Clarendon Hills plaza plan generates pushback from residents

Chicago Tribune

4 days ago

Some Clarendon Hills residents are speaking out against the proposed addition of a downtown plaza on Prospect Avenue, an idea being considered by village officials.
The plaza would be between Railroad and Park Avenues and would include the elimination of the right-turn lane, or slip lane, from southbound Prospect onto Park. That turn lane now is part of what the village calls the Sloan Triangle, an area that would become a large part of the plaza and used for gatherings.
Resident Angie Sartori has been extremely outspoken against the plaza and has created an online petition at change.org, Stop the Plaza Plan in Clarendon Hills, IL, seeking signatures from others against the project. As of Monday morning, the petition had 540 verified signatures. She also has had signs printed, reading 'No Plaza — Commerce & Safety First.'
Sartori, stated her case against the downtown plaza in the petition, stating it 'threatens to close the efficient traffic triangle roundabout — a vital feature of our beloved village.'
'This roundabout currently provides much-needed and proven traffic relief, allowing for smoother vehicular movement and reducing congestion in our main commerce district. Removing it, along with its essential turn-off lane, could lead to nightmarish traffic jams, putting residents, commuters, and the 176 daily train services at risk. Residents who must cross the tracks in vehicles and on foot for work and school will find their daily routines severely disrupted,' the petition reads.
Sartori spoke out strongly against Village President Eric Tech, who has expressed support for the downtown plaza.
'The village leader refuses to listen to residents, but residents are at the top of the (organizational) chart in Illinois villages, not presidents, not trustees,' she said.
Sartori said residents who are strongly opposed to the plaza must be heard.
'The leader of Clarendon Hills has chosen to start a civil war about a plaza,' she said. 'He is willing to trade safety for a plaza that will largely go empty, like the ones in Burr Ridge, Westmont, and the other two plazas that Clarendon Hills already has, one near Tierra (Distilling Co. at 211 Burlington Ave.) and the other in front of Village Hall. And the new Sparrow Coffee (100 Park Ave.) will now have more public space, so that is essentially a Sparrow Coffee plaza. How many plazas can one town have?'
Tech said he was aware of the petition.
'I understand that the petition circulating is a privately led initiative,' he said. 'According to the website, 66% of the signatures come from just three zip codes—not exclusively from Clarendon Hills. Nonetheless, I welcome input from all our residents.'
Sartori said she has been reviewing petition signatures as they come in, and added they are from Clarendon Hills residents. She said some signatures show up as not coming from residents because those people set up their Facebook accounts before moving to the village.
'If this is the only thing (Tech) can say about the opposition, that our petition is not valid, he is wrong,' she said. 'He is insulting residents who have signed this petition and who are vehemently opposed to any downtown plaza cementing over our safe and proven traffic and pedestrian passages.'
Sartori said Tech and the Village Board were elected to represent residents.
'They do not represent developers or real estate agents,' she said. 'They represent residents, and they must do what is in the best interest of residents.'
Tech said while he is aware of opposition to the plaza, the Village Board has heard from many young families that support the idea.
'Transparency and community input are essential, but it's equally important that public discourse remains respectful, so that everyone feels heard,' he said.
'Since taking office, the Village Board and I have prioritized pedestrian safety and improving the walkability of our town. We are drawing from existing plans with the goal of creating a public space that serves the entire community. This is a thorough and thoughtful process. We've already held a public listening session and remain open to suggestions and questions.'
Tech said the vision for the downtown plaza includes an attractive, small-scale, pedestrian-oriented shopping district with pocket parks and plazas, expanded streetscape amenities, and new housing, shops and restaurants.
'I believe this change will significantly improve safety, accessibility, and flexibility for hosting community events,' he said. 'I've spoken with many local business owners and residents. While there's been healthy debate, the majority of feedback has been positive, and I truly believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.'
Resident Margo Jablonski said she would love to see a plaza downtown, but not at the expense of the slip lane.
'The slip lane filters traffic to the south west of town and provides needed space for delivery trucks and Ubers,' she said. 'With three new developments in the works, the slip lane is even more vital now.'
Jablonski mentioned the coming opening of Sparrow Coffee, Prospect Tavern — a restaurant planned for 27 and 29 S. Prospect, and Parkside Place, a four-story mixed-use building across from Just LiftFitness, along with new diagonal parking on Walker Avenue.
'It seems shortsighted to think these projects won't impact traffic flow, especially given the density of Parkside Place,' she said. 'The traffic study also ignored the effects of inclement weather. The conditions observed were ideal, and it's concerning how traffic would be handled during storms.'
Another resident, Lori Thompson, said the essential concern is about safety, with the proposed plaza being so close to the railroad tracks.
'We only have one set of tracks within Clarendon Hills, and based on an understanding from past Village Boards, there is no way to find appropriate land to put in an additional crossing,' she said.
'This is our one crossing for the foreseeable future. If we lose the slip lane, traffic will back up. We must maintain any current safety we now have in place. I am not opposed to progress in our town or the notion of a plaza somewhere else for neighbors to gather. I am in opposition of the proposed plaza location next to the train tracks.
The Clarendon Hills Chamber of Commerce issued a statement that it supports the concept of a permanent plaza on Prospect Avenue, recognizing its potential to significantly enhance the vitality, safety, and functionality of the downtown district.
'At this time, there is no timeline for a decision,' Tech said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.