It takes a village, but…
Lao Tzu said, "If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading".
We are at a pivotal point in our already chaotic lives.
No one is immune from having their home life disrupted and property encroached upon. Whether it’s a minor nuisance of a town ordinance, or if it’s big government imposing extravagant expansions that push you out of your comfort zone…literally forcing you into speaking on public record at meetings fighting for your rights or figuratively pushing you by messing with your warm fuzzy feelings you enjoy from your tranquil, safe and cozy chair…people are being strained in copious ways.
Why is this acceptable?
Road expansions can be a sign of “development”, yet they are also ruinous to neighborhoods and communities for the benefit of future commercial enhancements. Road expansions are not a welcoming sign for the people and their livelihoods along its path. For example, in Homer Glen, Illinois, an area deeply rooted in its preservation of “nature in harmony”, there are few corridors labeled as “commercial”. One is 159th Street which was dubbed “Homer Glen’s Economic Engine of the Future” and was widened to 4 lanes in 2015-2017. Another is Bell Road which was said to be a “highly visible and recognizable corridor” which is still under construction on the southern end. And then there is 143rd Street which is declared as a “mix of residential and local neighborhood commercial development”.
The concern with 143rd Street is that it was residential first and foremost before any entity started labeling it as commercial. It encompasses not only people, subdivisions, and other housing structures, but also farms, livestock, water sources (creeks), and agriculturally zoned areas. Moreover, the Homer Glen Transportation Plan (2007) states, “Most of the commercial land use will be along 159th Street and Bell Road” (p 104), which makes one wonder why they have integrated the highly populated 143rd Street into this “commercial corridor” pursuit.
In Homer Glen’s Transportation Plan, (March 2007), it says that, “Residential streets provide access to residences within a neighborhood. Streets are considered residential or local streets, unless designated as arterials or collectors in this Plan”. (p 25). If you look at an aerial map of 143rd Street, and study each road that ties into it, count the number of subdivisions, houses, and more. There are at least 1,500 homes that are impacted by this proposed Will County expansion.
Widening from 2 lanes to 5 lanes is not only excessive and damaging to the residents and town, but also confusing. Why didn’t the Village of Homer Glen follow their transportation plan (p 56) and add the traffic signal and left turn lane as proposed on 143rd Street and Creme Road? It states it was one of their priorities for 2016, and the cost would be $334,795 (with the village being responsible for only $110, 482 of that.)
Also note that on page 73 of Homer Glen’s Transportation Plan, it states, “The Village also has planned for commercial land use along the major arterials of 159th Street, 143rd Street, and Bell Road. This commercial land use will improve the tax base of the Village by generating additional sales tax. It also will generate additional traffic on these roadways. Some mixed-uses (commercial and higher density residential) are planned along 159th Street. Encouraging mixed land use should assist in the reduction of traffic. The widening and expansion of these roadways will be dependent upon the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Will County. The Village should work closely with these agencies and work directly with them on the roadway designs.”
Are the people willing to allow the intrusive and destructive road projects to go on? It appears the village has not protected its community.
The Village of Homer Glen was created by the residents who wanted to preserve it’s unique and valuable resources; it very well may be the residents who ultimately save it…are you one of them?