Glendale Hts. debates North Avenue plan

Development along North Avenue in Glendale Heights was a hot topic Thursday night.

The village board, plan commission and appearance committee gathered to discuss the Glendale Heights North Avenue Corridor Study. Officials launched the study about a year ago to explore what could be done along the major road to spice things up and bring in more sales tax dollars and people.

Community Development Director Martin Olsen said the study is a plan for the future.

"Standard is not good enough for us," he said. "We want something better than that, and that's what I think this plan represents."

Officials from Thompson Dyke & Associates, Ltd. said the stretch along North Avenue, from Schmale Road to I-355, is a very substantial part of the community and hasn't provided the economic benefits that it should.

Representatives touched on the positives and negatives of the road based on current development, and made a handful of suggestions.

Future possibilities include adding new lighting, gateways signifying the entrances to Glendale Heights, increasing biking ability, adding benches, decorative lighting structures and a possible trail, improving landscaping and aesthetics and bringing in new retail shops to get village residents to spend their cash within Glendale Heights instead of going to surrounding communities, said Lindsey Fahey, a planner with Thompson Dyke.

She also suggested village officials determine a character and image for Glendale Heights that could be implemented throughout the corridor.

Though the overall plan was generally in line with what village officials had in mind, some were against the bike path and adding benches and decorative lighting structures.

Trustee Ed Pope said he found the idea to be disturbing.

"That's a super-highway," he said. "You can't build downtown Glendale Heights on a super-highway with lights, poles, sidewalks and seating areas on North Avenue."

Trustee Sharon Fonte was in favor of the beautification ideas.

"It's not going to hurt to have sidewalks there," she said. "The quarter study is just like a dream plan, what would be perfect for us."

Next, Thompson Dyke will tweak the plan and adjust it according to village leaders' comments. Olsen said the village may approve a corridor plan within the next few months.