Carpentersville alters plan for new sidewalks

Despite resistance from dozens of residents, trustees in Carpentersville paved the way for the construction of sidewalks in areas of Lakewood Estates.

In a compromise, the village board reduced the number of sidewalks, which are part of the village's plans to reconstruct underground utilities and roadways.

Later this summer, the village will build new sidewalks along Ravine Road, on the west side of Ravine Lane from L.W. Besinger Drive to Northlake Parkway and on the south side of Northlake Parkway from Center Drive to Route 25.

Village Engineer Scott Marquardt said the Ravine Lane sidewalk will connect the neighborhood to the Dundee Township Park District Recreation Center to the south.

The Northlake Parkway sidewalk will join the pathway through Library Spring, an open space owned by Dundee Township.

Cut from the project are sidewalks along Bunker Lane and Plainview Drive.

"The reason I want sidewalks near the school is for safety reasons for the children," Trustee Judy Sigwalt said. "There is nowhere for them to walk except in the street."

By removing the Bunker Lane and Plainview Road sidewalks, Sigwalt estimated the village would save more than $80,000.

"These neighborhoods have been without sidewalks for decades, and there are some very big oak trees in the area," Sigwalt said. "I don't blame them for not wanting to cut those trees down."

More than 50 residents signed a petition opposing new sidewalks, claiming footpaths would "take away the unique personality of our subdivision."

In a letter accompanying the signatures, Donna Duncan asked the village board to spend the money elsewhere in the village.

"We implore the village board to take the money for sidewalks in our subdivision and repair the already existing sidewalks in our village," Duncan wrote.

"Please do not create more sidewalks to maintain in a village that cannot afford to keep up with ones that they already have."