HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS - 05/29/1984 - June 1, 1984
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE
Minutes of May 29, 1984 Meeting:
MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT
Michael Tosto, Chairman Ray Peterson, Village Engineer
Ronald Chernick, Member
Stephen Uhlarik, Member DAILY HERALD REPORTER
Kay Cavender
The Capital Improvements Committee met on May 29, 1984 in the
Trustee's Conference Room of the Elk Grove Village Municipal Building.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tosto at 7:37 p.m. The
topics of discussion were residential sidewalks and industrial sidewalks.
RESIDENTIAL SIDEWALKS
The Committee discussed the need to provide residential sidewalks
at vacant lots in new subdivisions where 758 or more of the homes had
been constructed within a given block. The Village Engineer reported
that he had discussed with other communities their requirements as to
the time sidewalks must be installed. The Villages of Schaumburg,
Arlington Heights, Roselle, Rolling Meadows and Palatine all indicated
that sidewalks were not required at vacant lots anytime during the
development of a subdivision. Sidewalks were required prior to the
issuance of an occupancy permit and were required to be installed at
lots without homes as part of the Village acceptance of public improve-
ments. This is the policy Elk Grove Village also follows at this
time. Chairman Tosto and Trustee Chernick wants the present policy on
the installation of sidewalk to remain as it is. Trustee Uhlarik
wants some type of temporary sidewalk placed at vacant lots when at
least 758 of the homes have been occupied on any given block. The
Village Engineer was directed to discuss with the Village Attorney
the relative degree of liability of the current sidewalk policy (no
sidewalks in vacant lots until homes built or subdivision accepted)
vs. placing gravel as a temporary walk in the parkway at all vacant
lots. This information is to be reported back to the committee.
Page 2
INDUSTRIAL SIDEWALKS
Chairman Tosto indicated that the Committee was to discuss the
possibility of temporarily waiving sidewalks at industrial properties
where sidewalk on adjacent properties does not currently exist.
Discussion centered around property owners submitting a Letter of
Commitment to install the sidewalks at such time as a continuous
sidewalk along an entire block would exist, because all lots had been
developed. The current policy the Engineering Department follows on
sidewalk is to require them at all developed properties or to advise
the property owner if a hardship exists they can request of the
Village Board a waiver not to install sidewalk. All members of
the Committee agreed that they prefer the Village maintain its
present policy and only the Village Board can waive the Ordinance
requiring sidewalk. The staff was to advise property owners that there
is a process to have the sidewalk requirement waived. The property
owner, if requesting a waiver, shall submit a request for waiver to
the Village Engineer itemizing the hardships of installing the side-
walk and the Village Engineer will forward this request to the Village
Board along with his recommendation. Should the Village approve the
waiver, the Committee suggests the Village Attorney prepare an
agreement which will bind the current property owner along with all
future property owners to the installation of sidewalk at their
property and at their cost should the hardships sited in the waiver
request be alleviated.
(Note: I discussed the residential sidewalk liability issue
with the Village Attorney on Friday, June 1, 1984. He indicated that
the lack of a sidewalk at vacant lots is a "convenience issue " not
a "liability issue". There would be no grounds for a suit, against the
Village in his opinion, if a sidewalk is not at a vacant property regardless
of the number of existing homes, as the Village does not order the side-
walk not be placed.
A gravel walk, in the Attorney's opinion, may be more of a nuisance
if it isn't maintained or if the gravel is thrown) .
Meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
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Ft-espectUlly submitted:
Ray L. Peterson, Village Engineer
RLP:pp
cc: President
Board of Trustees
Village Manager