Mundelein sidewalk plan raises questions

A new sidewalk program intended to provide safer routes to schools in Mundelein has come as a surprise to some residents.

The village began fielding complaints this week from homeowners after marking stakes began appearing. Some say the sidewalks will be installed too close to their homes or take out old trees.

Several residents of the Division Street area attended a village board meeting Monday night, and village staff has promised to try and address issues on a case-by-case basis.

"It was always our intention to make field adjustments while we work through some of the obstructions that are there," said Mike Flynn, assistant village manager.

He cautioned, however, that all work is being done in the public right of way and not on private property.

"What we are careful not to say is everyone will get everything they want," he added. "A sidewalk can't just weave back and forth."

Flynn said the village received about $400,000 through the Illinois Safe Routes to School Program, a federal grant administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

According to IDOT, the projects are to encourage walking and biking to K-8 schools. Nearly $14 million was awarded to about 90 communities.

Three quarters of the money will be used to install sidewalks where none exist, and the rest is for repairs, Flynn explained.

"Like many communities, there are gaps in the sidewalk system," he said. "We identified all of those in the vicinity of the schools in District 75."

Since there is no match required, the work will be done at no cost to the village. But there were no public hearings or announcements, and the first indication residents had were the stakes.

"Definitely we could have done a better job of communicating to (residents living in) affected routes," Flynn said.

Barbara and Mark Hampton live on the corner of East Park Street and North Prairie Avenue. Their home was built in 1947 and never has had a sidewalk on the Prairie side, although some black walnut trees have been there for the duration.

The couple is concerned about losing trees and having their property value drop. By their estimation the sidewalk would be less than 3 feet from their side door.

"There were stakes in my yard," said Barbara Hampton. "We knew nothing about it."

Flynn said that stakes are sometimes installed outside the edge of the sidewalk to be built and don't necessarily represent a final path.

Trees will be avoided if possible but the determination depends on each circumstance and there are limits to what can be done, Flynn said. Sidewalks will be installed in all designated areas.

"In the big picture of things, this is a good improvement for school safety and general accessibility in the neighborhood," he said.