the
railroad tracks. The program provides assistance to sales tax generating
businesses to upgrade their appearance or ease the financial burden of
renovating a space.
The vacant storefronts in the study area are not unique to Mount
Prospect. Other towns have adopted a "vacant storefront decorative
code' to help manage the appearance of vacant storefronts. This code
requires merchandise and colorful displays in the windows of the vacant
storefronts. While Mount Prospect is not considering formally adopting
such a code, the vacant storefronts could be an opportunity for landlords
to improve the appearance of their investments and for other businesses
in town wishing to advertise in an off -site location.
Proposed Actions:
1. Streetscape improvements have not been made in some areas
of the corridor and are not planned for areas west of Fairview
Avenue. The areas in need of streetscape improvements will
be identified and an expected time table for completion will be
publicized.
2. The Village will continue to maintain areas of the right-of-way
that have been improved with streetscape or landscaping.
3. The Village will continue to work with Union Pacific Railroad
on landscaping and maintenance of their railroad property.
4. The existing facade program is funded with Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) funding and is only available to businesses
located within the TIF boundaries. The Village and business
organizations will research developing a facade improvement
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 20
program and potential funding sources to improve the aesthetic
appearance of buildings located outside of the TIF district.
5. The east and downtown segments of the corridor have similar
development trends, which creates a consistent streetscape.
To ensure continuity of the storefronts, staff will work with
developers to encourage infill development without front yard
setbacks and with parking behind the buildings to provide a
continuous row of storefronts.
6. The Village will work with local organizations to identify
an interested party to explore an incubator program for new
businesses or artists using vacant storefronts.
7. The Village and business organizations will explore the
possibility of working with property owners to encourage them
to decorate vacant storefronts or use them to advertise or market
the downtown area.
Building Conditions /Utilities
The public staffed that some of the buildings in the study area need to be
updated. Most of these comments were directed at the visual appearance
of the buildings, but Village Staff Members addressed the functionality
of the buildings. Many of the buildings were built over 50 years ago and
may not have the capacity or functionality of newer or updated buildings.
The financial burden for upgrading the buildings is another issue
identified due to aging infrastructure and new system demands. The
buildings located along Prospect Avenue may require upgrading the
water service from the building to the water main. Potential tenants and
small business owners may find this issue to be an obstacle to opening a
business in Mount Prospect.
Proposed Actions:
1. An obstacle for new businesses moving into some of the older
properties is the substandard water service. The improvement
is an investment in the building so it should be a responsibility
of the property owner. The Village will work with property
owners of older buildings, such as those on Prospect Avenue,
to proactively upgrade the water service to help attract new
tenants.
1. In the cases where the water service upgrades have not been
made to the building, the Village will work with prospective
businesses to understand the costs of retrofitting older buildings.
1. Property maintenance must be consistent throughout the
corridor including for the vacant storefronts and lots. The
Village will continue property maintenance enforcement of
abandoned buildings and properties.
Page 21 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Traffic
The availability of the train was identified as a positive part of Mount
Prospect, not only for today's businesses, but in the establishment of the
Village. However, the multi-modal transportation near the train station
does create negative externalities for the study area. The public identified
several traffic and transportation related issues. During peak commuting
hours, traffic congestion near the train station creates back -ups and jams.
As traffic travels further out to either end of Northwest Highway, traffic
moves very quickly and is perceived as dangerous. Parking issues were
identified by the public who would like to have more parking on street
level, outside of restaurants or businesses in the study area.
Proposed Actions:
1. The Village will work with Pace to market their bus routes and
services and advertise bus stop locations.
2. The Village will publicize the conclusions from previous Route 83
and Northwest Highway intersection studies to help the public
understand the issues and how the Village has implemented
options available to improve circulation.
3. The downtown area has a variety of commercial uses with
different hours of operation. The Village should encourage
shared parking agreements between private parking lot owners
to open their parking lots to the public after business hours (5
P.M. to 10 p.m.).
4. The Village will work with IDOT regarding signal coordination
on Northwest Highway, Central and Route 83.
Circulation
The public stated that the study area and Village are divided by the
railroad tracks, Northwest Highway, and Elmhurst Road/ Main Street/
Route 83. Neighborhoods are disconnected from each other and other
areas of town.
Proposed Actions:
1. Resident indicated that Northwest Highway and the railroad
tracks divide the Village and disconnects neighborhoods. The
Village will explore grant funding for a proposed bridge at
west end of corridor and/ or will investigate the feasibility of an
underpass or bridge in downtown Mount Prospect to improve
non - motorized connectivity in these areas.
1. Access within downtown can be challenging for pedestrians
because of several high traffic areas. The Village will work
to enhance the pedestrian environment in downtown with
countdown pedestrian signals, areas of refuge, or other
improvements to increase crossing safety.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 22
Infrastructure
At the public meeting, residents mentioned drainage problems along the
west side of Northwest Highway. Additionally, the public stated there
are potholes in the corridor study area streets and sidewalk deterioration.
Proposed Actions:
1. Northwest Highway is under the jurisdiction of IDOT, which means
any large scale improvements will have to be initiated by IDOT.
However, the Village will proactively work with IDOT on long -
range improvement plans for Northwest Highway that will affect
the road condition and drainage.
2. The Village will work with IDOT to address maintenance issues
through a maintenance schedule.
The following map illustrates some of the issues identified above.
Page 23 village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
VISION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES
The visions, goals, and objectives of this study outline the basic purpose
and intent of the Northwest Highway Corridor Study. They have been
prepared based on community input acquired in the planning process.
Vision:
Enhance the economic viability of the Northwest Highway Corridor by
making it more attractive and accessible place for conducting business
and living.
The Village of Mount Prospect Comprehensive Plan categorizes
recommendations based on land use. To maintain consistency
throughout the Village's pl annin g documents, the recommendations in
the Northwest Highway Corridor Study are also grouped according to
land use. However, the categories differ slightly based on the areas the
public identified as issues.
The following section presents the goals and objectives broken down into
the following elements of the study:
• Economic Development
• Transportation
• Infrastructure
• Housing and Community Facilities
A. Economic Development
Goal: To create a viable commercial Northwest Highway Corridor
with a mix of desired uses and services.
Objectives:
1. Maintain Village services and facilities which assure the long-
term economic strength of the corridor.
2. Maintain current businesses and attract new commercial
businesses, such as a kid- friendly uses and a grocery store, to
the corridor.
3. Educate the public about the condition of older buildings and
compliance with municipal code requirements.
4. Ensure that the appearance of all buildings, grounds, and
parking areas within the corridor is maintained.
5. Maintain a progressive business climate with an understandable
development process.
6. Design and implement strategies for attracting commercial
opportunities to Mount Prospect in order to further strengthen
and expand the Village's tax and economic base.
7. Continue reinvestment and redevelopment efforts within the
downtown area to provide an attractive core for the community.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 24
B. Transportation
Goal: To provide a balanced transportation system which provides
for safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians,
supports surrounding land development, and enhances regional
transportation facilities.
Objectives:
1. Improve pedestrian and automobile traffic movements within
the corridor, reducing congestion where possible.
2. Encourage convenient and adequate employee and patron
parking.
3. Promote and encourage safe and convenient alternative modes
of transportation (walking, biking and public transportation)
within the corridor.
4. Ensure that new and existing developments are served by a safe
and convenient circulation system with streets and roadways
relating to and connecting with existing streets in adjacent
areas.
5. Improve/ increase availability of convenient public
transportation throughout the corridor.
6. Install pedestrian crossings in downtown to address safety
concerns (pedestrian islands, etc).
C. Infrastructure
Goal: To maintain a public infrastructure system that efficiently
provides utilities, public improvements and flood control required
by the Community.
Objectives:
1. Maintain excellent public water, sanitary and storm sewer
systems.
2. Maintain the Village's ability to plan and program public
improvements as needed.
3. Protect natural water retention and drainage where possible
and ensure development does not have adverse impact on
flood control.
4. Promote sustainable development.
Page 25 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
D. Housing & Community Facilities
Goal: To provide housing and amenities that supports the
population and enhances the quality of life within the corridor.
Objectives:
1. Ensure that adequate open space is set aside as a part of new
residential developments.
2. Encourage the linking of greenways, parks, and recreational
facilities in neighborhoods, Village wide and regional levels.
3. Promote the improvement and rehabilitation of deteriorating
residential properties.
4. Encourage "infill" residential development which will provide
a range of housing types, while maintaining appropriate
density and character with surrounding existing development.
Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan Page 26
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
The Implementation Program is the section of the corridor study that
ties the issues, recommendations, goals and objectives together. The
following charts include the recommended strategy, related objective,
type of strategy, timeframe, and responsible party.
The type of strategy refers to the following:
Action
Can be acted upon to produce a result
Study
Additional study to determine best course of action
Coordination
Requires ongoing coordination with other parties outside
Village Staff
Related objective indicates with goal and objective relate to the strategy.
The letter refers to the goal and the number refers to the objective within
that goal.
The timing indicates if the strategy will be implemented within 5 years
(short - term), 5-15 years (long - term), or is an ongoing strategy of the
Village of Mount Prospect.
The responsible party column lists the Village department or other
agency/ group that will lead the implementation of the strategy.
Page 27 Village of Mount Prospect - Northwest Highway Corridor Plan
Economic Development
Issue Identified Strategy
Type of
Related
liming
Responsibility
Strategy
Objective
A.x*
Lack of public
Create a way finding sign program with
Action
A.1
Short -term
Community
awareness about
directories at public gathering spaces (Library or
Development
businesses not
Train Station).
located on
Northwest Hwy.
Lack of public
Investigate alternative ways of promoting public
Action
A.7
Short-term
Community
awareness about
awareness for business through off premise signs,
Development
businesses not
temp signs, or the newsletter.
located on
Northwest Hwy.
Lack of desired
Work with brokers to bring a variety of uses to the
Action
A.2
Ongoing
Community
land uses, such
corridor.
Development
as grocery store,
entertainment,
and family -
friendly uses
Vacant
Collaborate with businesses and business
Action
A.2, A.6
Short-term
Community
storefronts,
organizations on special projects, such as
Development, Business
lack of traffic
incubator programs and year -round farmers
Organizations
generating land
markets, to bring people downtown.
uses
Outdated
Encourage building owners to make capital
Action
A.5
Short-term
Community
buildings with
improvements to older buildings.
Development, Property
substandard
Owners
utilities
Outdated
Utilize facade program within TIF boundaries and
Action
A.5
Short -term
Community
buildings with
investigate non -TIF funded programs outside of
Development, Property
substandard
the TIF area.
Ownesr
utilities
Poor building/
Continue to enforce property maintenance
Action
A.3, A.4,
Ongoing
Community
property
standards for all properties.
A.5
Development
conditions
* Indicates which goals and ojectives the strategy originated. This should be read as "Strategy I derives from Goal A. Objective 1.
Transportation
Issue Identified Strategy
Type of
Related
Timing
Responsibility
Strategy
Objective
A.x*
Lack of public
Work with Pace to publicize their routes and
Action
B.3, B.5
Long -term
Community
awareness of public
services.
Development,
transportation
Pace
Lack of public
Publicize the location of public parking lots and
Action
B.2
Short -term
Community
awareness of
investigate improved wayfinding signage for
Development
parking
parking facilities.
Unavailable surface
Encourage shared parking agreements with
Action
B.2
Short-Term
Community
level parking spaces
private property owners.
Development,
private property
owners
Traffic congestion at
Work with IDOT on signal coordination at
Action
B.1, B.4
Long -term
Community
major intersections
Northwest Hwy, Central Rd, and Elmhurst Road/
Development,
Rte 83.
Public Works
Poor vehicular
Publicize the bike planning strategies and studies
Action
B.1, B.3
Short -term
Community
circulation
as an alternative transportation mode.
Development
Disconnection
Investigate funding sources to fund a bridge
Study
B.3, B.6, D.2
Long -term
Community
caused by railroad
connecting Melas and Meadows Parks.
Development,
tracks
Public Works
Disconnection
Investigate the feasibility of pedestrian crossings
Study
B.3, B.6
Long -term
Community
caused by railroad
(underpass, refugee islands, etc.) throughout the
Development,
tracks and major
corridor.
Public Works
roadways
* Indicates which goals and ojectives the strategy originated. This should be read as "Strategy I derives from Goal A. Objective 1.
Infrastructure
Issue Identified Strategy
Type of
Related
Timing
Responsibility
Strategy
Objective
A.x*
Missing streetscape
Publicize the scheduled streetscape
Action
C.2, C.4,
Short-Term
Community
improvements and
improvements included in the Village's Capital
D.2
Development, P
sidewalk deterioration
Improvement Plan to the study area.
Information, Pub
Maintain the mix of
Work with developers to provide a
Action
D.3, DA
Ongoing
Works
Consistent streetscape
Continue to work with UPRR on the
Action
D.2
Ongoing
Public Works
throughout corridor
maintenance of their right -of -way.
Private
Areas of road
Work with IDOT on maintenance and long -term
Action
C.1, C.3
Short- and
Public Works
in disrepair and
improvement plans for Northwest Highway.
Action
D.4
Long -term
Community
drainage problems
complement existing uses.
Development,
* Indicates which goals and ojectives the strategy originated. This should be read as "Strategy 1 derives from Goal A, Objective 1.
Housing & Community • -
Issue Identified Strategy
Type of
Related
Timing
Responsibility
Strategy
Objective
A.x*
Few public open spaces
Continue to plan for public open space
Action
D. l
Ongoing
Community
and to require private developers to
Development,
include open space in their plans.
Public Works
Maintain the mix of
Work with developers to provide a
Action
D.3, DA
Ongoing
Community
housing for the varying
variety of housing tenures and types in
Development
needs of the diverse
downtown.
Private
population.
Developers
Maintain the mix of
Encourage mixed -use development to
Action
D.4
Ongoing
Community
housing for the varying
complement existing uses.
Development,
needs of the diverse
Private
population.
Developers
* Indicates which goals and ojectives the strategy originated. This should be read as "Strategy 1 derives from Goal A, Objective 1.