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12/16/1963December 16, 1963 A meeting of the Board of Local Improvements of the Village of Deerfield was called to order by the President in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall on Monday, December 16, 1963 at 8 :45 p.m. The secretary called the roll and reported the following were Present: David C. Whitney, President Ira K. Hearn, Jr. John A. S. Lindemann James E. Mandler George P. Schleicher Ellis W. Smith James M. Wetzel Absent: None and that a quorum was present and in attendance at the meeting. Also present were Messrs. Seymour Axelrood, representing the Village attorney; Norris Stilphen, manager; Charles Greengard, engineer;.and Henry Uteg, Deputy Commissioner of Special Assessments. Motion carried unanimously. Hearing Hovland Improvements All persons wishing to testify were sworn. S /A 103 Mr. Charles Greengard, engineer, stated preliminary engineering work was begun in April, and as a result of discussions, it was decided minimum type improvements would be installed in order to reduce costs. He stated the street width would be 20 ft. instead of 27 ft. back to back of curbs, there would be no curb and gutters, no sidewalks, storm drainage would be ditched where possible, with no ditch exceeding 2 1/2 ft. in depth. Sanitary sewers and water mains would be constructed to serve the entire area. He explained the storm drainage problems, which in part result from the fact that drainage from the Toll Road to the west and Edens Spur to the south must be taken into consideration in the design of storm drainage facilities. He stated areas outside the Village would be assessed for storm drainage, as can be done under a new Statute. Where ditches_ for storm drainage would exceed 2 1/2 ft. in depth, storm sewers will be installed, he said. He pointed out on a map the locations where storm sewers would be installed, and the large sanitary sewers which will pick up the smaller lines. He stated the estimated cost of the improvement, including all costs of engineering, inspection, legal fees and costs of spreading assess- ments amounted to $542,460.09. He further stated he felt if bids were taken before spring there could be savings in cost amounting to at least 20 per cent. Adjourn S/A 104 Hearing Due to an error in the Notice.of Hearing to Wed. Dec. 18, 1963 which gave December 18, 1963 as the date for the public hearing on the Wilmot Road water main extension, Special Assessment No. 104, Mr. Mandler moved, seconded by Mr. Smith, that the hearing be adjourned to Wednesday, December 18, 1963 at 8 :00 p.m. in the Village Hall. Motion carried unanimously. Hearing Hovland Improvements All persons wishing to testify were sworn. S /A 103 Mr. Charles Greengard, engineer, stated preliminary engineering work was begun in April, and as a result of discussions, it was decided minimum type improvements would be installed in order to reduce costs. He stated the street width would be 20 ft. instead of 27 ft. back to back of curbs, there would be no curb and gutters, no sidewalks, storm drainage would be ditched where possible, with no ditch exceeding 2 1/2 ft. in depth. Sanitary sewers and water mains would be constructed to serve the entire area. He explained the storm drainage problems, which in part result from the fact that drainage from the Toll Road to the west and Edens Spur to the south must be taken into consideration in the design of storm drainage facilities. He stated areas outside the Village would be assessed for storm drainage, as can be done under a new Statute. Where ditches_ for storm drainage would exceed 2 1/2 ft. in depth, storm sewers will be installed, he said. He pointed out on a map the locations where storm sewers would be installed, and the large sanitary sewers which will pick up the smaller lines. He stated the estimated cost of the improvement, including all costs of engineering, inspection, legal fees and costs of spreading assess- ments amounted to $542,460.09. He further stated he felt if bids were taken before spring there could be savings in cost amounting to at least 20 per cent. Mr. Uteg explained the spread of the assessment, average costs for interior and corner lots. He stated would pay part of the costs a5public benefits.. He said west of the village was included in the assessment on a basis, but the area outside the village to the south in had not been assessed due to legal difficulties. and gave. the village the area square foot Cook County A question of street standards was answered by Mr. Greengard who stated the streets were not sub - standard insofar as quality was concerned, but.only in width. The street would be 20 ft. wide with a 3 in.crown'in the center, there would be a 6 ft. shoulder, and ditches for storm water would not exceed 2 1/2 ft.. The street improvementsLwere designed to be widened, if desired, by cutting off the edges at a later date, and installing additional pavement and curb and gutters, he said. Mr. Roy Pavlik, an owner of property involved;in the assessment, stated he was opposdd to the improvement, since it was the general opinion in Hovd,and Subdivison that lots should be resubdivided. He said if the Board would consider resubdivision, he would withdraw his objections, and asked that the Board delay any decision and recondier the matter on the basis of resubdiviston of the properties. President Whiteny stated that when the Board held on unoffic,i:al it was the consensus of a majority of the owners that they would like to see the area improved if it were feasible. Therefore, on the basis of the area being held to large lots, requirements for improvements had been reduced. Mrs. Shirley Kodym, 225 Fairview, stated that many of the people who voted to keep large lots and favored the improvements had misunderstood when the question was put to them, and wanted rezoning and resubdivision of the 36,000 sq. ft. lots. Mr. Theodore Cornell, Jr., attorney, presented signed objections from the owners of 61 lots affected by the proposed improvements. In anwer to Mr.'Cornell's question, Mr. Uteg estimated the total public benefits to amount to 8 per cent of the toal estimated cost. Mr. Cornell asked the Board to consider the proposed improvements more carefully - that the number of objectors he represents indicates the thinking or a larger number of owners. Mr.'Joseph Koss, 243 Wilmot Road, stated he didn't object to the proposed improvement in the spring when property outside the village to the south and west was shown as residential on the jurisdictional map, but with the indication of industrial zoning, property in Hovland Subdivision is directly affected. He said the Board must decide what is the end use and classification of the property, then improvements should follow. He said under present conditions, the 20,000 sq. ft. lot size requirement was confiscatory, and with the change in attitude on the areas to the west and soutn, the hearing was out of order. Mr. Howard Kodym pointed out that lots in Hovland were 36,000 sq. ft. in area and with a 20,000 sq. ft. requirement, these lots could not be subdivided. Mr. Jack Lanning, 333 Fairview, stated i.n the Hackberry Assess- ment project he had been quoted a price of $4500 for full improvements for a lot he owned at the corner of Hackberry and Fairview, but when the assessments were announced, his amounted to about $12,000. Mr. Uteg explained these were full improvements, and the scope of the assess- ment was comparatively small. Mr. Ted Blus, 1210 Gordon, thb owner of Lot 15, stated he had been assess for complete improvements on Willow Avenue, and would not benetit trom the proposed project. He said he objected.to that improve- ment as well as this one, and asked if he must hook in to water and sewer lines, since he does not need these servicces. The manager stated if property is within 400 it. of a sanitary sewer, an owner may be required to tie in if any problem of septic tank operation was evident. Mr. Blus asked if the property Vaere to be rezoned at a future date would there be additional improvements required before subdivision. President Whiteny answered the improvements for Hovland Subdivision were disigned for the present zoning, and if the property were rezoned and subdivided the Board would undoubtedly required additional improvements. Mr. Albert Moen, 200 Fairview, asked the Board to leave the sub - division as it is, he could not afford these improvements, and had a good septic tank and well' and the residents of the area had put in gravel streets that were satisfactory. Mr. Richard Gilbert asked if lots facing County Line Road were exempt from the sanitary sewer and water portions of the special assess - ment. It was explained they were exempt, but would pay for service through a recapture ordinance establishing special connection charges which is pending before the Board. Mr. Uteg pointed out that property south of County Line Road would be required to pay a part of the costs of the water and sewer installation as part of any annexation. Mr. Moen asked why the project had been started, and President Whitney stated there was a sewage problem and it was the Board's opinion the area should be provided with at least minimum improvements. Mr. Moen denied there was a sewage problem. The-manager stated there was a problem of raw sewage at the corner of Willow and County Line Road. Mr. Kodym stated raw sewage flowed from the pony farm through a culvert under County Line Road, and this problem could be corrected without a special assessment project. Mr. Greengard stated the installation of sewer and water lines along County Line Road had not shown any sewage was being picked up from the pony farm. Mr. Blus asked if there were any possibility that Gordon Terrace be widened and graveled. He said Park Ridge has an area of several blocks where streets have been left in gravel at the wishes of the residents. He proposed that the Board consider gravel streets instead of pavement. Mr. Joseph Lundegren, 121 Wilmot Road, asked the attorney to explain special assessment procedures. Mr. Axelrood said the Board had the final answer on whether to proceed with the improvements, but the individual had two opportunities to object in Court, the first on the mechanics, the second on the amount of the assessment, which could be heard before a jury if desired. Mr. and Mrs. Moen, Mrs. Kodym and Mr. Koss again spoke in opposition to the improvement. Messrs. Axelrood, Greengard and Uteg answered Board members questions regarding quality of improvements, and court procedures. Mr. Axelrood stated all special assessment improvements were dis- cretionary with the Board, that only technicalities and the amount of benefits accruing to properties were challengable in Court. He added a sewage problem might be considered to give additional weight to the need for the improvements. President Whitney asked what would be the effect on costs to lot owners if streets abutting on side lot lines were removed from the project. Mr. Greengard estimated the reduction to be about $36,000. Mr. Hearn stated that it was his opinion that the Board should act on the matter, since, on the basis of a very long preliminary hearing, and on a favorable response, the Board had authorized the expenditure for engineering. He then moved, seconded by Mr. Mandler, that the attorney be authorized to prepare the resolution recommending the project be undertaken and the necessary ordinance. Mr. Schleicher asked what would the cost be to the village if the Board deferred a decision on the matter until the proposed development south of County Line Road has been resolved. Mr. Greengard estimated the cost to be $7,000 to $8,000 for engineering, plus legal costs and the cost of spreading the assessment. - Mr. Schleicher proposed that in the interests of the people in the Hovland area the Board take no action at this time and wait to see what development will occur outside the Village. President Whitney stated the improvement of the Hovland area could be a factor in preserving the area south of County Line Road in any rezoning request for a lesser use. Mr. Mandler concurred. Mr. Hearn stated that if the residents are truly concerned with keeping the maximum area residential, the most appropriate action to accomplish this end would be to proceed with the improve- ments; second4 , serious consideration should be given to the opinion of Mr. Greengard that savings of up to 20 per cent could be had by immediate action, and third, in the March 4th meeting, the Village attorney in answer to a direct question had stated non- residential uses outside the village would have no effect on property within the village. He again restated his motion to direct the attorney to proceed with the preparation of the necessary resolution and ordinance, again seconded by Mr. Mandler, Adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Hearn, Lindemann, Mandler, Smith, Wetzel (5) Nays: None (0) The meeting was adjourned at 10 :35 p.m. Secretary 1 1