Village of Lyons Comprehensive Plan Draft Existing Conditions Report March 2014 Acknowledgements

Christopher Getty, Mayor

Steering Committee Amanda Cantrell Librarian, Lyons Public Library Dan Dever Village Staff Daniel M. Powers Director, Lyons Public Library Frank Torres Director, Lyons Park and Recreation Department Greg Ramirez Resident James Koc Village Staff Jeff Dutton Resident/Lyons Community Garden Jorge Torres Building Inspector, Village of Lyons Kenneth K. Getty Resident/ Rep. of the Lyons Retirees Pat Alonzi Village Trustee Thomas Sheahan Village Manager Vic Zynda Resident

Special thanks are also due to the following stakeholders who assisted with various facets of the project: Audrey Kalwyter Resident Bill Haworth Business owner (Quarry) Gordon Nord Chief, Lyons Fire Department Guy Hollis Business owner (Culvers Restaurant) Harley Schinker Chief, Lyons Police Department John Pierce Director, Building and Planning Department Kindy Kruller Senior Planner, Forest Preserve District of Cook County Kyle Leonard Resident & Village Staff Mary Jo Vladika PhD Superintendent, Lyons Elementary School District 103 Mary Kalfas Resident & Former member of the Planning Commission Patricia Demco Resident Leslie Phemister Outreach Manager, Active Transportation Alliance Toni Parker Resident & Former member of the Planning Commission William Ruting Resident/Former Chair of the Planning Commission

Funding Acknowledgement This project was supported through CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Chicago Community Trust. The Village of Lyons and CMAP would like to thank these funders for their support for this project. Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction...... 2

Chapter Two: Regional Context ...... 7

Chapter Three: Previous Plans, Studies, and Reports ...... 13

Chapter Four: Community Outreach ...... …..19

Chapter Five: Community Services and Institutions ...... 23

Chapter Six: Land Use and Development ...... 26

Chapter Seven: Housing and Population…………………………………..…………………………38

Chapter Eight: Economic Development ...... 48

Chapter Nine: Transportation ...... 55

Chapter Ten: Natural Environment…………..……………………………………………………….72

Chapter Twelve: Looking Forward ...... …84

Appendix

Community Outreach

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Village of Lyons, which was founded in 1888, is located in Cook County and is one of Chicago’s inner-ring western suburbs. It has embarked on creating a comprehensive plan, which will define the community’s vision and the steps needed to achieve that vision. Over the last few decades, Lyons has undertaken several planning initiatives primarily focused on economic development and strategic planning. The new comprehensive plan will build on these initiatives to help shape a more cohesive, community-wide plan. Decisions made today and in the future will determine the Village’s physical appearance, economic wellbeing, and character. Having an up-to-date plan that clearly articulates the community’s desired character will help the Village at all levels of the decision-making process. The Lyons Comprehensive Plan will serve as a guide for elected officials, municipal staff, community residents, business owners, and potential investors, allowing them to make informed administrative and implementation choices on community development decisions.

To create a plan that responds to local issues and aspirations requires a thorough understanding of how Lyons became what it is today, its role in the greater region, and the way the Village functions. Having an accurate understanding of existing conditions will allow the Village to develop an appropriate and effective plan that addresses the issues, concerns, and goals of residents. This Existing Conditions Report provides an overview of the current conditions in Lyons as a foundation for the plan.

Why does Lyons need a Comprehensive Plan? Lyons adopted a Comprehensive Plan in 1992, but it is over 20 years old and the Village does not refer to it in making planning and development decisions. Rather, the Village relies on its ordinances, particularly its zoning ordinance, to guide development. In the past, the Village has undertaken several initiatives including short- and long-term revitalization strategies for industrial areas, commercial districts, the town center area, and for upgrading its aging infrastructure. While most of these initiatives have sought to address specific issues, they have been limited in their scope. As a result, the Village requested technical assistance from CMAP to help create a consensus-based, villagewide vision for the future of Lyons. The new Comprehensive Plan will enable the community to take full advantage of existing opportunities in an effective and efficient manner.

What is a Comprehensive Plan? A comprehensive plan is a document that articulates a community’s vision for its future and provides a roadmap to achieving that vision. It provides a framework for future development and investment decisions that preserve and enhance community assets in the best interest of residents. Generally, a comprehensive plan guides public policy on a broad range of topics including transportation, land use, housing, economic development, and open space.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Typically, a comprehensive plan aims to provide guidance for implementing a community vision over a ten- to twenty-year period. Although a comprehensive plan is considered a long- term document, it should also be viewed as a tool to be used daily by the community to assist in land use and development decisions. The plan should be flexible and adaptable to changing conditions. A community can choose to update its comprehensive plan at any time to match local needs, interests, or opportunities, but an update to stay current every five to ten years is common.

Elements of a Comprehensive Plan A comprehensive plan comprises a series of distinct yet interrelated elements that address specific topics. It can have different elements depending on the jurisdiction to which it applies, but many comprehensive plans address the following key elements:  Land Use  Transportation  Housing  Economic Development  Natural Resources  Implementation Strategies

In addition to the primary elements listed above, a comprehensive plan may also include additional elements, which may be discrete sections in the plan or common themes that run throughout the document. Elements of a comprehensive plan are usually interrelated in that they share common assumptions about demographic and socioeconomic factors, the plan’s geographic area, and the time period. The elements must also reinforce and not conflict with one another.1 The Lyons Comprehensive Plan may include additional elements such as community facilities, historic preservation and community identity. Under the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-12-5(1)), a comprehensive plan may include reasonable requirements with reference to streets, alleys, public grounds, and other improvements.

Purpose of the Existing Conditions Report Developing an appropriate and effective comprehensive plan that addresses the relevant issues and concerns of a community requires an accurate understanding of a community’s existing conditions. This Existing Conditions Report is the culmination of approximately four months of research, analysis, and public outreach. It provides an overview of the current conditions in the Village of Lyons and serves as an agreed-upon “starting point” for visioning and planning. It also acts as a checklist after creation of the plan to verify whether the plan addresses key issues in the community.

1 Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff. 2006. Planning 1-2-3: A Step-by-Step Workbook to Writing a Comprehensive Plan in Illinois. Chicago: Campaign for Sensible Growth, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and Metropolitan Planning Council.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Planning Process The process to create the Lyons Comprehensive Plan will last approximately one year and include multiple steps. The process has been crafted with the assistance of Village officials and is designed to include the input of Village residents, business owners, and other stakeholders. Figures 1.1 and 1.2 show the key stages of the planning process and the project timeline. Figure 1.3 shows the study area.

Figure 1.1 The Planning Process

Figure 1.2 Project Timeline

Next Steps After presenting the Existing Conditions Report to the Steering Committee and the Village Staff for review, CMAP will begin to work with the community to create a shared vision for the Village’s future. Building on the Existing Conditions Report, research, and public input, CMAP will work with residents, business owners, elected and appointed officials, and Village staff on a community visioning process to allow residents to express their preferences and intentions for

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report the Village’s future. CMAP will then prepare a statement of the community vision with associated goals and present it to the Steering Committee and the Village.

After completing the visioning process,the following steps will occur:  Drafting preliminary plan recommendations and presenting them to the Steering Committee and the Village staff for discussion.  Developing the elements of the new Comprehensive Plan based on the agreed recommendations.  Presenting the Draft Plan to the Steering Committee and Village Staff for review.  Holding an open house to give the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft Plan.  Compiling the public comments on the Draft Plan and presenting them to the Steering Committee for discussion.  Revising the Draft Plan based on the public feedback and producing a final Plan.  Presenting the Plan to the Steering Committee and the Village Board for adoption.

Figure 1.3 Residents Participate in a Visioning Exercise

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

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W 50THOther ST Municipalities Metra Rail Lines Unincorporated I2 Metra Stations SANITARY DRAINAGE 55 AND SHIP CANAL ¨¦§ I D R K Miles AN L B 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 NA Summit CA S Chicago 283Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. W 52ND ST

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Chapter 2: Regional Context

This section provides a brief history of the Village of Lyons as well as an overview of how the community fits into the larger region. It gives special attention to the recommendations of CMAP’s GO TO 2040 Plan, which are intended to help maintain the economic competitiveness of the region and a high quality of life. Understanding Lyons’ past and its regional position provides a context for the existing conditions and help address the Village’s issues and potential opportunities.

The History of Lyons The Village of Lyons has played a key role in the development of the Chicago region since long before its incorporation in 1888. Lyons was founded on transportation and trade, enabling Chicago’s emergence as an internationally significant hub for the movement of goods. The strategic importance of its location between the Des Plaines River and the Chicago River became evident during early European exploration of the area and interaction with the native population. French explorers Louis Joliet and Pierre Marquette, searching for a passage from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean in 1673, were traveling the Chicago River by canoe with winter approaching. On the advice of the local Pottawatomie tribe, the party crossed a marshy, half-mile-wide strip of land and entered the Des Plaines near present-day Lyons. The crossing became known as the Chicago Portage, the first connection between shipping routes in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The connection provided a western shipping route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Thousands of early settlers and traders traveling east and west used the passage. Today, the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in the Portage Woods and Ottawa Trail Woods Forest Preserves in Lyons commemorates the historic route.

A series of canals constructed across the portage beginning in the 1800s allowed direct navigation between the watersheds and helped drive the growth and industrialization of Lyons and surrounding communities. The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848; the larger Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal replaced it in 1900 and remains a major shipping route.2 The first stagecoach route from Chicago to St. Louis, Missouri, ran through Lyons as well, driving the establishment of taverns and trading posts as the village’s first businesses.3 Early settlement by German canal workers preceded an influx of Polish immigrants and the establishment of limestone quarries, flourmills, and breweries as major components of the local economy by the late 19th century.4 Ice harvesting from the Des Plaines River provided seasonal employment for residents at the time.5 In 1875, a Roman Catholic Church opened in Lyons,6 joining the

2 Chicago History Museum. 2005. “Lyons, Il.” In The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/770.html 3 Kenneth Getty. 2011. “History of Lyons, Illinois.” In Lyons. Presented at United Citizens Party Breakfast, October 15. 4 Chicago History Museum. 2005. 5 Ibid 3.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Lutheran church that served the large German community. In 1897, a small settlement called Cooksville, which was located in the neighboring Riverside community, was transferred to Lyons.7

The railroad arrived in Lyons in 1864 as part of a line extending from Chicago to Aurora.8 The presence of a rail connection opened Lyons to investors who targeted the town for development. In 1908, prominent brewer George Hofmann, Jr. constructed a dam on the Des Plaines River along with the adjoining tower, both of which bear his name. The Hofmann Tower, an eight-story concrete structure, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Construction of the Chicago and Joliet Electric Railway in 1912 opened the town to investors, who constructed many amusement parks and taverns. In 1914, Lyons became more accessible by automobile following the paving of Ogden Avenue, which became the Village’s main street.9 The town grew rapidly after 1945, when residential housing was constructed on most of the available land in Lyons. From the early 1960 through the late 1980s, Ogden Avenue supported a number of bars that catered to the local workforce. The Village changed dramatically in the 1990s and the majority of the bars no longer exist. Today, the Village of Lyons retains its reputation as a working-class community.

Community Character and Historic Preservation The unique history and character of Lyons are evident in its streets, its homes, and its many notable sites and buildings. Its strong Polish heritage shows in the names of several streets in the southwest corner of the Village: Warsaw Avenue, Cracow Avenue, and Pulaski Road, named after Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski. The village is also home to many natural and historic resources that serve as destinations for visitors and residents, such as the Hofmann Tower. Lyons features several natural and historic sites and buildings that remind residents and visitors of the Village’s role in Chicago history and the significance of its location. The Des Plaines River runs along the northern edge of the village before turning through 315 acres of Forest Preserves along the village’s eastern boundary. Near the Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Chicago Portage National Historic Site celebrates the discovery of an inland shipping route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Alongside the Des Plaines River, the Hofmann Tower, which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, stands as a testament to the river’s long history as both a recreational site and a driver of commerce.

6 St Hugh Parish, “St Hugh Parish History.” http://www.parishesonline.com/scripts/HostedSites/org.asp?p=22&ID=5462 7 Sean M. O’Connor. 2011. “Lyons Public Library, Part 1.” Chicago Libraries Examiner, July 19. http://www.examiner.com/article/the-lyons-public-library-part-i 8 Getty 2011. 9 Ibid 4

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Lyons residents have taken an active role in promoting and preserving the Village’s historic assets. Founded in 1968, the ten-member Lyons Historical Commission preserves historic records and artifacts for public display. The Commission was instrumental in reopening Hofmann Tower to the public and opened a museum at the site, but both have closed due to the building’s deterioration.10 Preservation of the old Village Hall on Ogden Avenue ranks as another top historic preservation concern. Built in 1900, the building now sits vacant and presents an opportunity for renovation and adaptive reuse.

The Village of Lyons has long maintained a working class, residential identity. Like many of the towns in suburban Cook County, Lyons features a large amount of post-World War II housing; 60% of housing units in Lyons date from 1940 or later. In much of the Village, single-family homes are arrayed along gridded streets. More than one third of Lyons’ housing units, however, are located within multifamily buildings. Ogden Avenue serves as a commuting connection to Chicago not just for residents, one quarter of whom work in Chicago, but also for commuters living further from the city. The commercial areas of Lyons generally feature one- and two-story buildings with parking lots between the road and the business. Complementing the commercial and residential areas, the Des Plaines River and nearby Cook County Forest Preserves (White Eagle Woods, Ottawa Trails Woods, Chicago Portage Woods, Stoney Ford Woods and Portage Park Woods) offer the Village an abundance of natural areas, community facilities, and recreational opportunities.

Regional Setting The Village is located in Cook County about eleven miles southwest of downtown Chicago, close to highways and rail lines that connect it to the city. The Village is south of Riverside and Berwyn, west of Forest View and Stickney, east of Brookfield, and north of McCook and Summit. The Village sits on land separating two major watersheds; 47th Street and Harlem Avenue separate waters that flow into the Great Lakes from those that flow into the Mississippi River. Three major arterials – Harlem Avenue (IL Route 43), 1st Avenue (IL Route 171), and Ogden Avenue (IL Route 34)—serve the Village. Historic Route 66 (Joliet Avenue) also goes through Lyons. Interstate 55 runs through Summit, just south of Lyons. Metra's Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) line provides easy access to downtown Chicago, with several stops in nearby Riverside and Brookfield. Its strategic location and its proximity to Chicago as well as major transportation hubs like O’Hare and Midway airports make Lyons an attractive place to live or do business. The following are distances to some of the major points of interest and destinations within and near Lyons.11

10 Village of Lyons, “Historical Commission.” http://www.villageoflyons- il.net/Government/BoardsAndCommissions/HistoricalCommission.htm 11 Distances are straight-line measurements between points.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Major Roadways - U.S. Route 34 – 0.2 miles from Village Hall - IL Route 171 – 0.4 miles from Village Hall - IL Route 43 – 1.2 miles from Village Hall - Interstate 55 – 1.3 miles from Village Hall

Regional Public Transit - Brookfield Metra Rail Station serving the Metra’s BNSF rail line – 1.1 miles from Village Hall - Hollywood Metra Rail Station serving the Metra’s BNSF rail line – 0.9 miles from Village Hall - Riverside Metra Rail Station serving the Metra’s BNSF rail line – 1.0 miles from Village Hall - Summit Metra Rail Station serving the Metra’s Heritage Corridor (HC) rail line – 1.5 miles from Village Hall

Interstate Railroads - Summit Metra Rail Station serving Amtrak’s Lincoln Service rail line – 1.5 miles from Village Hall

International Airports - Chicago Midway International Airport – 4 miles from Village Hall - O’Hare International Airport – 11 miles from Village Hall

Other Major Destinations - City of Chicago Downtown Loop – 11 miles

Relationship with the GO TO 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan The cumulative choices of 284 municipalities and seven counties determine quality of life and economic prosperity across our region. Municipalities are critical to regional planning because of their responsibility for land use decisions, which create the built environment of the region and determine the livability of communities. Local autonomy over land use decisions requires municipalities to take responsibility for how their decisions impacts on neighboring communities and the region as a whole. As part of the larger Chicago metropolitan area, Lyons influences and is influenced by the region. While the Lyons comprehensive plan focuses on addressing local issues and guiding local decision-making, it should acknowledge that the Village is a part of the regional economy and demonstrate a commitment to helping shape a better future for the Village and the Chicago metropolitan region.

CMAP developed and now guides the implementation of GO TO 2040, metropolitan Chicago’s first comprehensive regional plan in more than 100 years. To address anticipated population

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report growth of more than 2 million new residents, GO TO 2040 establishes coordinated strategies that will help the region’s 284 communities address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues. The GO TO 2040 plan strives to balance the need for local autonomy and regional cooperation. It provides principles that municipalities and counties can apply when they decide how and where development should happen or which infrastructure investments to make in their communities. The plan recommends supporting local planning through grant programs, infrastructure investments to implement plans, technical assistance, and collaboration between municipalities on shared priorities. The Plan contains four themes and 12 major recommendation areas:

Livable communities Efficient governance 1. Achieve greater livability through land 1. Reform state and local tax policy use and housing 2. Improve access to information 2. Manage and conserve water and 3. Pursue coordinated investments energy resources 3. Expand and improve parks and open Regional mobility space 1. Invest strategically in transportation 4. Promote sustainable local food 2. Increase commitment to public transit 3. Create a more efficient freight network Human capital 1. Improve education and workforce development 2. Support economic innovation

The Livable Communities, Efficient Governance, and Regional Mobility chapters are most relevant to the Lyons Comprehensive Plan, particularly the recommendations that relate to: - Commercial and residential revitalization. - Opportunities for more compact, walkable, mixed-use development. - Open space and trail enhancements. - Multijurisdictional coordination for major infrastructure projects. - Improvements to public transit and promotion of transit-supportive development.

GO TO 2040 states, “municipalities are critical to the success of GO TO 2040 because of their responsibility for land use decisions, which create the built environment of the region and determine the livability of its communities. The most important thing that a municipality can do to implement GO TO 2040 is to take this responsibility very seriously.” By undertaking this Comprehensive Plan, the Village is taking necessary steps to make informed land use and development decisions while demonstrating their commitment to helping shape the future of the region as well.

UP-W River WI VU56 Forest IL Bellwood McHenry Lake Lake Michigan Maywood Oak Park Chicago ¨¦§290 Forest Kane Park Lyons! DuPage 38 VU Chicago Kendall Cook Broadview Westchester Grundy Will IN

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Chapter 3: Previous Plans, Studies, and Reports

This section provides a brief summary and analysis of the planning initiatives that have been completed in the Village of Lyons. Although the Village adopted a comprehensive plan in 1992, it now relies on its municipal codes (ordinances) to guide its day-to-day planning and development activities. The Village has a zoning map that defines the zoning districts where different land use activities are allowed. Lyons adopted the map in April 1993 and amended it in February 1995. The only other villagewide planning document that is available is a strategic plan for Lyons (2008).

Lyons Strategic Plan In 2007, the Village of Lyons began work on a strategic plan with the Division of Public Administration at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Village Board members met with multiple professors from NIU to assess the current conditions of the Village in order to develop a long- term strategic plan and implementation strategies. The team explored six key areas that formed the basis for the strategic plan, which was completed in 2008 and includes the Village’s Mission Statement (see text box). The areas include:  Infrastructure deterioration; Mission Statement  Economic and community development; The Village of Lyons is committed  Completion of the municipal complex to serving the citizens of the Village (Lawndale Project), which consisted of a new with responsive municipal services police station, village hall, and the in order to maintain and improve departments of health and recreation; the quality of life for all village  Communication; residents in a responsible and  Fiscal solvency; fiscally sound manner through the  Citizen satisfaction (measured through a establishment of accountability at mailed survey). all levels of the organization.

As part of the planning process, the Village Board adopted a vision statement that expresses its desire to be a community that serves families, seniors, and children by combining small-town quality of life with the amenities of urban living while continuing to enhance its aesthetic appeal. Realizing that a strong and vibrant local economy is vital to the success of the community, the Village seeks to promote business and economic development in a well- planned manner while supporting professional management of municipal government.

A key focus of the strategic plan is the improvement of the Village’s infrastructure. The plan calls for the establishment of a comprehensive multi-year infrastructure improvement program that would include street resurfacing/replacement, water service improvements, neighborhood improvements (including sidewalk replacement/repair, curb and gutter improvements, and asphalting of alleys), streetlight replacements where necessary, and pedestrian safety. To

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report implement these proposals, the plan recommends that the Village issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional engineering services to assess all elements of the existing infrastructure, including streets, alleys, water mains, sewer lines, streetlights, sidewalks, and driveway approaches. In addition, the plan calls for the Village to identify and address parking concerns of community residents, improve the Village’s landscaping, and work with other units of government to improve non-Village-owned roads. To realize these objectives, the Village would have to identify and secure multiple revenue sources to fund the improvements.

The Strategic Plan also addresses the completion of the Lawndale Project, a newly constructed municipal center that accommodates a new village hall, police station, and a community park. An earlier assessment of Lyons’ public facilities found that the Village needed these facilities. The municipal center has since been completed. The plan also calls for the relocation of Smith Park to a new location to create space for a high-end residential development that was projected to bring in approximately $300,000 to the Village in annual property tax revenue. The Village has not adopted this recommendation.

With regard to the fiscal solvency of the Village, the strategic plan recommends that Lyons strive to become less dependent on property taxes, income taxes, and distributions from the state. It recommends that the Village work with existing businesses and property owners to redevelop existing storefronts and attract new businesses to the local commercial districts. It recommends that the Village reserve the corner of Ogden Avenue and Joliet Road for locating a major commercial use, ideally a regional/national food franchise that would generate additional retail sales tax and attract new investments in the Village.

The final chapter of the strategic plan emphasizes the need to develop better communication strategies with community residents. The Village would accomplish this goal through a series of public meetings, a village newsletter, and a citizen’s survey to gather relevant topics of interest.

Village of Lyons Comprehensive Plan Lyons adopted a comprehensive plan in 1992. Prepared by the Village with assistance from Trkla, Pettigrew, Allen & Payne, the plan sets out a vision of growth and development for a 15 to 20-year period. Many of the opportunities and issues it identifies remain influential, such as the proximity to Chicago and the challenge of generating development and tax revenue in a built-out community. While the plan touches on a broad range of topics, including housing, transportation, and community facilities, it primarily addresses conditions and recommendations for land use and the creation of a town center.

The background studies in the 1992 plan provide an account of the then-current conditions in the Village of Lyons, with a focus on the physical environment more than on demographic or economic data. As remains the case in 2014, Lyons was a primarily residential community, with commercial corridors along major automobile routes, an active civic community, and a rich history. Stakeholders interviewed for the background studies cited Lyons’ three biggest needs

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report as: improving the leaky municipal water distribution system; updating zoning regulations; and the need for planning and business development along Ogden Avenue. Regarding land use, the plan cites problems with incompatible, unscreened uses in close proximity, such as poorly integrated multifamily housing and residential uses in industrial areas. It also identifies the need for a long-term plan for the quarry, business development to expand the tax base, and more neighborhood parks. Transportation issues also receive analysis, particularly the lack of parking along Ogden Avenue, inefficient intersections, and the presence of trucks on residential streets.

The plan sets several goals and objectives based on the findings of the background studies. In the image and identity section, the plan suggests maintaining a small-town feel by focusing on historic preservation, establishing a strong civic identity, and creating more visually attractive corridors. It recommends seeking new revenue to fund high-quality community services and infrastructure, as well as updating land use controls. The plan also prioritizes protecting the village’s single-family residential areas from encroaching incompatible uses and associated nuisances, using zoning districts, buffering requirements, and code enforcement. The plan recommends issuing an economic development plan that aims at creating local jobs, expanding the tax base, and creating a town center to serve as a central business district. To further this goal, the plan recommends that Lyons create a town center master plan that provides for sufficient parking and easy traffic circulation. Specifically, the plan identifies Ogden, Harlem, and 1st Avenues and Joliet Road as in need of capacity upgrades, and several intersections as needing better signaling to improve efficiency. It also suggests establishing truck routes that divert heavy vehicles away from neighborhood streets.

Creating a town center stands out as one of the major recommendations of the plan, for both economic development and land use. It suggests that the Village use the intersection of Joliet Avenue and Ogden Avenue as the center of a business district that can revitalize the area, contribute to community identity, integrate historic landmarks, and provide space for civic events. To ensure cohesive development, the plan recommends creating a planned unit development overlay district that would grant the Village greater control over the aesthetics and uses of the district. Specific components of the proposed town center include a town green at the intersection’s southwest corner (the current site of Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins, and Pop’s Beef), pedestrian connections between the river walk and businesses, and vacating Barry Point Road to simplify the intersections. The Village closed Barry Point Road in the early 2000s, but few of the other recommendations have come to fruition.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Town Center Master Plan12 In line with the 1992 comprehensive plan, the Village of Lyons created a master plan for redeveloping a town center near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Joliet Avenue. The eight-acre project area consisted of 25 parcels with ten structures and more than 1,000 feet of frontage on Ogden Avenue. The objective of the plan was to create a “downtown” setting by consolidating all parcels in the project area into a single site that would form the initial nucleus for redevelopment of the greater town center area. The Village created the master plan to encourage private redevelopment of the site in a way that meets the overall community planning objectives and enhances the physical and economic environment of the area. The master plan sought to provide a pleasant retail shopping area anchored by a major supermarket, while building on community assets such as Hofmann Tower and the scenic Des Plaines riverfront. It outlined the Village’s expected design and development standards and called for a grocery chain and hardware store to be located in the town center area.13 Under Mayor Judith Petrucci and Trustee Kevin Haggerty, the Village issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for prospective developers to express interest in the redevelopment project. Lyons never fully implemented the master plan because of changes in Village administration.

The Hofmann Tower Riverwalk Master Plan14 The Hofmann Tower Riverwalk Master Plan was another attempt to help revitalize downtown Lyons through redevelopment, along with portions of Ogden Avenue and the Des Plaines River bank. The $44 million redevelopment project was to be financed in part with a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District the Village established specifically for the project area. The plan called for a renewed area that would provide riverfront townhomes and condominiums and first-class senior housing. Any additional costs incurred by the school district because of new residents moving to the area were to be recouped from the property taxes generated within the development. The plan called for the area to be developed in two phases. The first phase of the project, which was to be financed mostly by private investments, included senior housing, retail, ball fields, and parking and streetscape improvements. The senior housing comprised a multi-story, 120- unit senior facility featuring one- and two-bedroom units that would allow seniors to continue residing in the Village. The retail component consisted of a two-story, 15,000 square foot retail center with plans for a first-floor restaurant. The ball field component consisted of adding new baseball and soccer fields to Washington Middle School. Parking was to be added just south of

12 The information in this section is based on the 1992 Comprehensive Plan, an interview with former Mayor Kenneth K. Getty, and the Village newsletter, the Lyons Lines. 13 Lyons Lines, “ New Comprehensive Plan may help provide tax revenue for the Village,” Lyons Lines Fall 1990 14 Ibid 13

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283 Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. W 52ND ST S IL-171

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S SAYRE AVE SAYRE S S NOTTINGHAMAVE S Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report the new senior housing and retail center and along the ball field access road between Ogden Avenue and Leland Avenue. The plan also called for improved street lighting, berming, landscaping, masonry pillars, and wrought-iron fencing to be integrated within the development, especially along Ogden Avenue. Most of the elements of phase one development were completed before the decline of the housing market. The second phase, mostly consisting of townhomes and condominiums, was not constructed because of the economic downturn.

Figure 3.2 Downtown Condominiums

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 4: Community Outreach A primary goal of the Lyons comprehensive planning process is to optimize community engagement, focusing particularly on populations that have typically been underrepresented or harder to reach in previous planning initiatives. CMAP staff formulated a public outreach strategy to emphasize broad-based inclusion of Lyons residents and other stakeholders. This approach helps to ensure that the concerns and interests of the community are reflected in the goals of the comprehensive plan. The community engagement process includes close coordination with the Steering Committee and community leaders, as well as detailed interviews and public meetings at key points in the planning process.

Key Findings from Community Outreach

Community Strengths  Parks and open space: The community contains a beautiful network of parks, open spaces, and trails that provides good access to outdoor amenities.  Community character: Every stakeholder group identified the small-town feel, strong sense of community, and unique history as strengths of the Village.  Village services: Lyons residents value the services provided by the Village including the police and fire departments, recreational activities, and business and resident support.

Issues  Economic growth: Stakeholders were concerned about the lack of businesses and the need to revitalize commercial areas to trigger economic growth.  Preservation of open space: While the natural areas are the Village’s most precious assets, participants emphasized the need to preserve its parks and open spaces and to expand public amenities and recreational opportunities around these areas.  Public and non-motorized transportation: Stakeholders would like additional transportation options and well-planned public transit. Residents suggested connecting the natural areas by extending the bike path along the river walk.  Streetscaping: many participants mentioned the need for better streescaping to improve the community’s physical character and visual appeal. Better streetscaping will also have the effect of improving public and pedestrian safety.

Community Engagement Activities To better understand and address the community’s needs and future vision, CMAP and the Steering Committee have been and will continue to conduct a series of community engagement activities. While specific questions and activities for each event differ slightly, they all focus on answering the following basic questions:  What is your vision for the Village of Lyons?  What do you want Lyons to be known for in the Chicago region?

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

 What is Lyons’ greatest asset to be preserved or enhanced?  What is the greatest challenge facing the Village?

Since the start of the formal planning process, over 300 residents and stakeholders have participated in the community engagement process. An overview of the community engagement process, thus far, is provided in the following subsections:

Table 4.1 Public participation numbers Public Engagement Event Number of Participants First Steering Committee meeting 9 Key Person Interviews 10 125th Year Anniversary Picnic 120 Lyons Senior Citizens Workshop 64 Lyons-McCook Business Association 48 Lyons Latino Focus Group 8 Public Visioning Workshop 33 Online Survey 10 Total 302

First Steering Committee Meeting The Lyons Comprehensive Plan’s Steering Committee was tasked with providing assistance and guidance in the development of the plan, providing input on existing issues and opportunities based on their institutional roles, and reviewing plan documents. The committee comprised of representatives of community organizations, public institutions, the business community, Village staff, and residents. The first Steering Committee meeting was held on September 25, 2013 at the Village Community Center to introduce the project to the members and discuss the Project Outreach Strategy (PROUST) for the plan. Members discussed a range of topics including attracting new businesses to Lyons, preserving community assets, enhancing public transportation, introducing alternative non-motorized transportation options, and better management of traffic and parking. Meeting participants were concerned by the number of underutilized industrial properties, as well as the lack of restaurants and retail businesses in the community. They suggested that the Village invest in existing infrastructure to attract new businesses and help existing businesses thrive. The greatest strengths that the Steering Committee members listed were the Village’s residents and small-town atmosphere. In addition, they listed the outdoor spaces and close proximity to Chicago’s downtown.

Key Person Interviews In order to gain further insight, CMAP staff conducted interviews on different occasions with several key stakeholders throughout the community. These individuals represented a wide variety of interests and perspectives, ranging from institutional and community leaders to business owners and current and former elected officials. These stakeholders held many of the

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report same concerns and generally expressed the desire to preserve the strengths of Lyons while adjusting to the changing economic and social conditions that exist today. A list of the issues highlighted by those interviewed can be found in the Community Outreach appendix.

Figure 4.1 Residents Participate in a Mapping Exercise at the Village Picnic

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Focus Group Meetings

While the planning process seeks to reach and engage a broad representation of the community, the public engagement strategy is primarily focused on better understanding of the needs of four groups: young families who want to raise their children in Lyons, the Latino community, business owners, and senior residents. Three community workshops were organized around these focus groups. To reach a broader audience, staff also Figure 4.2 Business Owners Workshop participated in the Village of Lyons 125th Anniversary Picnic. These audiences each had unique perspectives on what topics are most important to address and how the Lyons Comprehensive Plan might achieve a desirable future for generations to come. The Public Outreach appendix provides a detailed summary of each focus group meeting and the Lyons anniversary picnic. Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Public Visioning Workshop On November 21, 2013, approximately 33 residents and Village officials gathered at the Village of Lyons Community Room for a public visioning workshop. During the workshop, participants divided into smaller groups to envision the Village’s future through a mapping exercise. Participants responded to a series of questions outlined in a discussion workbook. From these questions, residents developed ideas about topics including image and identity, commercial and industrial development, transportation, parks and open space, community facilities and infrastructure, residential neighborhoods, and the environment and natural resources. After the exercise, each smaller group of participants reported their top important ideas to the larger group, then all participants voted individually – using live, interactive polling technology – for the idea they thought is most important to address in the Lyons Comprehensive Plan. The Public Outreach appendix summarizes the issues and concerns discussed at the workshop.

Figure 4.3 Visioning Workshop

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 5: Community Services and Institutions Lyons features significant amounts of open space, recreational facilities, and community institutions and services. As discussed in Chapter 8: Natural Environment, the Village Parks and Recreation Department offers approximately fifteen acres of parks, including Smith Park, Veterans Park, West End Tot Park, and Amelia Park. Additionally, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County owns approximately 371 acres of land within Lyons, featuring trails, boat launches, fishing opportunities, and the Cermak Family Aquatic Center. The community also has a Village Hall, a public library, and a police station. The following is a brief description of the some of the major Village facilities:

Municipal Complex: The Village maintains a 43,500 square foot municipal complex that houses a state-of-the-art Police Department and Communications Center and the Village Hall, which includes Village administrative offices, Council Chambers, Community Center, and Parks and Recreation Department. The municipal complex was constructed in 2009. It is located at 4200 Lawndale Avenue, and includes meeting and event spaces.

Fire Department: The Lyons Fire Department operates from a single fire station at 4043 Joliet Avenue. The department comprises a full-time Fire Chief and Fire Prevention Officer, one part- time clerical staff, and several Paid-On-Call firefighters. The department operates one rescue engine, two engines, one Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance, one spare ambulance, and one support/command vehicle.

Trash and Recycling Services: The Village contracts with Groot Recycling and Waste Service to provide waste hauling services for residents and businesses villagewide.

Public Works Department: The Public Works Department maintains Lyons’ water and sewer infrastructure. Water infrastructure in the Village includes a pump house, the water tower, and the mains that carry fresh water to households and businesses. The Public Works Department is responsible for regular maintenance, leak repair, and monitoring usage for billing operations.

Lyons Public Library: The Lyons Public Library has been open at its current location at 4209 Joliet Avenue since 1966. It is a member of the Suburban Library System, allowing residents to borrow from library collections across the region. In addition to circulating books and other media, the Lyons Public Library provides free computer and internet access and holds cultural events and programs for children and adults. The Library features materials in Spanish and Polish as well as in English.

Educational Institutions: Lyons residents attend several public elementary schools in the Lyons Elementary School District 103. The district operates five schools, two of which (Robinson Elementary School and Costello Elementary School), are located in Lyons. Students from the Village also attend Lincoln Elementary School in Brookfield. The district also operates

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Home and Edison Elementary Schools, both in Stickney. George Washington Middle School, on Ogden Avenue, also serves the Lyons Elementary School District. For high school, students attend J. Sterling Morton West High School in Berwyn.

Other Institutions: Lyons is also home to several other important institutions including: - Churches: St. John’s United Church of Christ; Saint Hugh Catholic Church; Zion Lutheran Church; Lyons Evangelical Free Church.

- Lyons-McCook Business Association: A coalition of businesses in Lyons and the neighboring town of McCook.

- Lyons Retirees: Lyons senior citizens meet regularly every month to participate in activities and trips.

Figure 5.1 Lyons Municipal Center

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

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CENTER AVE CENTER Chicago Portage FISHERMANS TER FISHERMANS 47TH ST National Historic Site ! Forest ! Municipal Building Lyons Village Limits View ! Fire Dept Other Municipalities AVE HARLEM Ogden Dam ! School Unincorporated (historical) Water ! R Park JOLIET RD McCook E HINSDALE AVE HINSDALE IV R Local Park S ! E Public Library N AI School Grounds PL ! ES Aquatic Center Forest Preserve D ! WPost 50TH Office ST I2 Metra Stations ! Church Metra Rail Lines SANITARY DRAINAGE 55 AND SHIP CANAL ¨¦§ I D R K Miles AN L B 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 NA Summit CA S Chicago 283Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. W 52ND ST

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Chapter Six: Land Use and Development This section describes the existing land use and development conditions within Lyons with a focus on types of land use, Village zoning, and the built environment. The information in this section was primarily based on Cook County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, visual analysis of the community, and verification from Village staff.

Key Findings

 Lyons is largely built out, featuring medium-density development in both residential and commercial areas. The Village has very little vacant land and almost three-quarters of the land is occupied by residential uses and open space. Infill development with mixed uses and increased density along commercial corridors offers Lyons opportunities for economic development. Attracting additional businesses and mixed- use developments along existing commercial corridors would allow Lyons to advance its economic development goals while preserving the single-family residential neighborhoods residents cherish.

 Lyons contains considerable industrial land that could support economic development. The presence of industrial land and associated infrastructure offers Lyons an advantage in attracting manufacturing and warehousing businesses, which are critical to the local and regional economy. Vacancy rates in the industrial districts suggest the need for a long-term strategy to revitalize these areas.

 The community boasts considerable open space, which constitutes the largest land use (33%) in the Village. Most open spaces are public land owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Village. They provide residents with many outdoor recreation activity options and passive open space. While the acreage of open space in Lyons exceeds the standards recommended by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NPRA), most of the open spaces are concentrated in the eastern and northern portions of the Village leaving the residents in the western and southern neighborhoods with limited access to open space. This gap has created a need for additional open spaces, especially community parks.

 The quarry site along 1st Avenue offers a rare opportunity for development or the creation of open space. Like most inner-ring suburbs, Lyons is built out and contains very little vacant land to develop. In the near future, the Village will acquire the quarry opposite the intersection of 1st Avenue and 43rd Street, a site of more than forty acres. While the site will require investment to prepare it for more reuse, Lyons will eventually be able to adapt it to new development or to recreational open space serving the western part of the Village.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Land Use The Village of Lyons is a well-established community where residential neighborhoods are almost built out. Currently, single-family residential, open space, and industrial uses are the dominant land uses in the Village. The considerable open space in the Village, part of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, has helped to create a community atmosphere that many residents cherish.

Of the 39% of Village land used for residential dwellings, most is occupied by single-family residential use. Multi-family residences only occupy about six percent of the Village’s total land area. Non-residential uses such as commercial, mixed-use, and industrial are generally located along the major arterials, such as Ogden Avenue, 47th Street, and 1st Avenue. Ogden Avenue features the highest concentration of commercial and mixed-use developments, including office and institutional uses, which warrants its designation as Lyons’ “main street.” Industrial uses occur in concentrations along the 47th Street and 1st Avenue corridors. Institutional use is well represented, with several educational and religious facilities located in the Village.

Most of the Village’s residential areas are well established and offer the typical atmosphere of an older suburban community. Lyons features very little vacant land, with only 0.5% of the total land area being vacant. Table 6.1 below shows the categories of land uses, providing baseline perspective on the Village’s current conditions.

Table 6.1 Acreage of Land Use Categories Land Use Acres % Public Open Space 385.33 33.49% Single-Family Residential 372.48 32.38% Industrial 120.25 10.45% Transportation/Utilities/Communication 101.46 8.82% Multi-Family Residential 70.82 6.16% Commercial 55.42 4.82% Institutional 26.17 2.27% Mixed Use with Residential 7.78 0.68% Vacant 5.74 0.51% Under Construction 2.45 0.21% Other 2.13 0.18% Private Open Space 0.48 0.04% Total 1,150.51 100%

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Residential Single-Family Residential – Consists of residential land that is primarily occupied by single- family homes, but may also include some two-family homes, as well as open space within or adjacent to a related residential development. The largest amount of residential land in Lyons is occupied by detached single-family homes (32%). Very few (1.2%) of the housing units in Lyons are single-family attached units. The types of homes, architectural styles, and conditions of each house vary throughout the Village. Most of the single-family housing comprises one-story brick houses, although some single-family homes feature wood or vinyl siding.

Multi-Family Residential – Consists of residential land that is occupied by duplexes, townhomes, apartment buildings, and condominiums. Of the total land area in Lyons, 6.2% is made up of multi-family residential uses, primarily apartment buildings and condominiums. Multi-family homes can be found throughout the Village but are mostly concentrated along roadway corridors with high traffic volumes, such as Ogden Avenue, Joliet Road, Prescott Avenue, and Joliet Avenue. Several multi-family residential buildings are also present in the northeast corner of the Village, around Haas Avenue and 40th Street. Some of the multi-family residences in the community are group homes and assisted living facilities.

Open Space – Consists of parcels used to serve a variety of purposes such as resource protection or buffering; preservation of unaltered land in its natural state for environmental or aesthetic purposes; and support for unorganized public recreational activities. It includes parks, which are used primarily for public recreation activities and may be improved with playfields/grounds or exercise equipment. Lyons has various types of open spaces constituting about a third of the Village’s total land use (including Forest Preserves). While there is no separate Park District in Lyons, the Village provides public and recreational amenities for the community through its Parks and Recreation Department.

Commercial – Consists of parcels associated with the provision of goods or services. The parcels contain retail, office, and service-oriented uses that serve the day-to-day needs of households within walking distance or short driving distance. Most retail land uses occur along Ogden Avenue and mainly consist of restaurants and shops. Some large underdeveloped or underutilized commercial parcels are located in the northeast corner of the Village around 39th Street and Harlem Avenue, as well as along 47th Street and Lawndale Avenue. These parcels present great opportunities for redevelopment, especially the bowling alley located at 47th Street and Fishermans Terrace. There are also some large commercial parcels, many of which are occupied by auto service uses, especially along 47th Street. Many of these businesses include outdoor storage areas.

Mixed Use – Includes parcels that primarily consist of two or more of the following: residential, industrial, commercial, and/or office uses. The primary use may be residential (mixed-use residential) or commercial (mixed-use commercial), but two or more uses typically must exist in a single building. Mixed uses are mostly located along Ogden Avenue. A few can also be found along Joliet Road, Joliet Avenue, and Lawndale Avenue.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Industrial – Consists of parcels containing low- to high-intensity industrial uses associated with activities intended for manufacturing, warehousing, assembly, and distribution. These land uses have larger footprints and may include ancillary uses such as parking facilities. Many of the Village’s industrial uses are located along 47th Street and 1st Avenue. Industrial uses in the Village range from storage to landscaping companies, offices, and heavy industry. Many of the industrial uses include outdoor storage areas.

Institutional – Consists of parcels that primarily have religious, governmental, educational, social, or healthcare facilities. Lyons School District 103 operates five schools, two of which are located outside Lyons. The school district operates two public elementary schools and a middle school within the village. Several religious institutions can be found throughout Lyons, including Protestant and Catholic churches, some of which are located within residential neighborhoods. Institutional land use also includes public buildings like the Village Hall and the public library.

Figure 6.2 Multi-Family Residential

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

North Riverside LaVergne

Berwyn Harlem Ave. La Grange Riverside Park Berwyn

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SANITARY DRAINAGE AND SHIP CANAL View Single Family Residential Public Open Space Multi Family Residential Private Open Space Mobile Homes Cemetery Summit Commercial Water Mixed Use Transportation/Communication/Utilities Summit Industrial Vacant Mc Cook CountrysideInstitutional Under Construction Chicago

I2 Metra Stations Freight Rails Metra Rail Lines Rail Spurs Miles I 0 0.25 0.5 1 Hodgkins Bedford Park Source: Land Use Inventory 2010, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Recent Developments Several new developments have been constructed in Lyons in the past decade, from residential to industrial to institutional uses. Table 6.2 lists some of the major developments that have been constructed in the Village since 2003. According to the Building and Planning Department,the Condos on the Forest development at 40th Street and Haas Avenue, which was put on hold during the downturn in the housing market, will be completed in the near future because the market has improved.

Table 6.2: Recent Developments in Lyons Development Name Developer Development Type Completed Condos on the Forest SKS Development 84 Multi Family Ongoing 4320 1st Ave DPA Management 18000 SF Industrial 2003 Riverwalk Senior Apartments Community Development Partners 120 Multi Family 2003 Safeguard Self Storage Safeguard Properties 56892 SF Storage 2003 First and Ogden Plaza Ogden Plaza LLC 19950 SF Retail 2006 Riverwalk Burnside Homes 60 Multi Family 2006 Municipal Center Village of Lyons 45800 SF Government 2012 Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, NDD database

Figure 6.4 Riverwalk Senior Apartments

Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

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R JOLIET RD McCook E HINSDALE AVE HINSDALE IV R S E N AI PL New Developments Forest Preserve ES D Lyons Village Limits Metra Rail Lines W 50TH ST Other Municipalities I2 Metra Stations SANITARY DRAINAGE 55 Unincorporated AND SHIP CANAL ¨¦§ RD K Miles I AN L B 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 NA Summit CA S Chicago 283Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. W 52ND ST

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Zoning The Village of Lyons manages development and the built environment through its zoning ordinance. The zoning ordinance is a tool that gives the Village the ability to manage the type and intensity of development permitted in the community. The Village’s zoning ordinance divides Lyons into nine zoning districts, each with specific requirements that establish allowable uses of land, density, and other specifications. The zoning ordinance has been amended several times in the past two decades, most recently in 2009. Table 6.3 below summarizes some of the key regulations for each of the Village’s zoning districts.

Table 6.3: Zoning Regulations Zoning Code Intent/ Key Permitted Uses Bulk Regulations Height Regulation Residential R- 1 Intended to establish areas for Lot size 35 feet or two low-density single-family Width: 50 feet. and one-half detached dwellings and Size: 6,000 square feet. stories. permitted accessory structures. Corner Lot: 65 feet wide and 8,125 square Other permitted uses may feet in size. include parks, community buildings, libraries, schools, Setbacks synagogues, churches, Front Yard: 25 feet. hospitals and municipal Rear Yard: 30 feet. buildings. Side Yard: Five feet or 10% of the lot width, whichever is greater. Corner Side Yard: 10 feet or 20% of the lot width, whichever is greater.

Maximum Lot Coverage: 50% R-1A15 Intended for single-family Lot size 27 feet. detached residences. The Width: 30 feet. district is meant to recognize Size : 3,480 square feet. the existing areas of the Village, which were developed Setbacks earlier, within 30 foot wide Same as the R-1. lots. Side Yard: Four feet or 10% of the lot width, whichever is greater. Corner Side Yard: Seven feet or 20% of the lot width, whichever is greater.

Maximum Lot Coverage: 50%

15 R-1A zoning district is meant to recognize existing residential areas in the Village that were developed earlier on very narrow (30’) lots. The Village does not intend to expand or add R-1A zoning districts in the community.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

R-2 Intended to preserve quiet Lot size 35 feet. neighborhoods of single- Width: 50 feet family homes, single-family Size: 6,000 square feet for single-family attached dwellings and two- detached dwellings, duplexes or two-flats; family dwellings, including 9,000 square feet for three single-family duplexes and two-flats. attached dwellings; and 10,500 square feet for four single-family attached dwellings.

Setbacks Front Yard: 25 feet. Rear Yard: 30 feet. Side Yard: Five feet or 10% of the lot width. Corner Side Yard: 10 feet or 20% of lot width, whichever is greater.

Maximum Lot Coverage: 65% with no more than 40% of the rear yard covered by accessory structures.

R-3 Intended for multiple dwelling Lot size 27 feet for peaked units not exceeding three Width: No width requirements roof and 21 feet stories or 35 feet in height. Size: 6,000 square feet for single-family for flat roof. detached dwellings, duplexes or two-flats; 9,000 square feet for three single-family attached dwellings; and 10,500 square feet for four single-family attached dwellings.

Setbacks Front Yard: 25 feet. Rear Yard: 30 feet. Side Yard: Five feet or 10% of the lot width. Corner Side Yard: 10 feet or 20% of lot width, whichever is greater.

Maximum Lot Coverage: 65% with not more than 40% of the rear yard covered by accessory buildings.

Business B-1/B-2 B-1 is intended for retail business. Lot Size 60 feet from the District B-2 is intended for service No lot size requirements for any permitted average elevation business. or specially permitted use. of the finished grade within 20 Setbacks feet of the front Front Yard: 10% of the total lot area. of the proposed Rear Yard: 20 feet. building. Side Yard: 20 feet. The width of an alley may be counted in the 20 feet side yard setback.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Community/Recreation C-R The C-R (Community Lot Size No height Recreational) district is There are no set minimum yard or lot requirements. intended to provide and requirements for structures in a community protect locations for outdoor recreation district. Site plans must be recreational areas as well as approved by the zoning board of community oriented social and appeals/plan commission. recreational facilities Setbacks Lot area coverage and other bulk requirementsare required based on the context, size of the subject property and the setbacks and other bulk standards established in the vicinity of the subject property.

Industrial I-1 Intended to provide locations Lot Size 60 feet from for light manufacturing No set minimum yard or lot requirements the average including, but not limited to, for structures in an industrial district. elevation of the assembly, packaging, light finished grade metal fabrication and Setbacks within 20 feet warehousing conducted Front Yard: 10% of the total lot area and of the front of within completely enclosed should be landscaped. the proposed buildings, except off street Rear Yard: 20 feet. building. parking, off street loading, and Side Yard: 20 feet. Should be landscaped some outdoor storage of and screened from the abutting residential materials and equipment or community recreation areas.

PUD Intended to allow integration The bulk and use regulations of any district None. of uses in order to provide may be modified within a planned unit improved flexibility and more development. creative design for land developments than is possible under conventional zoning regulations. Used to ensure preservation of natural site qualities, better urban amenities and more open space. A higher quality project is the desired result of a planned unit development.

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R-1A, Single Family Detached AVE HARLEM Lyons Village Limits R-2, Two Family Dwellings Unincorporated R-3, Multiple Family Dwellings Other Municipalities JOLIET RD R McCook E B-1, RetailAVE HINSDALE Business IV I2 Metra Stations R ES N B-2, Service Business AI Metra Rail Lines PL S E C-R, Community/Recreation D Freight Rails W 50TH ST I-1, Industrial

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S SAYRE AVE SAYRE S Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 7: Housing and Population The following section provides an overview of Lyons’ demographics and housing to gain insight into trends and dynamics that impact the Village. The data this section presents comes from the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the 2007-2011 American Community Survey, and the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD), all of which the U.S. Census Bureau collects. For comparisons and trend analysis, CMAP analyzed data for the same periods for Cook County and the seven-county Chicago metropolitan region.

Key Findings The following are key conclusions regarding Lyons’ population and housing. These key findings will help shape and inform the community vision, goals, and objectives as the planning process moves forward.  A large proportion of Lyons’ housing stock is occupied by renters. The percentage of households that rent their home (39%) in Lyons, is slightly greater than that of the region (35%). A number of single-family, detached homes and most multi-family housing (58%) are occupied by renters. The large number of renters in the Village may indicate a need to diversify the housing stock. The renters have helped to keep the community stable by occupying houses that would otherwise be vacant and are thus helping to stave off foreclosures in this depressed housing market.  The manufacturing sector employs the greatest number of Lyons residents. Over 25% of employees living in the Village work in the industrial sector (manufacturing, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing) with about half of them (13%) working directly in manufacturing. It is important for the Village to consider the available pool of manufacturing talent in the community since manufacturing skillsets are critical to the local and regional economies.  Lyons experienced an increase in ethnic diversity in the past decade. The Hispanic/ Latino population in Lyons has increased dramatically and now represents over a third of the Village’s total population. African-Americans are still relatively few (4%) but their number has more than quadrupled in the last decade. How the Village responds to the changing demographic composition will impact the community going forward.  Lyons has an aging population whose needs may require particular strategies. Like the county and the metropolitan region, Lyons has a high proportion of seniors (65 years and older) and it needs to be prepared to deal with the economic, social and health consequences of an aging population. While the Village has already instituted a number of programs to serve seniors, more strategies are needed to prepare the community to accommodate its aging population in the future.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Demographic Profile and Analysis With a population of 10,729, Lyons is a mid-sized municipality in Cook County, with an average household size comparable to that of many communities in the county and the metropolitan region. In contrast to the population loss that continues to affect Cook County, the Village of Lyons saw an increase in population of several hundred residents between 2000 and 2010. The increase outpaced the average population growth in the Chicago metropolitan region.

Table 7.1 Population, Households, and Household Size, 2010 Lyons Cook County Region Population 10,729 5,194,675 8,431,386 Households 4,060 1,966,356 3,088,156 Average Household Size 2.63 2.60 2.73 Source: 2010 Census

Table 7.2 Population and Change in Population, 2000 and 2010 Lyons Cook County Region Population, 2000 10,255 5,376,741 8,146,264 Population, 2010 10,729 5,194,675 8,431,386 Change, 2000-10 474 -182,066 285,122 Percentage Change 4.6% -3.4% 3.5% Source: 2000 and 2010 Census

As shown in Tables 7.3a and b, the diversity of the population in Lyons has been increasing, primarily due to increases in the Hispanic population, which now constitutes over a third of Lyons’ residents, a percentage that is significantly higher than that of Cook County and the Chicago region. While small overall, Lyons’ African American population more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2010.

Table 7.3a Race and Ethnicity, 2010 Lyons Cook County Region

Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent White 5,889 54.9% 2,278,358 43.9% 4,486,557 53.2% Hispanic or Latino* 4,113 38.3% 1,244,762 24.0% 1,823,609 21.6% Black or African American 419 3.9% 1,265,778 24.4% 1,465,417 17.4% Asian 143 1.3% 318,869 6.1% 513,694 6.1% Other** 165 1.5% 86,908 1.7% 142,109 1.7% Source: 2010 Census * includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race ** includes American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or More Races

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Table 7.3b Race and Ethnicity, 2000 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent White 8,079 78.8% 2,558,709 47.6% 4,687,259 57.5% Hispanic or Latino* 1,668 16.3% 1,071,740 19.9% 1,409,202 17.3% Black or African American 98 1.0% 1,390,448 25.9% 1,537,534 18.9% Asian 143 1.4% 257,843 4.8% 375,993 4.6% Other** 267 2.6% 98,001 1.8% 136,276 1.7% Source: 2000 Census * includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race ** includes American Indian Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two or More Races

Table 7.4 Change in Race and Ethnicity, 2000-2010 Lyons Cook County Region Change in Percent Change in Percent Change in Percent Population Change Population Change Population Change White -2,190 -27.1% -280,351 -11.0% -200,702 -4.3% Hispanic or Latino* 2,445 146.6% 173,022 16.1% 414,407 29.4% Black or African American 321 327.6% -124,670 -9.0% -72,117 -4.7% Asian 0 0.0% 61,026 23.7% 137,701 36.6% Other** -102 -38.2% -11,093 -11.3% 5,833 4.3% Source: 2000 and 2010 Census * includes Hispanic or Latino residents of any race ** includes American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, and Two /More Races

In terms of age groups, Lyons features demographics fairly similar to those of the surrounding region. Almost half of the Village’s residents are less than 34 years old and almost 70% are under the age of 50. Proportionally, Lyons has a slightly higher senior population (65 years and over), representing 12.2% of the area’s total population, than does the region (11.3%). The median age for Lyons is 36.1 years, which is slightly higher than that of the county (35.3).

Table 7.5 Age Cohorts and Median Age, 2010 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Under 19 years 2,807 26.2% 1,374,096 26.5% 2,346,937 27.8% 20 to 34 years 2,372 22.1% 1,204,066 23.2% 1,790,049 21.2% 35 to 49 years 2,294 21.4% 1,067,351 20.5% 1,807,886 21.4% 50 to 64 years 1,944 18.1% 928,833 17.9% 1,534,488 18.2% 65 to 79 years 880 8.2% 436,799 8.4% 679,470 8.1% 80 years and over 432 4.0% 183,530 3.5% 272,556 3.2%

Median Age (2010) 36.1 35.3 35.5 Source: 2010 Census

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Aging in Place According to a 2010 American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey, nearly 90 percent of people over age 65 want to remain in their residence for as long as possible, and 80 percent believe their current residence is where they will always live. As individuals age, however, their homes, neighborhoods, and existing services may not address all of their new and evolving needs. Aging in place is the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. While decisions concerning where to live are ultimately for individuals and households to make, the policies and investments of local governments shape the livability of communities for this growing population.

Creating an environment that allows aging in place depends on local decisions about housing, transportation, land use, and health, among others. Seniors preferring to remain in their homes may need to make improvements to make it more accessible. Others seek multi-family housing that eliminates the maintenance requirements of a single-family home. The affordability of housing is also a critical element, as many seniors are on fixed incomes that can only accommodate modest housing. In addition, many people become less able or willing to drive, increasing the need for an effective public transportation system and the availability of key destinations — including shopping, social opportunities, and health services — within walking distance of residential neighborhoods and senior housing. Communities should also look at other health considerations that go beyond physical planning to address community services, nutrition, socialization, and other contributors to physical and mental health.

Communities such as Lyons that have an aging population should consider Aging in Place strategies to address the needs of its seniors (see textbox above). Lyons has an active senior group that meets once a month,which has become a single point of access for all information on aging and services in the community. The Village has instituted a number of aging in place strategies to serve seniors including developing senior housing, providing preventive health and nutrition education, and offering assistance with tax preparation and property-tax relief. While these initiatives are helpful and should be encouraged, the Village needs more preparation to deal with the economic, social, and health consequences of its aging population.

There are a number of resources for evaluating a community’s age-friendliness, all of which emphasize the importance of a holistic approach that addresses issues in housing, transportation, urban design, health, and employment among others. A checklist developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) is the most widely used tool to evaluate the strengths and deficiencies of a community’s age-friendliness. The checklist consists of 64 evaluation criteria that are grouped into eight topic areas (See table 7.6). The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has also developed a detailed evaluation guide for determining the extent to which a community encourages or impedes Aging in Place. The guide includes a toolkit that addresses each topic area in the WHO’s checklist.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Table 7.6 Components of an Age-Friendly Community Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities 1) Outdoor spaces and buildings 2) Transportation 3) Housing 4) Social participation 5) Respect and social inclusion 6) Civic participation and employment 7) Communication and information 8) Community health Source: World Health Organization

While Lyons features a median household income very similar to that of Cook County, the distribution of incomes reflects the Village’s middle-class identity. The median household income of $52,127 differs little from the Cook County median but is significantly less than the $71,031 for Chicago region. While 23.7% of Cook County households earn income greater than $100,000, however, only 10.9% of Lyons households earn that income. Lyons does not feature a higher percentage of low-income households; over half of its households earn annual incomes between $25,000 and $75,000. The percentage of the population earning a high school diploma or higher is similar to that in Cook County and the Chicago region, but the percentage of Lyons residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher is roughly half the percentage in the surrounding region. Table 7.7 Household Income, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Less than $25,000 877 21.9% 452,334 23.4% 591,742 19.4% $25,000 to $49,999 986 24.7% 439,225 22.7% 643,646 21.1% $50,000 to $74,999 1,033 25.8% 345,130 17.8% 546,085 17.9% $75,000 to $99,999 671 16.8% 238,954 12.4% 408,895 13.4% $100,000 to $149,000 310 7.8% 252,033 13.0% 464,935 15.3% $150,000 and over 123 3.1% 207,095 10.7% 391,533 12.9%

Median Income (2010) $52,127 $54,598 $71,031 Source: 2001- 2011 American Community Survey

Table 7.8 Education Levels, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Population, 25 years and over 7,084 100.0% 3,434,122 100.0% 5,495,474 100.0% High school diploma or higher 5,887 83.1% 2,875,498 83.7% 4,719,937 85.9% Bachelor's degree or higher 1,261 17.8% 1,157,194 33.7% 1,938,981 35.3% Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Employment With an unemployment rate of over 9%, Lyons residents suffer from the same high unemployment affecting communities throughout the Chicago region. At 13.3%, the manufacturing sector employs the largest share of Village residents, which is considerably higher than the 8.7% of Cook County residents or the 9.9% of the region’s residents working in manufacturing. The percentages of Lyons residents working in retail trade and health care and social assistance, the next two biggest sectors, are roughly consistent with the size of those sectors in the overall region.

Table 7.9 Employment Status, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Population, 16 years and 8,298 100.0% 4,092,752 6,529,357 over 100.0% 100.0% In labor force 5,819 70.1% 2,723,727 66.6% 4,464,280 68.4% Employed 5,279 90.7% 2,429,269 89.2% 4,013,381 89.9% Unemployed 540 9.3% 292,919 10.8% 436,773 9.8% Not in labor force 2,479 29.9% 1,369,025 33.4% 2,065,077 31.6% Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey

Table 7.10 Employment of Community Residents by Industry Sector, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Total Employed Population 4,453 100.0% 2,025,469 100.0% 3,429,307 100.0% Manufacturing 593 13.3% 176,874 8.7% 338,715 9.9% Health Care and Social Assistance 505 11.3% 279,009 13.8% 436,605 12.7% Retail Trade 504 11.3% 200,900 9.9% 360,760 10.5% Accommodation and Food Services 372 8.4% 154,783 7.6% 244,775 7.1% Educational Services 331 7.4% 204,733 10.1% 338,389 9.9% Administration & Support, Waste 310 7.0% 147,012 7.3% 239,634 7.0% Management and Remediation Wholesale Trade 271 6.1% 101,724 5.0% 201,327 5.9% Transportation and Warehousing 271 6.1% 92,688 4.6% 148,474 4.3% Professional, Scientific, and Technical 238 5.3% 161,265 8.0% 270,668 7.9% Services Finance and Insurance 213 4.8% 126,620 6.3% 204,871 6.0% Construction 180 4.0% 49,633 2.5% 101,639 3.0% Public Administration 174 3.9% 87,601 4.3% 134,679 3.9% Other Services (excluding Public 166 3.7% 78,114 3.9% 124,729 3.6% Administration) Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 92 2.1% 34,939 1.7% 61,695 1.8%

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Information 73 1.6% 49,085 2.4% 80,261 2.3% Management of Companies and 64 1.4% 38,369 1.9% 72,789 2.1% Enterprises Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 60 1.3% 33,084 1.6% 50,602 1.5% Utilities 25 0.6% 7,354 0.4% 14,208 0.4% Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas 6 0.1% 543 0.0% 1,283 0.0% Extraction Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and 5 0.1% 1,139 0.1% 3,204 0.1% Hunting Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics

Housing Analysis Residential uses make up more than one-third of Lyons’ land area. The overwhelming majority of residential land is occupied by single-family, detached dwellings, but the Village possesses a significant number of units in multi-family buildings as well. The Village’s most common housing type is a single-family home with three or fewer bedrooms. The percentage of single, detached units in Lyons is higher than the proportions in Cook County and the metropolitan region overall, while the percentage of buildings that are five or more units is comparatively lower than in Cook County or the metropolitan region. Multi-family buildings are dispersed throughout Lyons, but are especially concentrated along Prescott Avenue, Ogden Avenue, and in the northeastern corner of the Village. Lyons has a lower housing vacancy rate than do Cook County and the Chicago metropolitan region.

Table 7.11 Housing Type (Units), 2010 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Total 4,334 100.0% 2,161,167 100.0% 3,337,350 100.0% Single, detached 2,513 58.0% 867,604 40.1% 1,675,110 50.2% Single, attached 80 1.8% 119,153 5.5% 256,653 7.7% 2 Units 443 10.2% 222,356 10.3% 247,792 7.4% 3 to 4 Units 377 8.7% 250,449 11.6% 284,250 8.5% 5+ Units 921 21.3% 701,605 32.5% 873,545 26.2% Source: 2007-11 American Community Survey, Census

Table 7.12 Housing Occupancy, 2010 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Occupied 4,060 92.8% 1,966,356 90.2% 3,088,156 91.6% Vacant 316 7.2% 214,003 9.8% 284,601 8.4% Source: 2010 Census

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Even with detached, single-family units representing a very high share of housing stock in Lyons, the proportion of Village residents who rent their homes is comparable to that of Cook County, and slightly higher than that of the Chicago region. The single-family homes that dominate the Lyons housing market are generally not large; only 13.4% of housing units in the Village feature more than three bedrooms.

Table 7.13 Housing Tenure, 2010 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Total occupied units 4,060 100.0% 1,966,356 100.0% 3,088,156 100.0% Owner-Occupied 2,473 60.9% 1,143,857 58.2% 2,022,176 65.5% Renter-Occupied 1,587 39.1% 822,499 41.8% 1,065,980 34.5% Source: 2010 Census

Table 7.14a Housing Size, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent 0-1 Bedroom 810 18.6% 440,227 20.2% 542,817 16% 2 Bedrooms 1,113 25.6% 688,954 31.6% 963,101 29% 3 Bedrooms 1,844 42.4% 702,848 32.3% 1,137,031 34% 4 Bedrooms 398 9.1% 258,156 11.9% 570,664 17.0% 5 Bedrooms 185 4.3% 87,333 4.0% 151,406 4.5%

Table 7.14b Housing Size, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Median rooms, 2010 4.5 6.0 N/A Median rooms, 2000 5.0 6.0 N/A Source: 2007-11 American Community Survey

According to American Community Survey data from 2007-2011, the median value of a home in Lyons is $214,900, which is somewhat lower than in the County ($256,900). According to the 2010 Census, two thirds of the homes in the Village are valued between $100,000 and $250,000. Only 5.7% of the Village’s housing stock is valued at $400,000 or above, compared to 22% in the County and in the metropolitan region. Most of the housing in the Village (39.4%) was built from 1940 to 1959, compared to 24.2% in the County and 23.2% in the region.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Table 7.15 Housing Value, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Less than $100,000 151 5.7% 90,412 7.8% 130,071 6.4% $100,000 to $249,999 1,759 65.9% 468,679 40.5% 834,102 40.9% $250,000 to $399,999 607 22.7% 343,510 29.7% 624,532 30.7% $400,000 to $749,999 153 5.7% 192,073 16.6% 345,950 17.0% $750,000 or more 0 0.0% 61,978 5.4% 102,585 5.0%

Median value, 2011 $214,900 $256,900 N/A Source: 2007-11 American Community Survey, Census

Table 7.16 Housing Age, 2011 Lyons Cook County Region Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Built 2000 and after 475 10.9% 157,978 7.3% 374,959 11.1% Built 1980 to 1999 355 8.2% 269,932 12.4% 647,613 19.2% Built 1960 to 1979 910 20.9% 543,988 25.0% 875,047 26.0% Built 1940 to 1959 1,713 39.4% 526,432 24.2% 682,124 20.3% Built 1939 or earlier 897 20.6% 679,188 31.2% 785,276 23.3%

Median age, 2011 1957 1957 1965 Source: 2007-11 American Community Survey, Census

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Single Family Detached HARLEM AVE HARLEM Single Family Attached Lyons Village Limits Unincorporated Multi Family Residential R JOLIET RD McCook E Other Municipalities MixedAVE HINSDALE Use with Residential IV R S E I2 Metra Stations N Vacant Residential AI PL Metra Rail Lines ES Private Open Space D Freight Rails W 50TH ST Public Open Space

SANITARY DRAINAGE 55 I AND SHIP CANAL ¨¦§ Miles RD K 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 AN L B NA Summit CA S Chicago 283Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. W 52ND ST

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E Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 8: Economic Development The data presented in this section provides an overview of the existing business climate in the village of Lyons and identifies economic trends related to employment, commercial and industrial development, and retail sales. Data discussed in this section comes from ESRI Business Analyst, Dun and Bradstreet, and the Illinois Department of Employment Security, as well as the 2000 U.S. Census, the 2007-20011 American Community Survey, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, and the 2010 U.S. Census, all collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Key Findings

 Lyons has experienced significant growth (8.6%) in private sector jobs in the past decade, with the dominant employment industry sectors within the Village being retail trade and accommodation & food services. While many Lyons residents work in manufacturing, the service and retail sectors employ a growing share of workers employed by businesses located in the Village. These sectors account for nearly 30% of total employees within the Village. The majority of workers in these sectors are associated with national and international business chains such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, and McDonalds. Industrial and freight-related businesses remain important to Lyons, with five of the ten largest employers in storage, freight, and shipping.

 While Lyons still contains a large amount of industrial land, the Village suffers from moderately high industrial vacancy rates. The Village contains considerably more industrial land on a percentage basis than do Cook County and the region overall, with industrial properties making up 17.4% of the assessed land value. However, Lyons’ 16.3% industrial vacancy rate is high compared to 9.0% for Cook County and 8.8% for the Chicago metropolitan region. Retail vacancies, on the other hand, are lower in Lyons than in the County and region overall, even as total retail square footage has increased. Attracting manufacturing and related businesses would allow Lyons to capitalize on its existing industrial infrastructure and the skills of its current workforce. The presence of industrial land and labor offers Lyons an advantage in attracting manufacturing and warehousing businesses, but vacancy rates in the industrial districts suggest the need for a revitalization strategy.

 Recent trends in commercial vacancy rates indicates the strength of Lyons’ retail sector. In the past decade, the square footage of retail space in Lyons increased by 3.3% while rentable building areas for industrial and office space remained constant. While retail space experienced a decreased vacancy rate, industrial vacancy rate increased significantly in the last ten years. The community generates more retail sales per capita than the county overall, presenting it with an economic development advantage.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Employment The village is situated between McCook to the south, Riverside to the North, Brookfield to the West, and Berwyn, Stickney, and Forest View to the East. Lyons shares an area of industrial space and uses with McCook, between the Des Plaines River and 47th Street. Berwyn shares a retail node with Lyons along Harlem and Ogden Avenues, site of the Jack Phelan Chevrolet car dealership, the third largest employer in the village.

Table 8.1 Private Sector Employment, 2002-2011 Cook

Lyons County Region Employment, 2002 2,362 2,223,156 3,409,568 Employment, 2011 2,564 2,189,184 3,461,583

Change, 2002-11 202 -33,972 52,015 Change as %, 2002-11 8.55% -1.53% 1.53% Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, U.S. Census Bureau

While industry sectors like Construction, Healthcare and Social Assistance, Manufacturing and Finance and Insurance lost significant number of jobs in the past decade, other industry sectors like Acommodation and Food Services and Wholesale Trade experienced an increase in the number of jobs over the same period. Overall, the Village has experienced an 8.6% increase in the number of private sector jobs over the past decade, according to the U.S. Census. This trend contrasts with that in the county overall, which experienced a 1.5% decrease in private sector jobs over the past decade. The region as a whole experienced an increase of 1.5%, much smaller than the growth seen in Lyons. The large increase in jobs may be attributable to the growing presence of retail businesses within the Village.

Lyons’ largest private employment sectors are retail trade and accommodation and food services, contributing 27% of private sector employment. These businesses are concentrated along Ogden Avenue, Lawndale Avenue, and Center Avenue as well as at the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Ogden Avenue. Ogden Avenue receives large volumes of traffic due to daily commuters seeking to avoid the extreme rush hour congestion on the Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55). Wholesale trade, other services (excluding public administration), and manufacturing also make up approximately a quarter of Lyons’ overall employment and are primarily located along 47th Street in the southern portion of Lyons. Table 8.3 identifies the ten largest employers in the Village, including public sector employers.16 Although retail and services are the two largest private employment sectors, the Lyons

16The employee counts are estimated from ESRI Business Analyst and Dun & Bradstreet and may not fully correlate with the totals by sector from IDES.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Elementary School District tops the list of the largest single employers by over 400 employees. The district operates a large number of schools in proportion to the size of the village: two elementary schools (Costello and Robinson) and one middle school (George Washington) within Lyons, two other elementary schools (Edison and Home) in nearby Stickney, and one elementary school (Lincoln) in Brookfield. The large number of employees in the education sector can be partly attributed to the surrounding communities’ limited number of schools. The Villages of Stickney and McCook have no school buildings within their boundaries and send many students into the elementary schools located in Lyons. Table 8.2 Employment of Private Sector Workers in Lyons by Industry Sector, 2012

Count Percent

Retail Trade 312 14.1%

Accommodation and Food Services 275 12.5%

Wholesale Trade 236 10.7%

Other Services (excluding Public Administration) 189 8.6%

Manufacturing 188 8.5% Construction 167 7.6% Transportation and Warehousing 133 6.0% Finance and Insurance 57 2.6%

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 56 2.5% Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 38 1.7% Health Care and Social Assistance 36 1.6% Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 0 0.0% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 0 0.0% Management of Companies and Enterprises 0 0.0% Utilities 0 0.0%

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction * * Information * * Administration & Support, Waste Management and Remediation * * Educational Services * * Total17 2,205 100.0% *Numbers omitted by source to avoid disclosure of individual data. Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security(IDES) Five of the other top ten employers are storage, freight, or trucking businesses, indicating the importance of these industries to the local economy. The remainder of the list consists of small to medium-sized employers providing industrial services such as manufacturing, wholesale trade, and construction services. Although services represent an increasing share of employment in Lyons, individual businesses in the sector typically do not employ large numbers of workers compared to industrial and freight businesses.

17 The numbers do not add up to the totals because some have been omitted by the source (IDES) to avoid disclosure of individual data.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Table 8.3 Top Ten Employers in Lyons, June 2013 Employer Type Count Lyons Elementary School District 103 Elementary and Secondary Schools 521

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage United States Cold Storage, Inc. 100 Facilities Jack Phelan Chevrolet Inc. New Car Dealers 65 Standard Bank & Trust Co Commercial Banking 64 General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, FedEx Freight Corporation 60 Truckload Freeway Ford-Sterling Truck Sales, Commercial and Institutional Building 56 Inc. Construction Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Atlas Tool & Die Works, Inc. 55 Stamping (except Automotive) General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Benefit Trucking Inc. 50 Truckload

Brick, Stone and Related Construction Granite & Marble Expressions, Inc. 50 Material Merchant Wholesalers

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage Hafak Cold Storage Company LLC 50 Facilities Source: Dun and Bradstreet, Market Insight

Even with its growing retail and service sector, Lyons continues to assess an above-average number of industrial properties. Table 8.6 provides a breakdown of the 2011 Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) by property type for the Village. The Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) is a property value assigned by the county assessor for taxation purposes, and should equal approximately 33% of a property’s market value. According to 2011 data, the Village of Lyons has a slightly smaller percentage of residential and commercial EAV compared to the county and the region; the industrial EAV, however, is significantly higher in Lyons (17.4%) than in the county (10.9%) and region (9.3%) overall. The Village’s land use also shows the significance of industrial land, with 10% labeled as industrial land use.

While assessments of industrial property remain robust, vacancy rates tell a somewhat different story, reflecting the evolving nature of businesses in Lyons. The Village has slightly lower retail (5.2%) and office (13.3%) vacancy rates in comparison to the county and region. Lyons’ industrial vacancy rate (16.5%) is significantly high compared to that of the county (9.7%) and region (8.8%). The high industrial vacancy rate may indicate lingering effects of the economic downturn that hit industrial real estate and manufacturing businesses particularly hard. The fact that industrial properties in other areas have recovered, however, may indicate the existence of more fundamental problems with industrial properties in Lyons.

Trends in commercial vacancy in the past ten years indicate that retail uses have recovered more quickly than have industrial uses. Rentable building areas for industrial and office space have remained constant in the past decade, yet the vacancy rate for both categories has

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report increased, with vacancy in the industrial sector increasing by 14.5%. The increased vacancy rate contrasts with the trend in total rentable area for retail, which has experienced a decreased vacancy rate despite a 3.3% increase in overall square footage.

Table 8.4 Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) by Property Type, 2011

Lyons Cook County Region Estimated Property Type Percent Estimated EAV Percent Estimated EAV Percent EAV Residential $122,586,952 64.0% $101,103,264,883 66.5% $186,199,669,907 71.1% Commercial $35,592,212 18.6% $34,168,804,907 22.5% $49,787,535,331 19.0% Industrial $33,311,430 17.4% $16,506,122,399 10.9% $24,382,115,238 9.3% Railroad $85,986 0.0% $286,641,500 0.2% $412,122,009 0.2% Farm n/a n/a $4,218,027 0.0% $1,059,935,193 0.4% Mineral n/a n/a n/a n/a $12,328,655 0.0% Total $191,576,580 100.0% $152,069,051,716 100.0% $261,853,706,333 100.0% Source: Illinois Department of Revenue

Table 8.5 Commercial Real Estate Square Footage and Vacancy by Type, 2013 2Q Lyons Cook County Region Total Total Rentable Total Rentable Rentable Vacancy Vacancy Vacancy Building Area Building Area Building Rate Rate Rate (SF) (SF) Area (SF) Industrial* 1,172,050 16.3% 545,933,142 9.0% 1,066,974,725 8.8% Office 19,779 13.3% 309,878,277 12.6% 442,771,617 13.3% Retail 392,926 5.2% 271004799 7.6% 441,407,969 8.2% Total 1,584,755 13.5% 1,126,816,218 9.7% 1,951,154,311 9.7% *Includes flex properties Source: CMAP Analysis of CoStar data

Table 8.6 Trends in Commercial Square Footage and Vacancy in Lyons 2003 2013 2Q % Change Industrial* Total Rentable Building Area (SF) 1,172,050 1,172,050 0.0% Vacancy Rate 1.8% 16.3% Office Total Rentable Building Area (SF) 19,779 19,779 0.0% Vacancy Rate 7.6% 13.3% 2006 2013 2Q % Change Retail Total Rentable Building Area (SF) 380,276 392,926 3.3% Vacancy Rate 5.4% 5.2% *Includes flex properties. Source: CMAP Analysis of CoStar data

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Lyons currently generates slightly more retail sales per capita ($9,636) than does the county overall ($9,599), but less than does the region ($10,524). Retail and mixed uses along major traffic corridors can offer revenue and jobs for Lyons, but the existing industrial facilities and infrastructure present the Village with an advantage for its economic development. Improving services to the industrial areas and working to fill vacant industrial properties with new businesses offers the Village an opportunity to increase its revenue and middle-income jobs while taking advantage of the strengths of the local workforce.

Table 8.7 General Merchandise Retail Sales, 2012 Lyons Cook County Region Retail sales $103,380,533 $49,351,405,982 $88,734,178,389 Retail sales per capita $9,636 $9,500 $10,524 Source: Illinois Department of Revenue

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Mixed Commercial Retail & Office View HARLEM AVE HARLEM Lyons Village Limits Hotel Unincorporated Cultural/Entertainment Other Municipalities Mixed Commercial & Residential R JOLIET RD McCook E HINSDALE AVE HINSDALE IV I2 Metra Stations R S Industrial E IN Metra Rail Lines A Vacant Industrial PL ES Freight Rails D Vacant Commercial W 50TH ST Public Open Space 55 I SANITARY DRAINAGE ¨¦§ AND SHIP CANAL Miles D R K 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 AN L B NA Summit CA S Chicago Source: Land Use Inventory 2010, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013.

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Chapter 9: Transportation This section provides information on the existing transportation system within Lyons with a focus on streets, public transit, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and freight. The information provided here was obtained from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Metra, Pace, the Village of Lyons, and a visual assessment of existing conditions in the community.

Key Findings The following are key findings of the existing conditions analysis of Lyons’s transportation system. Moving forward, these findings will help shape and inform the community visioning process and the objectives of future transportation improvements.  Lyons has limited public transit options, which may contribute to high transportation costs to residents and more difficult access to employment. The community has inadequate public transportation to meet current needs of residents and employees. It does not have a Metra station and some of the closest stations, such as Riverside and Hollywood, lack connecting bus service for Lyons residents and workers. In the heart of the Village, only Ogden Avenue is served by a Pace bus (two more skirt the edge of the village), leaving a significant gap in service to residential neighborhoods, which increases automobile dependence. Compared to the average Cook County resident, the average Lyons resident has fewer jobs accessible by public transit despite their close proximity to Chicago and major job centers. Expanding the availability of and access to a variety of transportation options in the community can help reduce household expenditures and reduce traffic congestion.

 Lyons lacks sufficient bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Many residential neighborhoods lack safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycling connections to public facilities, transit stops, parks, and recreation areas. A number of sidewalks in Lyons are in poor condition and some have gaps, which present a safety hazard for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Village is traversed by major arterials like Ogden Avenue, 1st Avenue and Harlem Avenue that carry high volumes of traffic at relatively high speeds, creating an unsafe environment for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the community. Patrons of businesses along Ogden Avenue also frequently park with their vehicles partially blocking sidewalks. Intervention strategies are needed to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in the village through such measures as providing safe places to walk and ride bicycles, safe roadway crossings, well-lighted crosswalks, and signal timings that allow pedestrians to cross streets.

 Major arterials in Lyons experience traffic congestion during peak periods. Per capita, Lyons residents drive more miles than do average Cook County residents. Residents of nearby towns also often use Lyons roads such as Ogden Avenue, which experiences the most severe congestion, as commuting routes to Chicago.The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is currently in the process of increasing the road’s capacity and

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

modernizing traffic signals near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Joliet Avenue to relieve congestion at the intersection. Roadway expansion will increase capacity, but the project should also address the problems faced by pedestrians and bicycle users, as well as consider impacts to businesses near the intersection.  The Village’s major roadway rights-of-way lack adequate aesthetic enhancements including attractive streetscaping and design elements. The major roadways leading into the Village have either limited or no streetscaping and design enhancements, which limits their aesthetic appeal. The most significant gateways into the community include the intersection of 1st Avenue and 47th Street, Ogden Avenue and Harlem Avenue, and the Sanitary Drainage and Ship Canal and Harlem Avenue. None of these intersections contains any design elements to highlight their significance as gateways into the community.

Roadways Functional Classification The functional classification of roadways describes the character of the roads in terms of vehicular mobility. Other classification systems such as thoroughfare type address the design characteristics and the surrounding context, as well as the physical configuration of the streets, travel way, and intersections. Thoroughfares perform three vital roles in a community – they provide space for mobility, commerce, and civic life. The following is a breakdown of roadways by functional classification based on IDOT’s analysis and a review of the roads based on their existing design features.

Principal Arterials: The Village of Lyons has three principal arterials – Ogden Avenue (U.S. Route 34), 1st Avenue (Illinois Route 171), and Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43). These roads are designed for higher-speed travel and accommodating long distance trips. All the principal arterials in the village are under the jurisdiction of IDOT and are state-designated truck routes. The principal arterials carry a significant amount of traffic and are of great importance on the local and regional levels.

Minor Arterials: Lyons has three minor arterials – Joliet Road, 47th Street, and Pershing Road (39th Street). For the most part, these minor arterials have two lanes in each direction with occasional turning lanes or medians. These roads most closely resemble the urban highway thoroughfare type.

Collectors: Collectors perform the role of distributing traffic from local streets to the arterials and highways. Generally, collectors have narrower rights-of-way than do arterials, though many of their design elements are the same as those of arterials. Collector streets should be designed to accommodate motorized and non-motorized transportation modes and should include aesthetic enhancements such as streetscaping. Lyons has three collectors – Plainfield Road, Lawndale Avenue, and Joliet Avenue. Lawndale Avenue and Joliet Avenue run north- south, while Plainfield Road runs diagonally. Plainfield Road is the only collector street in the

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report community that is under the jurisdiction of Cook County. Both Lawndale and Joliet Avenues are under the jurisdiction of the Village. All the collector roads in Lyons have one lane in each direction with occasional turning lanes or medians.

Local Roads: All remaining streets in Lyons are classified as local roads. They mostly provide access to commercial developments and residential neighborhoods and connect to collector and arterial streets. Local roads are under the jurisdiction of the Village, which is responsible for their maintenance. They typically have low travel speeds, short trip lengths, low traffic volumes and unrestricted access to adjoining properties.

Table 9.1 Jurisdictions of Non-Local Roads Traffic Count Truck Volume Road Name Jurisdiction Right-of-Way (ft.) (ADT) (ADT) Ogden Avenue IDOT 66 22,800 825 Harlem Avenue IDOT 66 37,300 1,800 47th Street IDOT 100 9,100 1,475 1st Avenue IDOT 80 31,800 2,800 Plainfield Road County 66 6,300 Not a truck route Source: Illinois Department of Transportation

Table 9.2 shows that the number of miles Lyons households drive annually is significantly higher than Cook County households as a whole. The figures in Table 9.2 include work trips as well as travel for other daily activities. The high Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per household can be attributed to a number of factors, including the lack of alternative modes of transportation in the community and the fact that Lyons is a bedroom community where most residents drive outside the community to get to work.

Table 9.2 Total Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per Household Lyons Cook County Chicago Region (MSA)

17,903 Annual Miles 15,780 Annual Miles 18,272 Annual Miles Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, “H+T Affordability Index” website: http://htaindex.cnt.org/map/

Connectivity Lyons’ street network and level of connectivity varies by land use. The community has a regular grid street pattern within the residential areas, with the exception of a few pockets north of Ogden Avenue and in the area bound by 1st Avenue, 44th Street, Custer Avenue, and 43rd Street. Most of the residential neighborhoods are well connected but the forest preserves limit connectivity in the northern and eastern areas of the village.

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0 0.125 0.25 0.5 46000

Source: Average Daily Traffic Count - IDOT, 2012; Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. 54600 18300 4700 29000 33800 23800 26800

139000 45500 Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Transit Many transit services pass through or near the Village of Lyons, providing connections to nearby communities and major destinations. Ridership by Lyons residents remains low, as shown by the prevalence of driving alone as a commuting method. Bus and train routes, though nearby, are difficult to access due to most stops being at the edge of town or outside the Village. Of the three Pace bus routes in the Village, only one passes through the interior of Lyons, with the other two running along the edges of the Village.

Pace Bus Routes: Pace provides a variety of transit services for communities including fixed bus routes, vanpools, and Dial-a-Ride programs. Pace provides services between Lyons and downtown Chicago, O’Hare Airport, and adjacent communities. Lyons is served by three Pace bus routes: 302 Ogden /Stanley, 307 Harlem, and 311 Oak Park Avenue. The 307 and 311 routes, however, pass only along the very edges of the Village, beyond walking distance for most residents. As indicated by the VMT in Table 9.2, Lyons residents typically drive to their destinations instead of taking public transportation. Residents do not heavily use the Pace bus that runs along Lyons’ main commercial corridor (Ogden Avenue), as indicated by the relatively low number of riders. The Harlem Avenue and Oak Park Avenue buses, which run along the eastern and southeastern edges of the Village respectively, have high ridership numbers, though many of the riders may be from the other villages along these routes. Other Pace bus routes that Lyons residents could potentially use include routes 304, 330, 331, and 392, although none of these routes runs within the Village boundary. Regardless of bus route proximity, the data clearly indicates that Lyons residents predominantly use automobiles for their transportation needs. Table 9.3 summarizes the ridership for Pace bus routes within and around Lyons.

Table 9.3 Pace Route Ridership*, 2013 Weekday Saturday Sunday PACE Bus Route Ridership Ridership Ridership 302 Ogden/Stanley 638 321 _ 304 Cicero-LaGrange 108 _ _ 307 Harlem 2,868 1,787 1,058 311 Oak Park Avenue 1,552 544 222 330 Manheim-LaGrange Roads 1,321 594 _ 331 Cumberland- 5th Avenue 1,380 311 _ 392 Little Village - UPS Hodgkins 117 _ _ Source: RTAMS *Ridership is averaged over the course of ten months ─ indicates no bus service

Metra: Metra does not directly serve Lyons, but the BNSF Metra line that runs from downtown Chicago to Aurora travels through neighboring communities. The line has stations in Berwyn, Riverside and Brookfield. The Metra Heritage Line to Joliet has a station in Summit that is less than a mile from the Village boundary. Residents and employees in Lyons can use the

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Brookfield, Hollywood, Riverside, Harlem, Berwyn, or Summit Metra stations, which are all less than a five-minute drive from the Village boundary. With the exception of Summit station, which is located south of Lyons, all the other Metra stations are located north of the Village. Of all the Metra stations in close proximity to Lyons, Summit is the station with the lowest number of riders, potentially due to the limited service on the Heritage Corridor. Lyons residents’ relatively low usage of Metra could be due to a number of factors, including the infrequency of service, lack of bus connections to the stations, or physical barriers such as the Des Plaines River, the Sanitary Drainage and Ship Canal, the Stevenson Expressway, or freight rail lines, which limit bicycle and pedestrian access to the station. Table 9.4 summarizes the ridership data for each station as provided by Metra.

Table 9.4: Metra Boardings and Parking Parking Boardings, Parking Metra Station Metra Rail Line Utilization, 2006 Capacity, 2012 2006 Berwyn Burlington Northern Santa Fe 718 556 83% Brookfield Burlington Northern Santa Fe 604 224 91% Harlem Avenue Burlington Northern Santa Fe 530 156 87% Hollywood Burlington Northern Santa Fe 279 114 26% Riverside Burlington Northern Santa Fe 416 164 90% Summit Heritage Line 64 151 28% Source: RTAMS

Table 9.5 Metra Mode Access, 2006 Metra Station Walked Drove Dropped Carpool Bus Taxi Bike Other Alone Off Berwyn 34% 39% 16% 4% 3% 2% 2% 1% Brookfield 42% 38% 15% 4% NA _ 1% _ Harlem Avenue 52% 31% 12% 1% 3% _ _ _ Hollywood 57% 26% 15% _ 2% _ _ _ Riverside 48% 34% 11% 3% _ _ 2% 1% Summit 14% 69% 14% _ _ _ _ 3% Source: RTAMS

Mode share indicates the percentage of trips taken using a specific type of transportation, such as walking, driving, or using public transit. An overwhelming majority of Lyons residents drive alone to work. The proportion of Lyons residents that drives to work is significantly higher than that of Cook County and Chicago region. Only a very small percentage of the population (1.5%) walks to work. The proportion of residents that walk to work is a third of Cook County’s average and less than half the proportion for the Chicago region.

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Table 9.6: Mode Share, as Percentage of Work Trips

Lyons Cook County Chicago Region

Total Workers 5,128 2,322,252 3,872,955 Worked at Home 212 93,295 166,595 Total Commuting Population 4,916 2,228,957 3,706,360 Drive Alone 82.4% 64.8% 72.3% Carpool 9.6% 9.4% 9.1% Transit 6.1% 19.2% 13.4% Walk 1.5% 4.5% 3.4% Other 0.4% 2.1% 1.9% Source: 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (for County figures), 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (for municipal figures). Note: Mode shares are expressed as percentages of the working population excluding those who work from home.

Bicycling and Walking Non-motorized transportation is an important component of a community’s transportation system. While motorized transportation modes primarily focus on fast, efficient movement of people and goods, bicycle and pedestrian circulation address transportation needs while also improving a community’s character and quality of life.

Sidewalks: Lyons has an extensive network of sidewalks that creates a pedestrian-friendly environment. A visual assessment of the sidewalks reveals that most of them are in fair to poor condition and need improvements. Most of the streets in the residential neighborhoods have sidewalks, but a few have gaps that potentially inhibit residents, particularly those with disabilities or mobility limitations, from choosing to walk. The commercial Figure 9.4 A Section of Joliet Avenue without a Sidewalk corridors have sidewalks with gaps that make them unsafe for pedestrians, especially in sections with fast vehicular traffic or narrow rights-of-way. Sidewalk gaps on busy streets are a major concern since the high volume and speed of traffic on these roads are not conducive to shared use by motor vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. In fact, most of the Village’s pedestrian and bicycle crashes have been recorded along major streets with high traffic volumes, such as Ogden Avenue, Plainfield Road, Harlem Avenue, and Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

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Bike Routes and Trails: Lyons has three existing bikeways, with several more routes planned within the Village and in the surrounding area. In 2012, the West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC) updated its Bicycle Plan, which is designed to promote and facilitate safe bicycling within the 40 municipalities of the Council of Governments. The Plan, which did not offer design recommendations, designates Joliet Avenue, Salisbury Avenue, and sections of Ogden Avenue and 39th Street (Pershing Road) as bikeways. Most of these bikeways are not clearly marked and lack posted signs, which makes them unsafe for cyclists.

The Salt Creek Greenway Trail, which runs through the Forest Preserves, is the only existing trail in the community. It runs parallel to the Des Plaines River and has a paved bike path that is well maintained. It starts at the Portage site and goes north to Cermak Aquatic Center, which is almost the entire north-south distance of Lyons. It is continuous within Lyons, but is not connected to other nearby trails. The trail presents great opportunities for connections not only to destinations within Lyons, but also to other trails in the region.

Village officials have discussed with the Cook County Forest Preserve District the need to establish linkages to nearby trails and destinations, especially to the trails in Riverside and the Brookfield Zoo. Currently, bicyclists must travel on busy city streets to travel between the Forest Preserves and the Salt Creek Greenway to the northwest. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County may consider buying land to connect the trails, allowing off-street bicycle access to the Brookfield Zoo from Lyons. Efforts are underway to establish trail connections between Riverside and Brookfield by extending the the Salt Creek Greenway Trail. Under the Riverside Brookfield Ped & Bike Salt Creek Trail Connection initiative, a number of interest groups are working with governmental entities, including the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and local municipalities, to establish a bicycle connection that will reduce the need to bicycle on busy streets to reach Brookfield. The trail connection will enable people to access Brookfield Zoo from the Forest Preserves.

According to the 2011 Regional Greenways Plan, a number of trails are planned in the area that will provide connectivity to surrounding communities and destinations. The planned Centennial Trail, for example, would run along the Des Plaines River through McCook and Hodgkins and would connect the Salt Creek Greenway Trail to regional trails in the south. The Salt Creek Greenway Trail is planned to be extended north to connect to the Des Plaines River Trail.

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e e Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Freight Freight is an important component of the local economy because it enables efficient and safe movement of goods via rail and/or truck. Lyons has an industrial area that extends into the neighboring town of McCook. With 67% of all freight movement in the Chicago region done by truck, most local industrial businesses likely use trucks as their main method of transportation. To handle stress from container-size shipping trucks, the freight industry recommends having Class I and II roads accessing industrial land uses. Within Lyons, state designated truck routes include Ogden Avenue, Harlem Avenue, and 47th Street. According to IDOT’s counts, Harlem Avenue is the most used truck route with an annual daily truck count of 1,800. The nearby Stevenson Expressway, with direct access from the 1st Avenue interchange and Harlem Avenue, is a tremendous asset for the Village and its industrial businesses. The community has rail access provided by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad, although freight rail is mostly confined to industrial areas in McCook with only a small rail spur extending into Lyons.

Transportation Improvement Program and Major Capital Projects The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is metropolitan Chicago's agenda of surface transportation projects. The TIP lists all federally funded projects and regionally significant, non-federally funded projects programmed for implementation in the next four years. The TIP is updated and amended regularly through the CMAP Transportation Committee. The TIP helps both the transportation community and the general public track the use of local, state, and federal transportation funds. The TIP also helps MPO members, other transportation implementers, and planning organizations establish a transportation program that implements the goals of GO TO 2040.

As of November 2013, there were five active TIP projects in Lyons (Table 9.7.) Several roadway projects are either underway or upcoming in the Village. IDOT is currently working on intersection improvements that include traffic signal modernization and channelization at various intersections in Lyons, including the intersections of Ogden Avenue with Joliet Avenue, Lawndale Avenue, 1st Avenue, and Plainfield Road. The Village has expressed a desire to work with IDOT to provide more parking spaces for businesses located on Ogden Avenue from Joliet Avenue to Amelia Avenue. In addition, IDOT will be reconstructing the bridge on Harlem Avenue that goes over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This will be followed by the resurfacing of Harlem Avenue. The Central Council of Mayors has just completed resurfacing Lawndale Avenue from 47th Street to Burlington Avenue.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Table 9.7 Active Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Projects in Lyons Cost Project Location Project Type Programming Agency Totals

IL Route 43 at 46th / 47th Intersection Improvement / IDOT – District 1 Division $1,200,000 Streets Signal Modernization of Highways

Signal Modernization Ogden Avenue at Joliet IDOT – District 1 Division (continuous bi-directional turn $800,000 Avenue of Highways lanes) Maple Avenue from 47th Road Resurface (with no lane Central Council of Mayors $915,000 Street to Burlington Ave widening) Ogden Avenue and First Signal Modernization Avenue at Lawndale IDOT – District 1 Division (continuous bi-directional turn $2,000,000 Avenue, at Plainfield of Highways lanes) Road, and at IL-171

IL Route 43 from I-55 to Bridge Reconstruction (with IDOT – District 1 Division $5,754,000 MWRDGC over Salt Creek no change in width or lanes) of Highways

Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning TIP Database (http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/tip). Projects listed as “Active” as of November 2013.

Transportation, Employment, and Affordability Lyons residents are employed throughout the metropolitan region. Overall, Lyons is a bedroom community with over 96% of its residents working outside the Village. At 25.8%, the City of Chicago is the leading employment destination for Lyons residents. Approximately two percent of residents work in each of the neighboring communities of Berwyn, Cicero, and Brookfield.

Workers in Lyons come from all parts of the seven-county Chicago metropolitan region. While close to a quarter (22.3%) of the workforce lives and commutes to the Village from the City of Chicago, the remaining workers come from throughout the region. Only 6.5% of the Village workforce resides in Lyons. A significant number of the Village workforce resides in the neighboring communities of Berwyn and Brookfield. Most of the Village workforce, about 70%, lives within Cook County.

Table 9.8 Employment location of Lyons residents by count and percent, 2010 Count Percent City of Chicago 1,150 25.8% Village of Lyons 171 3.8% City of Berwyn 101 2.3% Town of Cicero 101 2.3% Village of Brookfield 92 2.1% Village of La Grange 81 1.8% City of Elmhurst 64 1.4%

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Village of Broadview 57 1.3% Village of Oak Brook 57 1.3% Village of Bedford Park 54 1.2% Total by County Cook 3,009 67.6% DuPage 611 13.7% Will 143 3.2% Lake 120 2.7% Kane 46 1.0% McHenry 41 0.9% Other Counties 483 10.9% Total Employed Population 4,453 100.0%

Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics

Table 9.9 Residence location of people working in Lyons by count and percent, 2010 Count Percent City of Chicago 586 22.3% Village of Lyons 171 6.5% City of Berwyn 105 4.0% Village of Brookfield 84 3.2% Town of Cicero 80 3.0% Village of Riverside 48 1.8% Village of Stickney 43 1.6% Village of Oak Lawn 37 1.4% City of Naperville 35 1.3% Village of Downers Grove 32 1.2%

Total by County Cook 1,829 69.6% DuPage 264 10.1% Will 213 8.1% Kane 39 1.5% Lake 33 1.3% Kendall 27 1.0% Other Counties 165 6.3% Total Employed Population 2,628 100.0% Source: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics

Transportation and housing costs in a given place are influenced by factors within and outside the community, such as job access. It is therefore important to measure how Lyons performs against regional benchmarks to understand how policies should be instituted to improve local

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report performance. Tables 9.10 and 9.11 summarize how Lyons compares with the rest of the Chicago region on a number of important transportation metrics that give insight on how residents move around and how much they spend on transportation.

The Village’s proximity to employment centers such as Midway airport, O’Hare airport and downtown Chicago offers residents access to a large number of jobs. Lyons’ location offers access to more jobs than are accessible to the average resident of the Chicago region, but existing transportation infrastructure makes it easier to reach jobs by automobile. Lyons is traversed by major arterials and is near the Stevenson Expressway, bringing 31.7% of the region’s jobs within a 45 minute drive of the Village. While the average resident of Cook County can access a greater number of jobs by transit than by driving within a reasonable commute time, the opposite is true for Lyons. Despite the Pace bus routes and nearby Metra stations that serve residents, CMAP modeling found that 50,000 more jobs are accessible from Lyons by automobile within 45 minutes than within 75 minutes of commute by transit.

Table 9.10 Access to Jobs in the Region, by Travel Mode Chicago Lyons Cook County Region Regional Jobs Accessible from Lyons by Automobile1 1,554,957 jobs 1,347,947 jobs 779,935 jobs (in absolute number of jobs and percentage of the (31.7%) (27.4%) (15.9%) region’s total jobs)

Regional Jobs Accessible from Lyons by Transit2 1,024,108 1,504,481 jobs 1,530,158 jobs jobs (in absolute number of jobs and percentage of the (30.6%) (31.2%) region’s total jobs) (20.9%) 1 Accessible by Automobile = commute time of 45 minutes or less by car 2 Accessible by Transit = commute time of 75 minutes or less by bus or train

Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2009. Weighted travel model for roadway and public transportation, with the base number of Total Jobs in the region estimated to be 4,911,389. Table 9.11 shows the combined costs of housing and transportation for typical households in Lyons, Cook County, and the Chicago metropolitan region. Residents with long commutes, particularly by automobile, often face high transportation costs that offset the gains of moving to communities with less expensive housing. The table below shows the percentage of total income a household earning the region’s Average Median Income (AMI) would spend on housing plus transportation if that household lived in the average home in Lyons, Cook County or the Chicago metropolitan region. The average cost for housing in Lyons is under $1,200 per month while Cook County residents spend an average of over $1,300 a month on housing. While housing costs in Lyons are significantly lower compared to the county or the region, residents in the Village spend more on transportation than do residents of Cook County or the region overall. The combined costs of housing and transportation in Lyons is similar to that of the Chicago metropolitan region, but is slightly higher than the average for Cook county. Overall, a household with the region’s median income would spend 46% of their income on housing and

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report transportation in Lyons compared to 42% for Cook County on average. This difference means that Lyons has a transportation cost burden that makes it slightly less affordable to live in, even though its housing costs may be less expensive. At 46.39%, Lyons’ combined housing and transportation costs are nearly identical to the regional average, but slightly over the target of 45%.

Table 9.11 Housing & Transportation Costs as Percent of Income per Household Lyons Cook County Chicago Region (MSA) Housing Costs 23.6% 25.2% 26.8% as percent of income Average Monthly Housing Cost $1,187 $1,266 $1,344 $ / month Transportation Costs 22.8% 17% 19.6% as percent of income Average Monthly Transportation Cost $1,144 $854. $1,096 $ / month “H+T” Costs 46.4% 42.2% 46.3% as percent of income Source: CNT, “H+T Affordability Index”: http://htaindex.cnt.org/map/ Note: Red text if the percentage exceeds the standard threshold of affordability: 30% for housing costs and 45% for housing and transportation costs combined.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 10: Natural Environment

While much of the land in Lyons is developed, the Village features culturally and ecologically significant environmental assets. Lyons includes a large section of Cook County Forest Preserve, as well as several city parks and recreational facilities. The Chicago Portage, a land crossing between the Chicago River and the Des Plaines River, prompted the Chicago region’s emergence as a major shipping hub by connecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. Lyons’ open space and water resources present the opportunity for community benefits.

Key Findings The following are key findings regarding the existing conditions of the Village of Lyons’ natural environment. These key findings should help shape and inform the community’s vision, goals and objectives for Lyons’ natural environment during the planning process.

 The Village boasts significant open space assets with the promise of improved connections between them. The presence of the Des Plaines River, Village parks, and a large amount of Cook County Forest Preserve provides residents of Lyons with access to recreational opportunities, natural amenities, and ecological benefits. Recent and planned land acquisitions along the river by the Forest Preserve District and the Village could allow better integration of the various parcels of open space with one another and the Village as a whole. As discussed in the Transportation chapter, residents would benefit from improved bicycle and pedestrian connections to the open spaces.

 The Village suffers from severe water loss in its water supply system. From 2007 to 2011, nearly one-quarter of the water that enters Lyons’ supply went unaccounted for, possibly due to leaks in the system, metering inaccuracies, or theft. By percentage, the loss ranks second among all Lake Michigan permittees in Illinois and exceeds the 8% unaccounted-for loss allowed by law. Water that does not reach a metered user also represents large amounts of lost revenue for the Village.

 Flooding poses a concern for the Village. Flooding was mentioned by a number of stakeholders as a concern. Though most of the floodplain is contained within open space, some neighborhoods near the river are at risk.

 Energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions per household are lower in Lyons than in Cook County overall, but vehicle miles traveled are higher. With modestly sized, modern building stock, Lyons boasts relatively energy efficient homes. Its greatest potential gains for emissions reductions lie in boosting public transportation, walkability, and bicycle connections to reduce automobile dependency.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Water Resources Watershed Almost all of Lyons is located within the Figure 10.1 Des Plaines River Lower Des Plaines River basin, which flows through the Forest Preserves on the east side of the Village. Watersheds are areas of land defined by how water moves over the landscape. Areas that drain into a common point, such as a stream or river, are within the same watershed. The Des Plaines River Watershed is a largely developed watershed originating in Racine County, Wisconsin, and extending south through several counties in northeastern Illinois to the Des Plaines’ confluence with the Kankakee River, where the two form the Illinois River. Most of Lyons is located in the Goose Lake subwatershed, with a few blocks on the western edge of the Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning community in the Lower Salt Creek subwatershed.

Water Quality Report The EPA has tested the Des Plaines River within the Village for water quality. Two segments of the river run through Lyons, divided by the confluence with Salt Creek. IL_G-32 is the segment along the northwestern edge of the Village; IL_G-39 is the segment forming the northern boundary and flowing through the eastern part of the Village. According to the Illinois EPA’s Section 303(d) List for 2014, both of these segments are failing to meet Illinois’ standards for water quality.18 Specifically, both segments are impaired for three designated uses (aquatic life, fish consumption and primary contact) and are categorized as a low priority by the state. However, the EPA has not yet analyzed these stretches for a number of other uses, including secondary contact and aesthetic quality. The impairments are connected to a range of potential sources, including combined sewer overflows, municipal point source discharges, urban runoff/storm sewers, changes in flow regime, atmospheric deposition and other unknown sources.

18 http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/tmdl/303d-list.html

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Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2013. Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Table 10.1 Impaired streams in Lyons Stream Segment Use Attainment Causes of Impairment Sources of Impairment

Des Plaines River Not Supporting: Chloride, Phosphorus Combined Sewer Overflows, (IL_G-32) Aquatic Life, Fish (Total), Mercury, Highway/Road/Bridge Consumption, Polychlorinated Runoff (Non-construction Primary Contact Biphenyls, Fecal Coliform related), Municipal Point Source Discharges, Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers, Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics, Source Unknown Not assessed: Secondary Contact, Aesthetic Quality

Des Plaines River Not Supporting: Aldrin, Arsenic, Chloride, Contaminated Sediments, (IL_G-39) Aquatic Life, Fish Lindane, Methoxychlor Combined Sewer Overflows, Consumption, Other Flow Regime Municipal Point Source Primary Contact Alterations, pH, Discharges, Urban Phosphorus (Total), Runoff/Storm Sewers, Mercury, Polychlorinated Impacts from Biphenyls, Fecal Coliform Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification, Dam or Impoundment, Not assessed: Atmospheric Deposition - Secondary Contact, Toxics, Source Unknown Aesthetic Quality

Source: Illinois EPA, Section 303(d) List, http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/tmdl/303-appendix/2014/appendix-b2.pdf

Water Source and Supply The Village of Lyons receives its drinking water from Lake Michigan via the Brookfield-North Riverside Water Commission (BNRWC). The Village is connected directly to the BNRWC supply grid and receives enough water to its reservoir and pumping complex to serve its residential and retail customers.19 In 2010, Lyons purchased 412 million gallons of water from the BNRWC, which purchases water from the City of Chicago. The Illinois diversion of Lake Michigan water is limited by a 1967 U.S. Supreme Court Decree to around 2.1 billion gallons of water per day. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is responsible for the management of Lake Michigan water resource and its use, not only for Lyons but also for approximately 200 other permittees through an allocation program.

19 Source: Village of Lyons, “Consumer Confidence Report: Public Water Supply for the Monitoring Year 2010.”

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

For many years, Lyons has suffered from severe water loss from its system and use exceeding its allocation. According to data from IDNR, from 2007-2011 an average of 23.6% of Lake Michigan water allocated to the Village was unaccounted-for. By percentage, Lyons ranks second among all IDNR permittees in water loss. Whether due to leaks in the system, metering inaccuracies, billing errors, or theft, the high percentage of unaccounted-for water causes lost revenue for the Village. Water loss also potentially contributes to use that exceeds Lyons’ allocation from Lake Michigan. In 2011, the Village was allocated 1.026 million gallons per day (mgd), but pumped 1.150 mgd, placing the Village 12.1% over its allocation. According to the IDNR regulations, if a permittee is more than 15% over its allocation or more than 5% over for a 5-year period, the community receives a notice of violation, a hearing, an a potential fine. IDNR and other groups may be able to offer assistance in understanding the challenges, constraints, and circumstances that might help explain the violation of the conditions of the permit to use Lake Michigan water.

For the calendar year 2010, the Village of Lyons water supply produced no drinking water quality violations. Its report for the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Safe Drinking Water Act appears on the Village website. Sewer Infrastructure Sewer infrastructure includes the mains that collect wastewater from individual properties and stormwater runoff from throughout the Village. The Village sewer system is a combined sewer, which carries both wastewater and stormwater in the same mains.20 Lyons discharges its sewer system to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for treatment and disposal. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which receives treated wastewater from the City of Chicago, passes through the southern edge of the Village. Flooding Significant portions of Lyons are within the 100-year floodplain of the Des Plaines River, although most is undeveloped land within the Forest Preserve. The northwestern corner of the Village and the unincorporated area between the northern border of the Village and the Des Plaines River include residential neighborhoods partially within the floodplain. The northwestern corner of Lyons is part of the Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Vision (GIV), which identifies about 1.8 million acres of land in the Chicago metropolitan region that should be restored, protected, or connected through conservation and thoughtful, sustainable development practices. The Green Infrastructure Vision guides the protection and development of an accessible, interconnected network of healthy ecosystems that contribute to economic vitality and quality of life for all residents of the region.

20 MWRD. 2009. “Municipalities and Townships Totally or Partially within MWRDGC Boundaries.” See https://www.mwrd.org/irj/portal/anonymous?NavigationTarget=navurl://ff98e83a296995b10e33bb30fa978744

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) reported several stormwater and flooding problem areas in the Village of Lyons. According to MWRD’s watershed plan for the Lower Des Plaines River, the Czech Terrace subdivision in northwestern Lyons experienced flooding from Salt Creek during a 2008 storm. MWRD also reports infrequent flooding from the Des Plaines River on 45th Street, 47th Street, and Ogden Avenue and damaging high river levels on 1st Avenue and Forest Avenue in nearby Brookfield. The plan also models significant and frequent flooding in the unincorporated area between 39th Street and the Des Plaines River.

Hofmann Dam After years of damming the river, the State of Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Figure 10.3 Hofmann Dam Engineers have been working to restore the Des Plaines back to a free-flowing state. In 2012, the Army Corps removed a section of the Hofmann Dam, which was located south and west of the Barrypoint Bridge on Joliet Avenue. The Laughton Brothers first constructed a dam on the site in 1827 in connection with their sawmill. The dam has gone through multiple changes over the years, including improvements made by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The most recent structure dated to 1950. While the dam was once necessary to prevent the river from drying up in the summer, increased stormwater runoff in the watershed has increased flow in all Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning seasons.21 The recent removal will improve water quality and has made fifteen miles of river accessible to waterway users and aquatic species, whose movements the dam impeded. In the coming years, additional dam removals are planned along the Des Plaines River, which will open up another 50 miles of accessible waterways.

Wetlands Partly due to its high level of development, the Village of Lyons includes only a small amount of wetlands within the Forest Preserves, near the Chicago Portage site. All of the wetlands are within preserved open space so will not have an impact on future development.

21 Forest Preserve District of Cook County. 2012. “New Life on the Des Plaines River: Hofmann Dam Removal Project.” October 1. http://fpdcc.com/hofmann-dam-removal-project/

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Open space and natural resources Open space and natural resources contribute significantly to the desirability and character of a community. They contribute to the quality of residents’ lives and enhance the community’s image. Preservation of these assets and the assemblage of new resource protection areas are important in promoting the long-term sustainable growth of Lyons. Lyons Parks and Recreation

The Parks and Recreation Department Figure 10.5 Veterans Park provides parks and recreation services to Lyons residents in order to enhance their quality of life. It currently operates four parks including Smith Park (4.8 acres), Veterans Park (9.7 acres), West End Tot Park (0.12 acres), and Amelia Park (0.29 acres). The Veterans Park and Smith Park are located along Lawndale Avenue while Amelia Park and West End Tot Park are located along Amelia Avenue and 45th Street, respectively. Veterans Park and Smith Park are located next to the Photo by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning municipal complex, with each occupying almost an entire block. Amelia Park and West End Tot Park are relatively smaller and located within residential neighborhoods.

Regional Open Space The largest portion of open space in Lyons, totaling 370.7 acres, is part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. While owned and supervised by the county, the Preserve offers recreational, aesthetic, and flood reduction benefits for residents of Lyons. The preserves in Lyons include:

- Cermak Woods - White Eagle Woods (North and South) - Ottawa Trail Woods (North and South) - Stony Ford Woods and Canoe Landing - Chicago Portage Woods

In addition to open space, the Forest Preserves in Lyons contain several programmed recreational and cultural amenities. The Cermak Family Aquatic Center features a pool, water slides, and other activities. The adjacent Cermak Quarry currently provides opportunities for fishing. Along the western edge of the preserve, the Salt Creek Greenway provides local access to what will eventually be a 35-mile trail.

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Energy and sustainability Rising energy costs and changing energy needs raise economic and environmental concerns for local households, businesses, and governments. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) analyzed the Village of Lyons’ energy and emissions profile as part of the Municipal Energy Profile Project for the Chicago Metropolitan Area.22 The information in CNT’s report can be used to provide baseline metrics as well as indicators of where to target strategies to reduce energy use and emissions.

Reducing energy consumption can strengthen economic development by lowering long-term energy costs for households and businesses and lessening environmental impacts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Steps taken to achieve other community goals, such as creating a more walkable community and providing an array of different housing types, can also have the dual impact of reducing energy consumption and the associated costs.

Compared to Cook County as a whole, Lyons attributes relatively less of its energy consumption to commercial and industrial uses and much more to residential uses. Whereas residential users consume 29% of the county’s energy consumption, they consume 46% of energy used in Lyons. In contrast, the Village devotes a greater share of its natural gas consumption to commercial and industrial uses; residential users in the county as a whole account for 60% of natural gas consumption versus only 48% in Lyons.

According to CNT’s analysis, the Village of Lyons boasts lower usage of both electricity and natural gas than does Cook County overall, resulting in lower household costs. The difference in natural gas usage presents a stark difference in savings; average annual natural gas costs in Lyons are more than $500 lower than in the county as a whole. Annual energy costs are lower by about $60.

Table 10.2 Electricity (kWh) and Natural Gas Consumption (Therms), 2007 Lyons Cook County

Total electricity consumption 62,361,640 kWh 50,580,468,305 kWh

Residential electricity consumption 28,807,486 kWh 14,915,965,265 kWh

Commercial and industrial electricity consumption 33,554,155 kWh 35,664,503,040 kWh

22 The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) authored the “Lyons Energy and Emissions Profile” that examined energy consumption, vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions at a community-wide scale. This report was part of the Municipal Energy Profile Project (MEPP) that included the development of profiles for over 270 municipalities in the Chicago metropolitan region. The profiles serve as a baseline from which communities can develop more specific strategies and accurately measure progress in achieving reductions in energy consumption and emissions. The MEPP Guidebook examined both municipal and community scale best practices for strategies in energy and transportation. The project was funded by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and data partners included ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Residential electricity consumption per household 7,125 kWh/yr 7,692 kWh/yr

Annual electricity cost per household* $767 $828

Total natural gas consumption 6,931,919 therms 3,634,277,500 therms

Residential natural gas consumption 3,357,257 therms 2,191,453,638 therms

Commercial and industrial natural gas consumption 3,574,662 therms 1,442,823,862 therms

Residential natural gas consumption per household 830 therms/yr 1,130 therms/yr

Annual natural gas cost per household* $737 $1,274

Source: CNT. 2007. “Lyons Energy and Emissions Profile.” *4,043 households in Lyons; 1,939,190 households in Cook County

Different sources of energy yield different amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Generating electricity, often produced by burning coal, emits more greenhouse gas than does heating by natural gas. CNT calculated the emissions from the six major greenhouse gases and converted them into a standard metric known as carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO2e (see Table 10.3). Per capita emissions in Lyons were 13.22 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2007, slightly lower than the 14.86 metric tons emitted per capita in Cook County.

Table 10.3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2007

Sector Emissions (MMT CO2e)

Electricity 0.044 Natural Gas 0.037

Transportation 0.041

Solid Waste 0.007 Waste Water 0.001 Product Use 0.005

TOTAL 0.136

Lyons emissions per capita 13.22 Cook County emissions per capita 14.86

Source: CNT. 2007. “Lyons Energy and Emissions Profile.”

The use of energy in buildings in Lyons (the sum of the electricity and natural gas sectors) accounts for the largest portion of energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation makes up the next largest portion, based on the vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) by Lyons residents each year. The amount of driving is influenced by access to jobs, proximity of businesses and amenities, availability of public transit, and general walkability of the Village. As of 2007, Lyons

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report households traveled more annually than did households in the county as a whole, 16,053 VMT versus 14,742 VMT.

Planning and Sustainability Sustainability encompasses a wide variety of topics directed at creating vibrant and livable communities while strengthening three primary elements: environment, community, and economy. In order to achieve a sustainable and more livable future, a community’s plans, policies, and development decisions should consider their impact on the three primary elements. Rather than setting sustainability as something to achieve apart from other local decisions, communities should consider short and long term impacts as an integral component of every local decision. The wisest local land use and community development decision will also be a sustainable one.

There are a number of ways to quantitatively measure various aspects of sustainability, many of which are easily understood and linked to impacts. For example, the amount of pollution in streams and rivers is an easily understood indicator of the health of water resources and ecosystems. The amount of waste generated by a community, and the percentage of that waste stream that is recycled, are also clearly linked to sustainability through the consideration of renewable and non-renewable resources. However, there is overlap between these indicators and other data in this report, many of which can be directly or indirectly related to sustainability in ways that may not be immediately apparent. For example, the location, intensity, and trajectory of land use change affects transportation options and the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT), which in turn contributes to increased fuel consumption, pollution, accidents, and public health impacts. Similarly, residents in communities with easily accessible employment opportunities, goods, and services will be able to travel shorter distances to earn an income and take care of daily needs. This is more sustainable because a diversity of land uses in close proximity to residents encourages walking, biking, and transit use and reduces VMT. A diversity of housing options allows for people of different means, abilities, and employment levels to live in the community in which they work, not only reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled but also the expense of owning a car or taking transit to reach jobs in other communities.

This report does not present all of the potential data sets or indicators that could be measured to assess the sustainability of a community, however, a number of possible indicators are included in Table 1.1. Communities are strongly encouraged to take this on as a subsequent planning step to help build a sustainable future. Communities that wish to do so should assess the current state of selected indicators as a baseline, and then develop indicator targets or goals to achieve through a set of municipal policies, programs, and/or initiatives.

Table 1.1: Potential Sustainability Indicators Vehicle Miles Traveled per Household Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Capita (utility data on electricity/natural gas consumption by sector R&C/I.) Housing & Transportation Costs Jobs Accessible by Car or by Transit (as % of jobs) Infill (Redevelopment) Potential Access to Parks and Open Space (e.g., ParkScore) Walkability (e.g., WalkScore) Transit Ridership Bicycle Route Miles (on- and off-road) Acres of Protected Green Infrastructure 83 Tons of Landfill vs. Recyclable Waste (depends on availability of municipal data)

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Chapter 11: Looking Forward The existing conditions analysis has identified a number of issues, challenges, and opportunities in Lyons. The Lyons Comprehensive Plan will utilize the key findings of the existing conditions analysis to develop recommendations to promote growth and development in Lyons. Based on the findings of the existing conditions analysis, a number of topic areas have been identified in this chapter to be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. It should be noted that the following summary does not include all issues that will be addressed in the Plan.

The Lyons Comprehensive Plan will recommend strategies to advance the following goals, among others:

 Focus commercial and industrial revitalization and reinvestment efforts at key locations. There are a number of key locations in Lyons that need synergy and vitality. The Village should target its revitalization efforts at these areas. Ogden Avenue boasts the largest concentration and diversity of existing businesses and will likely be the focus of commercial redevelopment efforts over the next decade. The Village has made significant capital investments near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Lawndale Avenue by constructing a new municipal complex and two community parks. IDOT is investing more than two million dollars to expand roadway capacity and modernize traffic signals near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Joliet Avenue. Such capital investments can be a catalyst for future private investments in these key locations. While the market itself will ultimately drive the types of businesses locating in Lyons, there is much that the Village can do to incentivize private investments, foster a diversity of tenants, and increase the vibrancy and synergy of the commercial corridors. The Plan will identify strategies to encourage private investments and revitalizate the retail and industrial districts. It will also explore potential for commercial and mixed- use redevelopment opportunities at key locations in the Village.

 Encourage a mix of uses and greater utilization of existing commercial corridors. Lyons is characterized by low-density development consisting mostly of single-family, detached housing units. The community should diversify its housing stock by encouraging infill, mixed-use, and multifamily housing developments that offer a variety of housing types for renters and owners alike. Concentrating higher-density residential development near retail districts can provide a customer base for local businesses while still maintaining most of the town’s familiar character of single-family, detached homes. Locating new development near commercial districts will encourage utilization of existing transportation infrastructure and mitigate the vacant and underutilized land along major corridors. The Comprehensive Plan will provide clear direction for recommending type, intensity and location of higher-density residential and mixed-use developments. In keeping with the strategy of focusing reinvestment at key locations, creating a plan for a mixed-use town center at Ogden Avenue and Joliet

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Avenue would best allow Lyons to capitalize on the concentration of commercial, historic, and natural resources along the river.

 Improve and enhance transit connections and services. The existing conditions analysis revealed a lack of sufficient transit services and unsafe conditions for cyclists and pedestrians in the community. The community does not have Pace bus connections to some of the nearest Metra stations, such as Riverside, Hollywood and Summit. Improved bus connection to Metra stations could encourage residents and workers in Lyons to use public transportation instead of driving.

 Improve bicycle-pedestrian access and circulation within the Village. Lyons currently does not have designated bikeways on any of the streets and it has only one bike trail, the Salt Creek Greenway Trail. While the community has an extensive network of sidewalks, a number of them are in poor condition and some have gaps that make them unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. Sidewalk gaps on roadways with high traffic volume and speed are of particular concern because they force cyclists and pedestrians to share the paved part of the road with cars. A number of street sections have been identified as unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists, which should be addressed. The Comprehensive Plan will identify strategies to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation and safety within the Village as well as enhanced transit connections and services for residents and workers.

 Implement roadway enhancement strategies to create a unique image and identity and improve safety. One of the key issues identified during the existing conditions analysis is the lack of aesthetic appeal of Lyons’ streets and key structures, especially along major arterials that serve as important gateways into the community. The Comprehensive Plan will explore strategies to help improve the community’s physical character and visual appeal through streetscape improvements, placemaking, and promotion of the Village’s unique assets such as the Salt Creek Greenway Trail, the Forest Preserves, and the historic Hofmann Tower. The major entrances into the Village are generally in poor to fair physical condition and the pedestrian realms of major streets lack most basic amenities. The Plan will recommend physical improvements of the gateways, which could be redesigned to appeal to visitors as well as investors scouting the community for investment opportunities. The Plan will recommend aesthetic and streetscape improvements, maintenance, and amenities along sidewalks such as benches and improved bus stops to enhance the pedestrian experience and improve the character of the community.

 Explore the possibility of annexing the unincorporated area north of the Village. While many communities in central Chicago region cannot expand, Lyons has the unique potential to grow through a future annexation of the unincorporated area bounded by 39th Street, the White Eagle Woods Forest Preserve, the Riverside Public Works Department, and the Des Plaines River. The area’s close proximity to Lyons’ main street, Ogden Avenue, and its direct access to the river make it a potential asset for

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Lyons. Annexing the area may make economic sense for the Village by more closely matching property tax revenue with the fire and polic services the Village already provides. The Plan will explore the possibility of annexing the unincorporated area.

 Mitigate loss from the Village water system. By percentage, Lyons has the second- highest water loss of all Lake Michigan water permittees in Illinois. Lyons’ water use and water loss both exceed legal limits set by IDNR. Reducing the amount of unaccounted-for loss would capture additional revenue for the Village and bring Lyons into compliance with water regulations. Participating in programs offered by IDNR, CNT, and the Lower Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership may help Lyons diagnose the causes of the water loss and develop solutions to improve infrastructure and metering practices.

 Improve interjurisdictional and interagency collaboration. In order to maximize the benefits generated by community facilities, planned infrastructure improvements, and programmed recreation activities in Lyons, the Village should collaborate with public and private entities including, but are not limited to, surrounding villages, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, IDOT, Metra, Pace, the park and school districts, and the West Central Municipal Conference. The Plan will identify these strategic partnerships and their potential roles in advancing the Village’s priorities.

 Explore development opportunities for the quarry site, including the potential for open space. While many communities in the central Chicago area are already built out, the Village of Lyons has an opportunity for growth through the redevelopment of over 40 acres of land located east of the intersection of 1st Avenue and 43rd Street that was once an active quarry. The Village will acquire the quarry site in a number of years and should take an early and proactive approach to planning for the redevelopment of the site. The Plan will explore and recommend some potential development opportunities.

 Mitigate flooding. While most of the residential neighborhoods in Lyons are outside the 100-year floodplain, some of the residential neighborhoods in the northwestern corner of the Village are partially within the floodplain. The MWRD has reported flooding in the Czech Terrace subdivision resulting from the Salt Creek. Flooding problem resulting from overflows of the Des Plaines River has also been recorded on 45th Street, 47th Street, and Ogden Avenue and damaging high river levels has been recorded on Forest Avenue and 1st Avenue. The Comprehensive Plan will explore best practices to reducing stormwater overflow in the community.

 Provide open spaces, preferably neighborhood parks, in the western and southern parts of the Village. While the acreage of open space in Lyons exceeds the standards recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), most of the available open spaces are concentrated in the eastern and northern parts of the Village. This has left residential neighborhoods in the western and southern parts of the Village with limited access to open space, creating a need for additional open spaces east of Oak

Lyons Comprehensive Plan: Existing Conditions Report

Avenue and west of Ogden Avenue. The comprehensive plan will identify possible sites for locating additional neighborhood park or open space.

 Explore aging in place strategies to help address needs of the aging population. As the Lyons population becomes older, the community should put in place strategies to deal with their economic, social and health needs. The Village has already instituted a number of programs to serve seniors, but more is needed to prepare the community to accommodate its growing senior population. Municipal programs that address the unique housing, transportation, and human services needs of seniors can allow the many longtime residents of Lyons to remain in the Village as they age.

233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606 312 454 0400 [email protected] www.cmap.illinois.gov

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is the region’s official comprehensive planning organization. Its GO TO 2040 planning campaign is helping the region’s seven counties and 284 communities to implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information

FY14-0076