Don't isolate new home development

I agree that the residential development planned for the Littelfuse site off Northwest Highway north of downtown Des Plaines should include the creation of bike- and pedestrian-accessible connections.

We should avoid creating more housing stock which will be surrounded by man-made and natural barriers preventing access by any means but automobile.

The man-made barriers are rail lines traversed only by the S-curve rail underpass, which represents an unacceptable hazard to bicyclists and pedestrians. The new development is only a short walk from downtown Des Plaines, but getting there by bike or on foot is currently out of the question due to unsafe conditions on Northwest Highway's S-curve underpass.

Another potential connector might be a bike- and pedestrian-accessible bridge across the natural barrier of Weller Creek, to the north of the proposed site, providing access to Seegers Road and locations north of the site such as Cumberland and Chippewa schools and the adjoining park and recreation facilities.

The city of Des Plaines seems poised to serve a developer's business needs by permitting the development of this site; can we somehow figure out how to serve the needs of the future residents by integrating their neighborhood into the city via bike and pedestrian connectors?

Creating a way for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the tracks at the S-curve would have large benefits for Des Plaines and all of its residents, including the future residents of the Littelfuse site.

Wharton Sinkler

Des Plaines