Indian Grove Residents, Village Find Middle Ground on Street Project

Residents of the Indian Grove subdivision on Algonquin’s east side appear to have reached a compromise with the village regarding upcoming road and infrastructure improvements.

About 35 homeowners on Tuesday attended the Committee of the Whole meeting. There, village staff members addressed ten specific concerns and requests made by the residents. 

A priority for many in the subdivision was to save some of the 71 trees originally slated for removal in order for the village to make the necessary water main, road reconstruction, storm sewer installation and sidewalk improvements in the $2 million project.

Specific roads slated for reconstruction in the project include Hubbard, Osceola, Cherokee and Navajo. 

Although village trustees won’t vote on the matter until the next board meeting, it appears the sidewalk portion of the plans has been eliminated in order to save mature trees and preserve the ambiance of the older neighborhood, which is located immediately east of the Fox River in Algonquin.

Village Manager Bill Ganek said staff has agreed to perform selected drilling on the existing water main — in lieu of replacing the whole line — in an effort to save 23 trees. Only portions of the main in disrepair would be replaced.

By a show of hands, residents at the meeting favored the village’s proposal to reconstruct new 20-foot-wide roads on Osceola and Cherokee with 3.5-foot depressed curbs and safety shells on both sides of the roads, totaling 27 feet in width.

Residents requested the roads be kept as narrow as possible while staff stressed the need to create roadways wide enough to accommodate two passing cars.

Indian Grove is comprised of 63 houses. Of those, 41 homeowners responded to a questionnaire seeking input on the project, representatives for the Indian Grove Homeowners Association said.

Staff also promised to replace trees, although everyone acknowledged the new trees won’t be of the size and maturity of those removed.

“In total, (with the changes) the tree loss would be between 22 to 30 trees as opposed to the original plan that had 71 trees lost,” Ganek said.

Michael Amster, president of the Indian Grove Homeowners Association, did not want to comment on the village’s revisions when asked if he was satisfied with the changes.

“I just hope the homeowners are,” Amster said.

Resident William Brodrick said he was happy the compromise saved some of the trees standing in the way of what staff members said are necessary upgrades.

“I think there was some give and take on both sides,” Brodrick said.

“I mean nobody’s going to be totally happy. But we saved 40 beautiful trees, and we won’t have sidewalks. We know the sewer improvements need to be done to meet the EPA standards," Brodrick said. "From that standpoint, we all win. Everybody got a little bit of what they wanted. Sometimes, the government needs a wakeup call … I’ve got to give the board credit: They listened.