No Sidewalks South of Ferndale; Heatherfield and Sherwood Still On Table

Photo: Residents, both for and against sidewalks, state their case during Tuesday’s meeting at Avoca West Elementary School.

Potential plans for sidewalks to be located south of Ferndale Road in Glenview have been nixed after a public meeting held this week garnered little interest in the endeavor. However, sidewalks remain a possibility north of the road in the Avoca West neighborhood, according to Joe Kenney, the village’s director of community development.

“South of Ferndale, there was not a lot of support so we will not be moving forward,” said Kenney, who noted the village policy is “pretty clear” that if two-thirds of residents request the sidewalks to be put in they would be and if not the issue would be dropped.

Tuesday’s community meeting that included strong responses both for and against sidewalks in the neighborhood was called due to a petition, signed by 124 people including 54 from the neighborhood, requesting them.

Potential plans for sidewalks north of Ferndale - on Heatherfield and Sherwood in particular - are still on the table, Kenney said.

“We may have additional meetings called to discuss the possibility,” he said.

Kenney was pleased in the meeting’s turnout and encouraged everyone to express their opinions. He said the second have of the meeting turned into “a really good conversation” about traffic in the area.

“We are having a joint traffic study come up with the village of Wilmette, and from the meeting we have about 8-10 ideas to bring up to the traffic engineer working on the study,” Kenney said.

Those issues include focusing on both the morning and afternoon drop off and pickup times from school, when a majority of the feared dangers occur.

“Speeding issues and those who turn left on Lake Avenue were also mentioned,” he said. “The good turnout is always helpful, and I was glad to see the meeting end well with everyone seeming to agree on the traffic issues.”

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