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Elm Street residents urge village to halt planned through‑street, cite poor notice and safety concerns
Summary
Residents of Elm Street told the Village Board they oppose a proposal to extend Elm Street through to 90 Second Avenue, citing lack of advance notice, removal of trees, and traffic‑safety fears; petition with about 31 of 35 signatures was presented to village staff.
Elm Street residents told the Orland Park Village Board on May 20 they oppose a village proposal to extend Elm Street through to 90 Second Avenue and asked the board not to proceed without further notice and traffic analysis.
The residents said they received a March 3 letter about the proposed connection only after crews had already begun preliminary clearing. “We are not really understanding what the purpose of this is,” resident Sue Dalton said, adding that 31 of 35 residents on the street signed a petition opposing the through‑street. Dalton said she planned to deliver the signed petition to Acting Village Manager Jim Culotta the following morning.
The petition and concern over notice were echoed by Heather Slack, who said many homeowners first learned about the project when contractors marked and removed trees on private property. “We didn't get any information on the street widening or the curbs that were coming in until they clear cut many of our old trees,” Slack said. She asked the board to provide the traffic studies and explain how the village will keep residents safe if the street becomes a through route.
Why it matters: Residents said Elm Street has been a dead‑end for decades and that its current character and safety would change if it becomes a connector to apartment complexes and nearby commercial corridors. Petitioners said they worry about increased cut‑through traffic, higher vehicle speeds and a loss of canopy trees.
Board response and next steps: Mayor James V. Dodge Jr. and staff said the petition would be accepted and that Dalton would give it to Acting Village Manager Jim Culotta. Board members did not take a formal vote on the road proposal at the meeting; residents requested that staff produce traffic data and clarify notification procedures before any construction continues.
Discussion vs. decision: The meeting record shows public comment and a staff contact commitment; no formal direction, referral to committee, or vote to approve or halt the Elm Street connection was recorded during the May 20 meeting.
Context and community details: Residents said a March 3 letter referenced the proposed change; they reported 31 of 35 Elm Street households signed the petition. The street lies near Southwest Highway and behind All Seasons Pools; petitioners said expected new cut‑through traffic would include drivers accessing nearby apartment buildings and mall areas. The transcript does not specify the village department leading the work, the contractor, or an engineering plan timeline.
Ending: Residents asked for visible traffic studies and safety plans before work continues and delivered a petition to village staff for follow up.
