Master Site Plan

Improvements on the West Side of North High School

January 23, 2012

District 99’s Master Site Plan

• $13.8 million project • Substantial site work at both

campuses • Additional site work proposed, but

not funded • Multiple planning components over

three decades

Project Objectives

• Improve safety • Enhance educational programming

• Maximize use of limited space

Challenges at North High

• Lack of acreage (approximately ¼ the optimal size)

• Campus in the midst of residential area

• Students forced to go off-campus for activities

• Storm water management issues • Fragmented campus

Project Timeline

• 1999 – District secures first property on the block bordered by Saratoga and Grant

• 2004 – District completes preliminary outdoor facility study with input from stakeholdlers

• 2004 – On January 26, District makes public presentation at BOE meeting

• 2008 – New superintendent directed to develop a Master Site Plan and identify funding source

Project Timeline, continued

• 2009 – Wight & Company hired to develop concept plan

• 2009 – In October, BOE receives report about initial concept plan

• 2010 – Wight and District staff gather input from multiple stakeholders

• 2010 – Woodridge property settlement provides District with funding source for MSP

Project Timeline, continued

• 2011 – On January 24, concept plan presentations made to BOE and community

• 2011 – On January 31, the BOE approved the concept plan

• 2011 – In June, the BOE approves purchase of final property

• 2011 – Phase 1 of MSP (new tracks and fields) complete

• 2011 – In August, Phase 2 design begins

Project Timeline, continued • 2011 – On October 27, held Open House

with North High neighbors • 2011 – On November 10, made public

presentation to the Village of Downers Grove Planning Commission

• 2011 – On November 22, met with neighbor who spoke at the BOE meeting on November 21, 2011 and wanted to share idea of “remote” lot

• 2011 – On November 23, revisited “remote” lot consideration with Wight engineers and North High staff

Project Timeline, continued • 2012 – On January 3, 2012, made public

presentation about the plans to the Downers Grove Village Council

• 2012 – On January 10, 2012, Village of Downers Grove approves Prince Street vacation at public meeting

• 2012 – On January 11, 2012, made Presentation to the neighbors about feedback and changes stemming from the Open House

• 2012 – On January 23, BOE meeting presentation

Communications Timeline

2009 Email Update Explains Issues

Email update sent on October 8, 2009 following October 5, 2009 BOE Meeting; the BOE approved further study

Placed Website Information Online on January 24, 2011- today

Website has included Q&A, timelines, maps, drawings and contact for more information…

Placed Paid Advertisement on January 26, 2011

Ran a paid advertisement in the Downers Grove Reporter summarizing BOE meeting, explaining the MSP, and referring people to go online for more info.

Emailed District Newsletter on September 1, 2011

Sent 7,500+ subscribers an email newsletter, which included info about the next phase of the MSP and the expanded parking at North to improve traffic

Mailed Invitations to Open House to Residents on October 13, 2011

Mailed 2,229 flyers to homes surrounding the North High area to invite residents to the Open House

Placed Paid Advertisement about Open House on October 19, 2011

We ran a paid advertisement in the Downers Grove Reporter about the Open House

Held Open House on October 27, 2011

We held the Open House, which was attended by approximately 40 community members

Emailed District Newsletter on November 1, 2011

Sent 7,500+ subscribers an email newsletter, which mentioned the Open House and next phase of projects

Mailed District’s Annual Highlights on November 10, 2011

Mailed annual highlights to all District 99 households and placed the report online; report mentions the improvements being made and refers to the website for more info.

Mailed Invitations to Presentation to Residents on December 27, 2011

Mailed 2,229 flyers to homes surrounding the North High area to invite residents to the January 11, 2012 Presentation

Placed Paid Advertisement about Open House on January 4, 2011

We ran a paid advertisement in the Downers Grove Reporter about the Presentation

Emailed District Newsletter

on January 5, 2011

Sent 7,500+ subscribers an email newsletter, which announced the Presentation;

Held Open House

on January 11, 2012 We held an informational presentation update, which was attended by approximately 33 community members.

Written Feedback from Open House

• Increase the amount of landscaping • Make pick-up and drop-off signage

clear • Limit parking times surrounding

Prince Street west lot • Improve safety (specific traffic

concerns and ideas were offered)

Subsequent Resident Feedback

On November 22, 2012 we met with one neighbor who presented a “flipped” scenario showing a “remote lot” for the west side parking lot

What We Are Changing Based on Feedback

• Adding $200K in landscaping • Changing egress placements on both west and

east lots to reduce conflicts with neighbor driveways

• Eliminating sidewalk along Grant to discourage drop-off/pick-ups on the street

• Increasing signage for pedestrian and traffic control

• Finalizing a viable bus route plan on Prince and Saratoga

A “Remote” Lot Was Considered

• Our professionals reviewed the neighbor’s scenario for the west side of the school

• Similar scenarios were also created and considered by Wight in 2009…

Remote Lot Option Considered (2009)

Recommended: Adjacent Lot (2012)

Problems with “Remote” Lot

• Accessing parking lot from the North side

will cause bus congestion and traffic conflicts on Main Street and Ogden Avenue

• Accessing the parking lot from the South side does not eliminate pedestrian safety concerns

• Extended distance from school entrances • Does not accommodate access to loading

dock • Eliminates solution of athletic and activity

pick-ups

Benefits of “Adjacent” Lot

• Most logical place to put the lot, next to one of main three entrances to the school

• More convenient to students, staff, parents and visitors, getting them as close to entrance as possible

• Layout maximizes the space we have, and the amount of green space

Benefits of “Adjacent” Lot, continued

• Placement and location of plaza supports the needs of delivery trucks and location to loading docks

• Placement supports entrance to outdoor facilities

• Improves pedestrian and vehicular safety

• Will reduce circling and blocking of driveways

Next Steps

• Will return to the BOE in February with recommendations to award construction contracts

• We will be contacting interested

neighbors to collaborate with us on the landscaping. This has worked in the past successfully on similar projects (i.e., North’s south lot).

Board Discussion