5 Major Focus for Kenilworth’s Green Bay Road Plan

Village staff say it’s still too early in the process to know the cost of implementing the plan or where funding will come from.

  Kenilworth’s streetscape plan for the Green Bay Road corridor hopes to address several issues in the coming years, such parking, bicycle mobility, traffic management, pedestrian safety, access to transit and village character, Chicago Tribune reported.  The Green Bay Road Transportation and Streetscape Plan will focus on five major areas such as opening small retailers in Kenilworth Train Station, the possible Sterling Road closure just south of Green Bay Road to make a cul-de-sac to limit corridor traffic in residential areas and increasing the total number of parking spaces on Richmond Road in front of Village Hall to 49 spaces from 34, Chicago Tribune reported. Last July, the village received a $75,000 grant for the Corridor …

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Editor's Pick: Why did Kenilworth’s Home Rule Referendum Fail?

Inadequate public education? Fear of higher taxes? Or outright opposition?

Why did Kenilworth’s Home Rule Referendum Fail?

Inadequate public education? Fear of higher taxes? Or outright opposition?

Six weeks ago, Kenilworth residents made their way to the polling place, stepped into the booth and voted down the village’s home rule referendum. But what caused 61.8 percent of the 1,382 voters to issue a decisive no to a proposed change billed as a potential solution to Kenilworth’s mounting infrastructure woes? Kenilworth Village President Fred G. Steingraber said he thinks poor timing, insufficient village communication and residents’ fears of higher property taxes are mostly to blame. Had the measure passed, the village would have assumed various taxing, zoning and licensing powers that had previously fallen to the state. More importantly, according to Steingraber, the newfound capabilities would have been used to help finance an …

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David Greenberg

6:50 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

How about an ordinance to implement term limits for all elected officials. Then if someone happens to get an increase through, it can be undone w/o worrying about whether a career politician will connive to prevent the repeal. In the meantime, kudos to the 61% of the voters who chose to wisely limit the power of their Government.   more ›

New Recycling Services in Kenilworth

The Village of Kenilworth will have new recycling services starting January 2013.

Public Comment Meeting Today for Kenilworth Streetscape Plan

The village received a $75,000 grant to provide a foundation for future infrastructure planning in Kenilworth's commercial areas and the Green Bay Road Corridor.

Information provided by the Village of Kenilworth. Kenilworth is launching a full-fledged public engagement effort as the Village moves forward with the next phase of the Green Bay Road Corridor Transportation and Streetscape Plan, which is primarily funded by a $75,000 planning grant from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The Village has been working with planning consultants at Houseal Lavigne Associates to move into the next phases of the grant and planning process. Houseal Lavigne Associates is the same firm that helped create Kenilworth’s first comprehensive plan in 2008. On Nov.13, the Village released to the public an interactive project website that includes several features that provide Kenilworth residents and business…

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Kenilworth Home Rule Referendum Fails

The referendum would have shifted some decision-making abilities from the state to the local level by making the village a “home rule unit”.

FINAL UPDATE AT 8:53 p.m.: The Kenilworth's home rule referendum has been voted down with more than three in five Kenilworth voters casting "no" ballots for the measure. The referendum would have moved some taxing, zoning and licensing powers from the state to the local level by making the village a “home rule unit”. Did you vote "no" for the referendum? If so, take a moment to write in our comments section and tell us why. UPDATED AT 8:16 p.m.: Though both precincts are reporting, this one isn't called yet. As of now, the "no" votes lead by 326 votes and 23 percentage points. RESULTS (UPDATED AS THEY COME IN TUESDAY NIGHT): UPDATED AT 7:49 p.m.: It seems about two out of every three Kenilworth residents voted no on the home rule …

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Will You Vote for Kenilworth to Become a Home Rule Community?

Village hopes becoming a home-rule community could help finance a long-term infrastructure plan, which is projected to cost between $17 to $20 million over 10 years.

UPDATE: Kenilworth Home Rule Referendum Fails When Kenilworth residents head to the polls tomorrow, they will be asked to vote on whether the village should shift some decision-making abilities from the state to the local level by becoming a “home rule unit”. Kenilworth Village President Fred G. Steingraber said in August that the village needs to improve its infrastructure but currently lacks the funds. 78 percent of sewers, 81 percent of water mains and 55 percent of fire hydrants in the village are more than 100 years old, Steingraber said. Home rule allows communities a broad range of powers, such as taxing, zoning and licensing, unless exempted by the State.  “We’ve concluded the best starting point for [financing a long-term …

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Kenilworth Home Rule Referendum on Nov. 6 Ballot

Village hopes becoming a home-rule community could help finance a long-term infrastructure plan, which is projected to cost between $17 to $20 million over 10 years

Kenilworth Puts Home Rule Referendum on Nov. 6 Ballot

Village hopes becoming a home-rule community could help finance a long-term infrastructure plan, which is projected to cost between $17 to $20 million over 10 years.

Facing the need to improve Kenilworth’s infrastructure but lacking the funds, Kenilworth trustees approved putting a referendum on the upcoming election ballot that asks voters if they would give the village greater decision-making powers.  “We’ve concluded the best starting point for [financing a long-term infrastructure plan] is to go into Home Rule for this community,” said Fred G. Steingraber, village president, during the Aug. 20 village board meeting. “The long-term infrastructure plan is going require $17 to $20 million of capital over 10 years.”  When Kenilworth voters head to the polls on November 6, they will be asked whether they approve shifting decision-making abilities from the state level to the local level.  Home rule …

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Kenilworth Appoints New Village Manager

Patrick M. Brennan, the former Highland Park deputy city manager, started working in the Village of Kenilworth on Aug. 21.

Kenilworth trustees appointed Patrick M. Brennan as the new village manager during a board meeting Monday.  “Patrick has got a tremendous background,” said Kenilworth Village President Fred G. Steingraber. “He’s got all sorts of qualities that the village needs right now.”  Steingraber cited the 45-year-old’s experience working on capital-intensive projects including infrastructure, intergovernmental contracting partnerships, expense reduction projects, improvement of revenue, attracting federal aid funds and managing budgets and cost control among others.  Kenilworth's former village manager Brad Burke's last day was Aug. 10. After working in the village for six years, Burke accepted a new position in Lincolnshire. Check back on Patch …

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