Homewood trustees will vote Tuesday, Sept. 13, on whether to authorize staff to complete a grant application that would offset costs involved in restructuring traffic lanes on 183rd Street from Dixie Highway east to Morgan Street.
By Eric Crump
Homewood trustees will vote Tuesday, Sept. 13, on whether to authorize staff to complete a grant application that would offset costs involved in restructuring traffic lanes on 183rd Street from Dixie Highway east to Morgan Street.
The “traffic diet” plan was one suggestion made by engineers from Burns & McDonnell in a traffic study commissioned by the village last year to reduce chronic speeding along 183rd Street in order to improve safety.
In May, the Public Works Department set up a test that reduced traffic to two lanes from the current four lanes. The test involved monitoring traffic on 183rd Street and on parallel streets, Ridge Road and 187th Street, to gauge the impact of the lane change.
The permanent reconfiguration will include reducing traffic to two lanes with center turn lanes plus bike lanes on each side of the street. The total width of the road will not change.
The cost of redesigning the lanes will be about $241,000, but if the village is awarded the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant, the cost to the village would be $48,200, according to Economic Development Director Angela Messaros.
The board also will consider two zoning variances.
One issue is a sign variance for the Target store at 17605 Halsted St. The store is asking for permission to install a 611-square-foot sign, which is 111 square feet more than allowed by village codes. The Appearance Commission voted 3 to 2 in favor of the variance, but four votes are required for approval, so the issue will be decided by the Board of Trustees.
Another issue is a parking variance requested by Mohammad Majid, new owner of the former Discount Tire building at 810 Maple Avenue. He proposes dividing the building for two retail uses, a tobacco shop and a beauty supply store. The site would need 48 parking spaces for retail uses but has only 26 available.
In new business, the board will hold a preliminary discussion on awarding a liquor license to the prospective new owner of Ridgewood Tap, 2059 Ridge Road. Awarding the license will be contingent on the new owner, Scott Donkel, closing the sale and complying with village regulations.
In other business, the board will consider:
- A resolution appropriating $400,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds to cover street patching for the period of May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
- Awarding a bid to Bruno’s Tuckpointing of Hazel Crest for tuckpointing services at 2018 Ridge Road, a village-owned building slated to become an annex to the Homewood Science Center.
- Awarding a bid to Universal Concrete Grinding LLC for a sidewalk survey and saw-cutting or grinding of trip hazards.
- An intergovernmental agreement with Ground Emergency Medical Transportation Services for ambulance transport service reimbursements.
- Appointment Paul Jordan to the Fire and Police Commission.
- Three oaths of office: Jeanine Cameli for the position of administrative secretary in the Fire Department, Liza Javier for the position of water billing clerk in the Finance Department and Antonia Urbanski for the position of communication and engagement specialist.
The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the village hall board room, 2020 Chestnut Road.
The meeting also can be attended remotely by visiting https://zoom.us. Select: “join a meeting” from the menu at the top right of the page. Use meeting ID 980 4907 6232 and password 830183. To listen to the meeting via phone, dial 312-626-6799 and login with the above ID and password followed by #.
In addition to public comment opportunities during the meeting, residents can send their views to [email protected] or by placing written comments in the drop box outside village hall. Any comments submitted before 4 p.m. on the meeting date will be distributed to all trustees prior to the meeting.