Plan Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2018-03-15

STAFF REPORT 2018-02P: Street Vacation
Community Development Department Council Chambers, 7:30 PM, March 15, 2018


To: Paul Luke, Chairman, Skokie Plan Commission
From: Mike Voitik, Planning Technician
Re: 2018-02P: Street Vacation
 Lyons Street

General Information
Location Unimproved street, as follows:
 The north 33’ of Lyons Street between the ComEd
 property and Lawler Avenue.
Purpose To vacate approximately 296.835 linear feet of unimproved public
 street.
Petitioner The Village of Skokie
Size of Site The street’s dimensions are approximately 296.82 feet on the
 north, 33.00 feet on the east, 296.85 feet on the south, and
 33.00 feet on the west. The area of the street is approximately
 9,795.55 square feet (0.22 acre).
Existing Zoning & R2 Single-Family – unimproved public right-of-way containing
Land Use grass, trees, and landscaping
Adjacent Zoning & North R2 Single-Family – public park
Land Use
 South R2 Single-Family – community center (Mayer Kaplan
 JCC)
 East R2 Single-Family – detached residences
 West M2 Light Industry – public utility distribution facility
Comprehensive Plan The site is designated as open spaces


PETITIONER’S SUBMITTAL
The Village of Skokie is requesting the vacation of the north 33 feet of Lyons Street
between the ComEd property and Lawler Avenue in an R2 Single-Family district. At the
present time, the street is unimproved and contains grass, trees, and landscaping. No
public utilities are present within the subject site.
The Village intends to vacate the street and convey it to the Skokie Park District at no
charge. The park district has maintained the subject site for many years as part of
Emerson Park. Although the south half of Lyons Street was originally approved for
vacation by the Village in 1968 (case 68-58P) in advance of the construction of the

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Mayer Kaplan JCC facility at 5050 Church Street, the Village somehow did not record
the plat of vacation at that time. The plat was eventually recorded in 2017 in
preparation for the sale of the community center property. This portion of Lyons Street
is identified in Chapter 5 of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan as being a potential street
to be vacated.

STAFF ANALYSIS
Comments
All pertinent departments and divisions were offered an opportunity to comment on this
case. Other than the Planning Division comments below, all others approved the
request without comment.

 Planning Division
 The Planning Division staff supports the proposed street vacation. The subject site
 has been utilized as an extension of Emerson Park for many years. The existing
 right-of-way is not used for transportation or utility purposes and is better suited as
 becoming a part of the Skokie Park District’s property.


STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the petitioner’s request to vacate the north 33 feet of Lyons
Street between the ComEd property and Lawler Avenue in an R2 Single-Family district
be GRANTED subject to conditions listed below.

RECOMMENDED VACATION CONDITIONS
 1. The property shall be vacated pursuant to the Plat of Vacation dated <date to be
 determined>, and as may be further revised with the approval of the Village
 Manager, or designee, and Corporation Counsel.
 2. Upon the passage of the ordinance by the Board of Trustees, the Mylar of the
 Plat of Vacation shall be submitted to the Village with all signatures other than
 Village staff or elected officials.
 3. The vacation shall be effective upon the recording of a Plat of Vacation by the
 Village in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County, Illinois.


ATTACHMENTS
1. Site Photos
2. Plat of Vacation, dated March 8, 2018
3. Land Use and Zoning Map



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