The Village of Glencoe is looking to conduct a parking study to solve concerns about its downtown commercial district.
The Village has coordinated with the Village of Winnetka to begin a streetscape planning effort for the Hubbard Woods District. During the Village Board’s Committee of the Whole meeting on June 20, Development Services Director Taylor Baxter used the ongoing streetscape planning as a platform to discuss the parking issues in the downtown area.
Glencoe last conducted a parking study in 2015. Baxter emphasized that the usage of downtown has changed significantly within the past 10 years, and since the beginning of the pandemic, curbside pickup and deliveries, as well as outdoor dining, have surged.
The village has attempted to balance these changes by implementing curbside pickup spots and 15-minute limits in certain areas.
Additionally, the village transitioned the commuter lot west of the Metra tracks, south of Park Avenue, to three-hour parking. While the transition was made on June 1, trustees noted that they haven’t seen many residents take advantage of the added spaces, supposing a lack of awareness and safety concerns when crossing Green Bay Road played a role.