Committee approves vacating right-of-way at 800 Hassell Road for Eisenhower Junior High safety improvements

Hoffman Estates — The Planning, Building and Zoning Committee on Sept. 8 approved an ordinance vacating a portion of public right-of-way at 800 Hassell Road and accepting a public utility easement so the school district could install safety improvements in front of Eisenhower Junior High School.

The item stemmed from repeated vehicle crashes and safety concerns at the intersection where Jones Road meets Hassell Road. Village staff said the school district approached the village to make safety improvements, including bollards, curb work and reconfigured parking. Because the existing public right-of-way in that segment exceeded the space needed for the roadway, the village agreed to vacate the portion that the improvements occupy and to record a public-utility easement to preserve utility access.

Why this matters: The vacation transfers ownership of the vacated right-of-way to the school district while preserving utility access with a recorded easement. The committee said the physical safety improvements are already in place and the ordinance formalizes the property and utility recording.

Key details - Staff described a prior crash in which a vehicle struck parked cars near the school and noted earlier incidents where vehicles nearly breached the gymnasium entrance; bollards and curbing were installed to protect the school entrance. - The village engaged a surveyor to create a plat of vacation and a corresponding plat of easement; staff also located a stormwater sewer on school property and included it in the documentation at the village’s request. - Committee members asked whether the intersection could be redesigned more fundamentally (for example, adding a stop sign or changing the turning geometry); staff said they could study a reconfiguration if the board directs them to do so.

Action and outcome A trustee moved to approve the ordinance vacating the right-of-way and accepting the public-utility easement; another trustee seconded, and the committee voted in favor. The minutes record the outcome as passed.

Background and next steps Staff said the village and school district reached an agreement in late 2023 to allow improvements within the right‑of‑way provided the vacated section would revert to school ownership. The committee approved the ordinance and will record the plat of vacation and public-utility easement so the village’s records reflect the new ownership and utility access arrangements.

The committee received the transportation, code enforcement and economic development reports and had no additional items related to the Eisenhower project on the agenda.