Clarendon Hills Traffic Change To Be Studied

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills trustees this week approved money to study the village president's idea for closing a part of a downtown street.

But the Village Board has yet to approve the idea itself.

President Eric Tech, who took office last month, did not attend Monday's board meeting because he was said to be delayed leaving Bermuda.

Tech wants the village to consider closing the southbound leg of Prospect Avenue next to the Sloan Triangle downtown.

That would create a plaza space similar to the one created in front of Village Hall as part of a downtown revitalization project, the memo said.

At the meeting, Assistant Village Manager Zach Creer said trustees were being asked to approve $10,000 for a consultant to conduct a "feasibility" study.

"We want to make sure the traffic is sufficiently flowing through that area, particularly if there are two trains going in quick succession," Creer said. "We want to make sure the cars safely clear the crossing and that there isn't traffic that backs up on the tracks."

He said he received an email from a longtime resident and local volunteer who was opposed to the idea. The resident, he said, thought the proposed change would hurt the feel and character of downtown.

"Her opinion is important, but I understand where Eric is coming from, enhancing and making that space work better," Creer said.