Lincolnshire officials want a development plan for Milwaukee Avenue
Lincolnshire officials may hire a consultant to create a unified development plan for the stretch of Milwaukee Avenue that runs through town.
The plan, which would be the village's first for the corridor, would especially focus on the retail-heavy segment near Route 22 that officials call the downtown area. The stretch near Aptakisic Road would get particular attention, too.
Village leaders want to develop strategies for pedestrian and vehicular traffic as well as lighting, landscaping, signs and other architectural and infrastructure elements, according to a memo.
Officials also want the plan to include possible zoning or sign-code changes, a list of possible tenant types for the shopping centers along Milwaukee Avenue, and financing options for any desired public improvements.
About two miles of Milwaukee Avenue runs through Lincolnshire, from just south of Aptakisic Road to Jamestown Lane on the north end.
The area includes shopping centers, office buildings, entertainment attractions and residential developments.
The Marriott resort and its Marriott Theatre are there. So are the Par-King Skill Golf course and the Regal Cinemas movie house.
Popular shopping centers include CityPark at Lincolnshire, which is at Aptakisic Road, and Village Green of Lincolshire, at Olde Half Day Road.
Lincolnshire officials historically have focused on villagewide comprehensive plans rather than just Milwaukee Avenue, which is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
But as the corridor evolved into one of Lincolnshire's chief economic engines, the lack of planning there - and the resulting disorganized development practices - became noticeable, said Tonya Zozulya, the village's economic development coordinator.
"(We) want to ensure any future planning efforts are well-thought-out and coordinated," Zozulya said.
Village officials will discuss the proposal Wednesday night during a meeting at village hall, One Olde Half Day Road. That session is set to follow a 6 p.m. village board meeting.
If the board decides to go forward with the project, officials hope to interview consultants in June and hire a company in July, according to a memo. The study ideally would begin in August and conclude in April 2018.
Officials want "all major stakeholders" to be consulted if the study takes place, Zozulya said. That includes local business owners, according to the village memo.
Officials have budgeted $65,000 for a study.
Buffalo Grove officials are considering a similar inquiry for their stretch of Milwaukee Avenue and have offered to team with Lincolnshire and jointly apply for a grant from a Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, according to a memo.
No partnership commitments have been made, Zozulya said.