A Better Winnetka

With a packed audience, the Streetscape Committee presented its Plan to the Village Council for review and direction at the Village Council study session on November 11^th.

The Streetscape Committee specifically recommended that:

1. The Village Council should officially adopt, by Resolution, the revised Winnetka Commercial Districts Master Streetscape and Wayfinding Plan, dated November 11, 2008, as a design guideline and master plan for future streetscape development within Winnetka’s three business districts. The ‘Master Plan should be consulted as a roadmap by The Design Review Board, Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Council, when evaluating public and private development projects in Winnetka’s commercial districts. The Master Plan should also be made available to citizens, commercial property owners and developers to help communicate Winnetka’s vision of Commercial District streetscape development.

2. The Village Council should adopt the Priority One Streetscape Implementation Plan, dated

November 11, 2008.

3. The Village Council should direct staff to solicit design and engineering service proposals suitable to initiate the Priority One Streetscape Implementation Plan.

Although no action was taken by the Village Council, the consensus is to adopt the Master Plan (with comments on the Gage/Hubbards Woods section) as a guide for future development. However, as the Village President stated, “The meat of the matter is the ability to execute it.” The core issue regards funding and how the first phase, Priority One Streetscape Implementation Plan, will be financed, especially considering the six other major capital improvement projects on the Village’s plate. The Village has approximately $9.3 million of available reserves for these capital projects, but all seven total far more than this available amount.

The Village Council is just beginning its yearly budget process where funding for these “super major” capital projects, including Streetscape, will be discussed. Check the Village’s calendar for upcoming meetings.

See also the Winnetka Talk article  (and another one) on the November 11^th Streetscape presentation to Village Council.