Resident urges action after near-misses at Northwest Highway businesses; staff cites sidewalk snow rules

During the audience section a resident urged the village to address pedestrian safety and sidewalk clearing around several Northwest Highway businesses.

Barbara Sterling told the council she walks daily and has "gotten hit almost 3 times" by vehicles turning into McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts and Subway on Northwest Highway; she asked the village to consider pedestrian signage, enforcement, and measures to reduce risky turning behavior. Sterling also said in winter sidewalks are often uncleared and described instances of older pedestrians forced into the street.

Village staff said the village engineer would review pavement stop bars and signage and explore options for private lots, and reminded Sterling that the village ordinance prohibits depositing snow onto sidewalks. Staff also noted the village contracts sidewalk snow removal on certain routes and activates the contractor when accumulation reaches three inches; staff asked residents to report specific violations to the action line for same-day enforcement.

Why it matters: the remarks highlight local pedestrian-safety risks at commercial driveways and limitations in sidewalk maintenance responsibilities; staff committed to a review and clarified which sidewalk clearing the village already provides and what property owners are prohibited from doing.