Residents are expressing safety concerns to local officials regarding the use of motorized vehicles and scooters in downtown Lake Forest, with officials promising a greater examination into the matter.
“We have heard from several business owners/managers who have shared concern about the number of motorized scooters and bikes on the downtown sidewalks now that school is out,” Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joanna Rolek explained in an email.
“It’s of particular concern for stores that have recessed front doors where the customer must step out on the sidewalk before being seen or seeing someone moving quickly down the sidewalk,” she said. “Something as simple as walking a scooter past stores can make a terrific difference.”
The issue was addressed at a June 23 breakfast meeting sponsored by the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce featuring Lake Forest Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack and Lake Bluff Village President Regis Charlot.
Tack said he was aware of the additional scooter and bike traffic as well, and called for a larger conversation, pointing to his professional background.
“There has to be some discussion about the liability that occurs for parents when their kids are riding motorized vehicles on sidewalks because, as an orthopedic surgeon who spent 32 years fixing people’s broken hips, I can tell you this type of thing is likely to happen and it will be a problem,” Tack said.
However, he added current police and fire statistics don’t indicate any evidence of any scooter- or bicycle-related injuries.
“It doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but so far it has not,” Tack said. “This is a good time to get in front of it before it does.”
City Manager Jason Wicha noted city staff is looking into the issue.
‘We are coordinating a potential public information campaign, with the schools aimed at educating parents and children on safety and best practices,” Wicha said after the meeting.
Tack did not appear interested in creating any new ordinances as they would have to be enforced, and he thinks they would potentially create a lot of animosity in the community.
“It is not really practical for our police or staff to enforce those sorts of things,” he said.
Charlot said Lake Bluff has speed limits in place for bicyclists, and added there are fewer sidewalks in the village than Lake Forest so it is easier for his staff and police to oversee the situation.
On other issues, both Tack and Charlot said their respective communities are in strong shape financially.
In terms of community development, Tack mentioned approximately 100 stone trucks per day would start arriving in late June for about a month at the Deerpath Community Park, acknowledging they are likely to cause traffic disruptions.
The trucks are coming as part of the ongoing $16 million renovation of the athletic complex that is next to Deer Path Middle School.
“It is really remarkable, and it is really big,” Tack said.
In another part of the city, Tack said a stabilization of the middle part of the Forest Park bluff is set to start in September, and projected to be completed by April 15, 2024.
Both Tack and Charlot said a series of infrastructure projects are set to occur over the next few months, and Charlot noted Lake Bluff is working toward the installations of a new large stormwater pipe aimed to alleviate flooding issues with an estimated price tag of $20 million.
“It’s the largest investment in our community,” he said.
He said the funds will come from a new stormwater utility fee set to go into effect on July. He said the other half of the money will come from a mix of federal government, Lake County and Charlot said the village has a “soft commitment” from the Illinois Department of Transportation for the rest.
Regarding commercial real estate, Tack said there has been increased vitality in the central business district driven by some new restaurants, from high-end spots to a new downtown coffee and juice option.
“Lake Forest seems to be a very viable site for that type of business,” he said.
Charlot said the village’s downtown has a new coffee shop and pizza restaurant, and the vacant building on the 100 block of Scranton Avenue is drawing some interest from a developer as a potential site for a new Italian restaurant.
He added the village’s business park is expanding, and the village only has 22 houses for sale when typically there are 90 to 110 houses are on the market.
“People are not moving away, they are enjoying our community,” Charlot said. “I think that is a trend that started during the pandemic and continues to this day.”
However, Charlot said there is nothing new pending on the site of the former Stonebridge estate near Green Bay Road, where most of the buildings have been torn down.
Tack said in Lake Forest, 41 new single-family homes have been built, and roughly 60 multifamily units have been added to the city’s housing stock.
