Resident warns council the market shed plan is a “potential death trap” without barriers

At the Warrenville City Council meeting on Sept. 15, 2025, Bob Siebert of Albright Court urged the council to add protective measures around two proposed market sheds near Warrenville Road, saying the current design left vendors and pedestrians exposed to fast‑moving traffic.

Siebert recited field measurements and time‑to‑impact calculations and warned of the danger. He said the east shed is about 19 feet 6 inches from the road and the west shed about 20 feet 6 inches; at the posted 35 mph speed limit, he said a vehicle would reach the west shed in about 0.49 seconds and the east shed in about 0.46 seconds. “That’s less than half a second. There’s no chance for the vendors or customers to react. You have designed a potential death trap,” Siebert said.

Siebert also raised concerns about recent grading near a large tree at the site, saying roots had already been cut and that without remedial steps the tree may die; he urged protecting the vendors by installing barriers. He recommended a natural solution such as limestone outcroppings—approximately 20–24 inches high, 4–4.5 feet wide and 2–3 feet deep—placed in short runs with openings for landscaping as protective measures.

Mayor Andrew Johnson acknowledged the comments later in the meeting after the council approved the sheds’ contract, saying the public points had been made and understood. Staff and council did not adopt a specific protective‑barrier motion at the meeting; Emery, the Community and Economic Development director, said staff will need to finalize site work and the installation timeline quickly because DuPage County grant funds tied to the market must be spent by November.

The council approved the contract for the sheds after reconsideration of a previously failed vote; Siebert’s safety concerns remain part of the record and may inform staff planning and any follow‑up work to protect vendors and pedestrians.