Palatine Council Approves Sanborn Drive Parking Changes

Without any opposition, the Village of Palatine Council quickly approved all nine items on Monday night’s agenda.

“This one was easy,” Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz said with a smile. Not only was the meeting easy, it was short, council members adjourned less than 25 minutes after roll call.

Last year, Schwantz said on average council meetings lasted a little more than an hour. “Someone always comes forward with questions or an issue to address” but that was not the case Monday. “No, I guess not tonight,” Schwantz laughed.

Parking restrictions and a speed limit change were the most time consuming topics on the agenda.

The council discussed concerns about pedestrian safety on Sanborn Drive near Lindberg Park. With no parking restrictions, people who live on the drive complained when there are events or games at Lindberg, cars park on both sides the street lining a significant stretch of Sanborn Drive.

The congestion of cars also was causing problems for businesses on Vermont Street. Parked cars blocked the driveway of one local business, making it difficult for customers and employees to get in and out of the parking lot.

No one stepped up to the podium to speak on either side of the parking issue but the village had received complaints and the council voted to establish "No Parking Any Time" restrictions on the south side of Sanborn Drive and on the east side of Vermont Street at four locations.

Palatine residents can also expect to see a drop in the speed limit on South Plum Grove Road from 35 mph to 30 mph from Illinois to Michigan Avenues. The road was reconstructed in 2005 narrowing that section of Plum Grove Road but the speed limit through that area remained which some complained was unsafe. The council voted to reduce the speed limit from 35 to 30 mph. 

From the streets the council members moved down the agenda to the Storm Sewer Structure Replacement Program.

Twenty-one inlets will be reviewed to determine if the design, location, or simply age are to a point beyond repair and need to be replaced to properly serve the neighborhood. Council members voted to award the contract for the project to a construction company out of Arlington Heights for $42,390.

Mayor Schwantz said the replacement program has nothing to do with the , when an elderly woman fell 12 feet down an uncovered manhole. While that did happen in Palatine, Schwantz pointed out that open inlet was located on private property. 

"Nothing controversial tonight," Schwantz said each meeting is different, "It all depends on what on the agenda." While the Aug. 13 Village Council Meeting was short and sweet, Schwantz was referring to the from last week.