Trustees approve Baxter & Woodman engineering agreement for TIF-funded museum parking improvements

The Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees on Feb. 24 voted to authorize the village manager to execute a professional engineering agreement with Baxter & Woodman, Inc. (Crystal Lake) for preliminary engineering and construction drawings for the TIF 5 museum parking lot modifications (phase 1 and phase 2) in an amount not to exceed $143,410.

Manager Harling and staff described the agreement as part of earlier budget approvals and said the work will include preliminary engineering for space reconfiguration and construction documents. Director Mark McLaughlin told the board staff had identified pedestrian-connection issues between Park Boulevard parking and the nearby Illinois Prairie Path and that the current lot layout, with a single row of parking and one-way access, is inefficient. “There’s a lot of pavement with a single row of parking,” McLaughlin said, adding that staff discussed options to “maximize our parking in this area.”

McLaughlin said staff had initiated coordination with DuPage County engineers about permitted work adjacent to the Prairie Path; any work affecting the county right-of-way would proceed with county permits.

Trustee Patrick moved the resolution, Trustee Corkreich seconded, and the board approved the agreement in a roll-call vote. Clerk Kurynicki recorded unanimous support from trustees present.

Staff said the agreement and the engineering work are budgeted in TIF 5 engineering services and recommended the authorization to move forward so detailed designs and permitting can begin.

Implementation notes from staff indicate the work will define a preferred parking layout, address pedestrian access to the Prairie Path and central Avenue connections, and produce construction drawings for later solicitation of construction bids.