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Plan Commission approves text amendment to tighten telecom contractor standards in rights-of-way
Summary
Orland Park's Plan Commission approved a text amendment (case 2026-0229) consolidating duplicate code language and adding a project-management subsection that requires on-site project management/quality control, improved resident notification, and coordination with public works; the item moves to the Village Board for final action.
The Orland Park Plan Commission on March 3 approved a text amendment that consolidates duplicate ordinance language and adds project-management requirements for telecommunications and utility work in public rights-of-way.
Joel Van Essen, the village public works director, told commissioners the amendment combines similar code language (sections 3.8 and 7-102) and adds a new project-management subsection intended to make contractors and their subcontractors more accountable. "The key things in there are improved resident notification ... subcontractor standards ... construction meetings ... quality control ... and coordination with public works so we can do a final inspection of the work," Van Essen said. He cited a December incident that contributed to a major electrical outage in the Catalina area as a motivating example for stronger controls.
Staff supplemented the record and asked that the staff report be entered into the hearing record; staff also said related amendments to section 3.8 will be considered by the Village Board, likely at its March 16 meeting. Commissioners asked whether the requirement that a project manager and quality-control person be "located in the village" was intended to require a permanent village office. Van Essen clarified the requirement is that a manager/QC person be on-site while work is underway, not that the firm maintain a permanent Orland Park office. He also said smaller firms may have the project manager and QC person be the same individual, provided that person is present on-site during work.
Commissioner Schuessler moved to approve the staff-recommended action for case 2026-0229; the motion was seconded and carried by the commission. The public hearings were then closed. The amendment will proceed to the Village Board for final consideration as part of a two-step code update process that also involves potential changes to section 3.8 of the village code.
The change aims to improve resident notification, ensure prime contractors supervise subcontractors, and give public works a clearer role in final inspections of utility-related work in public rights-of-way.
