Burr Ridge Says No To Gate, But Yes To Other Measures
BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge trustees on Monday opposed putting up an electronic gate at the north entrance of the Chasemoor subdivision, saying it was a bad idea for a public street.
At the same time, they approved putting up stop signs at an intersection north of the neighborhood and reducing the speed to 20 mph, from 25 mph.
Neighbors have complained about the amount of cut-through traffic from Village Center, County Line Square and other businesses.
At Monday's Village Board meeting, Maureen Aylward, who has lived in the subdivision since it was built, said it was meant to be private, not a place to cut through.
"Three times, I've almost been hit by a car," she said. "I don't go past 20 mph when I drive through. If they're going to back up behind me, good for them. I've had people pass me when I'm going 20 mph."
A year ago, the board unanimously agreed to change traffic patterns in the Chasemoor neighborhood, where an estimated 500 people live.
With its decision, the village prohibited northbound traffic on Chasemoor Drive between 79th Street and Lincolnshire Drive from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays.
From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, southbound traffic was barred on Chasemoor between Lincolnshire Drive or the Pace bus commuter parking lot and 79th.
According to a village memo, the changes resulted in a 70 percent reduction in northbound traffic during the morning rush hour and a 55 percent cut in southbound traffic during the evening commute.
Recently, Chasemoor residents asked for stop signs to be put up on Lincolnshire and McClintock drives, just north of Lincolnshire's connection to Chasemoor Drive.
They also requested an electronic gate, which the neighborhood would pay for.
While trustees favored the stop signs, they opposed the gate.
"The gate is probably going a little bit beyond our skis," Trustee Russell Smith said. "We all pay taxes into our road system. If Chasemoor is willing to take that (street) private, that's a whole different story, but are we, as a board, going to start getting other neighborhoods asking for gates on their streets?"
Three other trustees – Al Paveza, Joseph Snyder and Tony Schiappa – agreed.
"If they want to put a gate, it's got to be privatized. We can't have a gate there if it's a public road," Schiappa said.
However, Trustee Guy Franzese, typically an opponent of gates , said he would favor one if the other measures failed to reduce traffic and speeds.
"When Chasemoor was built, there was no Village Center. There was no Marriott hotel," he said. "There was no cut-through traffic. There was no Pace. Now, it's plagued by cut-through traffic."
Trustees voted unanimously for the stop signs and the speed reduction. Trustee Anita Mital was absent.
