La Grange Driveway Debate Divides Neighbors

LA GRANGE, IL – Stephen Specht never backed out of his driveway before he bought his house in La Grange.

When he did, he was unnerved.

"I probably mouthed a few expletives," he said.

About a year ago, Specht bought the house at the northeast corner of 47th Street and Stone Avenue. His driveway is along the four-lane 47th Street, a busy thoroughfare that links several western suburbs.

He asked the village for permission to build a new garage and reroute his driveway to Stone.

During a Village Board meeting Monday, two of Specht's neighbors objected to the request.

But he found sympathy from trustees. One of them lives two blocks away with a driveway on 47th, while another decided against buying the house in question years ago because of the issue.

Resident Tia Manolakas, who lives down the street on Stone, said nothing was unique about Specht's situation, noting that 41 other homes have driveways on 47th.

Specht, she said, could add a concrete turnaround pad next to the driveway or lower the fence along the driveway that obstructs sight lines.

Stone Avenue has its own issues, with drivers speeding to the train station or the high school, Manolakas said.

Specht's next-door neighbor, Jan Hamblin, said four different families – all with children – have lived in the home since she moved there three decades ago.

"No one else has brought this up where it's unsafe," Hamblin said. "Certainly, since the homeowner bought the house, 47th Street hasn't become busier. They knew when they bought this house that this was an issue."

Village trustees, though, backed Specht's request.

Trustee Peggy Peterson said the rerouted driveway would benefit the community safety-wise. But she said she was surprised that Specht didn't back out of the driveway before buying the house.

Trustee Glenn Thompson, who lives at 47th and Spring Avenue, said his driveway is also on the thoroughfare. He said of the 41 homes with driveways on the street, four could conceivably be rerouted. His is one of them.

"It is a very dangerous situation," Thompson said. "Any resident that could get their driveway off 47th Street would beg to get it off 47th Street."

Trustee Beth Augustine said it wasn't an easy decision. But she said a rerouted driveway was best for public safety, particularly for children walking and riding bicycles on the sidewalk.

"There has been some turnover on that property," Augustine said. "I looked at it when I moved to town in 2011, and I didn't want it because the garage was on 47th. Long-term, (rerouting) is best for the property."

The Village Board voted unanimously for Specht's request.