Public Input Continues to be Sought for Lake Cook Corridor in Buffalo Grove
After unveiling the draft vision of a new Lake Cook Corridor for Buffalo Grove, the Village continues to ask the public for feedback on what the future corridor could become.
During the most recent public meeting on November 16, 2017, Buffalo Grove residents, business owners, property owners and other stakeholders viewed poster boards and a video that depicted different scenarios relating to the reimagined Corridor. These materials are available online for individuals who were unable to attend the meeting. The public is invited to provide feedback via an online survey on the project's website at www.vbg.org/LCC until Wednesday, December 6, 2017.
A key aspect of the Lake Cook Corridor draft vision is Stage I, which includes redesigning the Village's Town Center, located on McHenry Road just north of Lake Cook Road, along with Chase Plaza at the northeast corner of Arlington Heights Road and Lake Cook Road.
The vision for Town Center is to transform it into a walkable, vibrant, city center that will enhance the community by providing shopping, dining, entertainment and gathering areas for both residents and visitors. This vision is centered on a new, pedestrian-friendly, two-way Main Street that would allow people opportunities to enjoy recreation options, and to stroll, shop and dine. A mix of restaurants, retail stores and entertainment venues, along with public plazas and sidewalk cafes would enhance the overall environment. Multi-family residential units would be located behind or above retail locations along Main Street to support surrounding businesses. Parking garages and surface lots behind the retail storefronts would make the area friendly to both pedestrians and bicyclists. The goal of this new city center would be for it to become a destination for residents, workers and Buffalo Grove visitors.
Stage 1 would also include redesigning and modernizing Chase Plaza through new facades and improved walkability, and connecting the adjacent office park to the plaza. The existing open space area that is currently the municipal golf course could remain in-tact or continue as a golf course, transition into park programming, or become a combination of the two.
The Village has received tremendous participation from the public through various outreach activities, including three public meetings, online surveys, key stakeholder interviews and presentations in front of local clubs and organizations.
"The draft vision presents some very exciting opportunities for the Village to better utilize the benefits of the Lake Cook Corridor, while improving the quality of life around it for our entire community," said Chris Stilling, Community Development Director for the Village. "We have incorporated community feedback from the previous public meetings, and encourage residents and other stakeholders to visit the website and provide us their comments."
Once the Village has received the additional feedback on the draft vision, the consultant team will begin drafting the final plan, which will include an overview, and present strategies and action steps on how the Village can implement the vision. A steering committee made up of a diverse group of property owners, business owners, residents, and local officials and stakeholders has, and will continue to, guide the project to completion. The project team anticipates the plan to be completed by early 2018.
For more information about the Lake Cook Corridor project, and to provide feedback, please visit the website at www.vbg.org/LCC.