Compromise on Mariano’s Plan: 1 Street Extended into Development Instead of 2

Residents packed Orland Park’s village hall Tuesday night to express their doubts about aspects of the proposed Mariano’s and housing development for the rest of Orland Crossing.

But by the end of the three-and-a-half hour meeting, one key compromise suggested by the village’s plan commission could at least meet those concerned about traffic in the middle.

The original plan, which includes construction of a 73,000 square-foot Mariano’s Fresh Market and 231 rental units including apartments and townhomes, called for extending 140th Street and 141st Street west of John Humphrey drive and connecting them to the new development. Several residents living in the adjacent subdivisions told commissioners during the meeting that the extensions would create too much of an opportunity for people to cut through their areas, rather than take what they feel will be crowded main routes, such as LaGrange Road, 143rd Street and an extended 95th Street.

Read more about the Mariano’s plan.

“People will find the path of least resistance,” said 24-year Orland Park resident Norene Shader. “Even if it’s people in my community, it’s a concern. Once you establish the patterns, I believe there will be a lot of traffic.”

Kim Flom, Orland Park assistant development services director, said traffic studies were done that showed the area could handle predicted traffic. William Woodward, an engineer who worked on one of the studies, said the study included current traffic levels and projected levels in about six years, as well as increases that will come once nearby spaces are built out, including the remaining Main Street Triangle area and land owned by Pete’s Fresh Market on 143rd Street.

“Traffic can go back and forth on John Humphrey Drive, however we don’t see it being a detriment,” Woodward said. “Because of the circuitous nature of the neighborhood, why would someone go up John Humphrey and then cross over and back when they have access to other roads?”

Plan Commission Chairman Louis Stephens asked those in attendance whether people who live in the Heritage Estates subdivision near Orland Crossing would like to have the access to Mariano’s from their homes. Several people in attendance called out “No.”

Some people who spoke felt otherwise. Nancy Sutherland said her mother is a resident in the subdivision and would like to see the street go through for the access.

Maureen McBride suggested adding another access point off of LaGrange Road, and then “everyone will be happy.”

Commissioner John Paul said that he lives on Wheeler Drive, “the king of cut through,” and when the village connected it to 94th Avenue and to LaGrange Road, his neighbors “said it was Armageddon.”

“Will you get more traffic? Of course you will,” Paul said. “Anytime you build a new house, a new office you get more. Will people cut through? Yes. Because that’s what people do…but if there are issues, send police out there. People now know not to speed down Wheeler or you’ll be caught.”

Commissioner Nick Parisi said more routes in and out of the development would help disperse traffic more effectively.

Stephens then suggested at the very end to eliminate the 140th Street extension.

“Going down 141st Street, it still just stops at Thomas Drive,” Stephens said about the road going east. “Where am I going to go? Right in that house over there? But it does make sense for people in Heritage to go westbound to shop at Mariano’s.”

The development plan will next be in front of Orland Park’s development services committee 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 at village hall.

Return later for more information about the Mariano’s development and Monday night’s plan commission meeting.

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