Politics & Government

Village Board Debates Stop Sign on Pine Street

Would a stop sign ease traffic to St. Jude, or cause backups for residents? Also, the board adds an extra monthly meeting and approves a special use permit for a new driving school.

Citing a history of traffic congestion problems due to the and school campus on West Second Avenue, Village Engineer Will Nash asked New Lenox Village Board members Monday to consider a stop sign for Pine Street at Second Avenue.

A two-way stop on Second Avenue already exists.

Although traffic in the area is not so heavy as to meet standard codes, "it is a busy intersection. A stop sign on Pine Street is expected to help eliminate some of the possible conflicts there," Nash said.

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Trustee Annette Bowden, however, noted that a stop sign could potentially cause difficulties for residents along the street. Basically, she said, a stop sign would force a backup and prevent homeowners from backing out of their driveways for periods of time throughout the week and especially on Sundays. She suggested that a turn lane be considered as an alternate project.

Currently, Pine Street is closed between Haven Avenue and Fourth Street due to a repaving project.

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Village Administrator Kurt Carroll added that St. Jude traffic is not the only reason Pine Street is busy. It is frequently used as a bypass to reach Haven Avenue, but it was not intended for that purpose.

Trustee David Smith said that issue would ultimately become a moot point once the  is completed. Nelson Road is designed to serve as a bypass road to handle traffic moving from the south side of New Lenox out to Route 30.

Mayor Tim Baldermann suggested that stop sign matter be studied further.

More From the Meeting

Board Adds a Meeting

In other business, the board voted unanimously to add another formal meeting to the schedule. Along with two regular board meetings, which are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month, a committee of the whole will be held on the third Monday of the month with the exception of December.

Smith later explained that the village board is merely bringing back a concept that was halted for about a year. Previously, the third meeting had been referred to as a work session. The committee of the whole provides trustees a chance to update the full board on actions and issues pertaining to smaller, standing committees, such as the finance or sewer and water committee.

In general, know action would take place at the committee of the whole. If an issue demanded an immediate response, then the board could vote to set aside the rules to accommodate a vote.

Driving School Plans

Although Trustees David Butterfield and Ray Tuminello were absent, the majority of the board voted to approve in the consent agenda the request for a , which is slated to operate a facility at 1800 Lincoln Highway, across from . The property is currently zoned for commercial use but a special use permit was needed to allow construction of a driving school.

The special use permit stipulates that no more than three vehicles utilized for driving instruction can be parked on site overnight; the facility is mandated to close no later than 10 p.m.; all driving instructors must be state certified; the school must oblige state requirements as well as New Lenox Fire Protection District requirements. 


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