Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer
Reviewed By
LKs
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving Temporary Construction Easements and Permanent Sidewalk Easements Necessary for the Lake Street Streetscape Project, Section 16-00264-00-PV, and Authorizing Execution of the Easements
End
Overview
Overview
Sidewalk easements are needed in order to replace sidewalks with the Lake Street Streetscape project at approximately 32 parcels since buildings are typically set back six feet from the right-of-way line along Lake Street in Downtown Oak Park and at various locations west of Oak Park Avenue. The Village has requested temporary construction easements for non-sidewalk areas and permanent sidewalk easements for areas that act as public sidewalk. Property owners are being requested to donate these easements to allow for improvements of their property with the construction project.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to obtaining the temporary construction easements or permanent sidewalk easements.
Background
The proposed Lake Street Improvement project includes sidewalk replacement for much of the length of the project from Harlem Avenue to Euclid Avenue. In the Downtown Oak Park area (DTOP) from Harlem to Forest the buildings are typically set back approximately six feet from the property line. In most locations there are not existing sidewalk easements recorded against the private properties in this section. In the area east of DTOP to Euclid Avenue the private property line gets closer to the building line but there are still many locations where the main sidewalk extends into private property. In addition to these main sidewalk areas, construction of sidewalk ramps at corners sometimes requires replacing sidewalks on private properties in order to make the elevations and slopes meet American with Disabilities Act requirements. Easements are required in order to perform this sidewalk replacement work on the private properties.
The process for obtaining easements is rigidly defined by Federal requirements and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The Village has obtained all of the required title commitments for the affected properties, prepared the necessary surveys and plats, and been working with the firm of Swanson and Brown to obtain the easements with the various properties.
The Village will be requesting that property owners donate permanent sidewalk easements in the locations of the proposed work. Temporary construction easements are being requested for work that extends beyond the main sidewalk areas or with property owners unwilling to commit to permanent easements. Template temporary construction easement and permanent sidewalk easement agreements drafted by the Village Attorney are attached and final versions will be negotiated with applicable property owners.
Alternatives
The alternative to this recommendation could be to delay action to gain additional information.
Previous Board Action
At the November 5, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Resolution Authorizing Local Funding and a Local Public Agency Agreement for Federal Participation with the State Of Illinois for Construction of the Lake Street Streetscape Project, Section 16-00264-00-PV.
At the November 5, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with TranSystems Corporation for Phase III Construction Engineering for the Lake Street Improvement Projects in an amount not to exceed $1,464,930.
At the November 5, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Resolution Approving a Contract with Trine Construction Corp. for Project 19-1, Lake Street Sewer and Water Main Improvements, in an amount not to exceed $1,862,000.
At the September 4, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board Approved a Highways Land Acquisition Contract for Negotiation services with Swanson and Brown, Ltd. for Right-of-Way Acquisition for the Lake Street Improvement Project in an amount not to exceed $103,900.
At the July 9, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board Approved a Third Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Thomas Engineering Group LLC for the Design of the Lake Street Streetscape, Resurfacing, and Utility Improvement Projects to include Coordination with Developments and Revisions to Projects’ Scope for an additional $179,440.
At the March 5, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board approved the Lake Street Improvement projects’ scope and limits and provided direction to staff to modify the limits and scope to reduce the overall budget for construction of the projects to $15 million.
At the March 5, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board Approved a Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Thomas Engineering Group LLC for the Design of the Lake Street Streetscape, Resurfacing, and Utility Improvement Projects to include Design Modifications to existing Sidewalk Vaults for an additional $80,648.
At the March 5, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board Approved an Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc., for an Environmental Preliminary Site Investigation for the Lake Street Improvement Projects in an amount not to exceed $36,511.
At the February 26, 2018 regular meeting the Village Board Approved the Lake Street Improvement Project’s Scope, Including the Projects’ Limits, Decorative Materials, and Specialty Features with a budgeted amount of $15 million.
At the October 16, 2017 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with The Lakota Group, Inc., for Phase 2 Professional Landscape Architecture and Planning Services for the Lake Street Streetscape Project in an amount not to exceed $131,370.
At the January 17, 2017 regular meeting the Village Board Approved an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with The Lakota Group, Inc., for Phase 1 Professional Landscape Architecture and Planning Services for the Lake Street Streetscape Project for an additional $24,780
At the January 17, 2017 regular meeting the Village Board Approved an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Thomas Engineering Group, LLC., for Professional Engineering Services for the design of the Lake Street Streetscape, Resurfacing, and Utility Improvement Projects for an additional $117,560.
On October 4, 2016, the Village Board authorized an agreement with The Lakota Group, Inc., for Phase 1 Professional Landscape Architecture and Planning Services for the Lake Street Streetscape Project in an amount not to exceed $99,000.
On August 1, 2016, the Village Board authorized an agreement with Thomas Engineering Group, LLC., for Professional Engineering Services for the design of the Lake Street Streetscape, Resurfacing, and Utility Improvement Projects in an amount not to exceed $1,080,000.
At the July 18, 2016 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a 2016 Federal Surface Transportation Program Grant Application for the Lake Street Streetscape and Resurfacing Project.
At the June 6, 2016 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a 2016 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) Grant Application for the Lake Street Streetscape Project.
At the June 6, 2016 regular meeting the Village Board approved a Resolution Requesting the Illinois Department of Transportation Repurpose Federal Funds Earmarked for the I-290 Cap the Ike Projects, IL456 and IL478, to the proposed Lake Street Resurfacing and Streetscape Project according to the Consolidate Appropriations Act, 2016.
On February 8, 2016 the Village Board was given a presentation related to Construction, Parking and Mobility Services along the Lake Street Corridor from Harlem to Austin and directed staff to Request Proposals for the Preliminary and Design Engineering of the Lake Street Streetscape and Resurfacing Project.
On November 2, 2015 the Village Board was given a presentation on the Lake Street Streetscape Enhancement project which included a recommended project scope and material selections based on Board comments.
On May 11, 2015 the Village Board was given a presentation on the Lake Street Streetscape Enhancement project.
On August 20, 2014 the Disability Access Commission met at their regular open public meeting to review the proposed streetscape project and provided comments.
On January 7, 2013 Lakota Group and staff presented the recommendations of the Streetscape Committee for the Lake Street Streetscape project to the Village Board which included four options for scope and materials. The results of the surveys and walking tours were also presented.
On June 4, 2012 the Village Board the Village Board directed staff to form the Downtown District Streetscape Committee who would help in the development of various streetscape scenarios for Board consideration.
On March 15, 2012 the Village Board authorized an agreement with Lakota Group for design services related to the Lake Street Corridor from Harlem Ave to Euclid Ave.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
None at this time.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Easements are being requested with the Park District of Oak Park for replacing sidewalks adjacent to Scoville Park.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
This work is in alignment with the Governance Priority for the Department of Public Works for Infrastructure/Capital Programs.