Planning for the future and large infrastructure projects were two of the main topics of a presentation offered at a presentation by the elected leaders of the two local communities.
Lake Forest Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack and Lake Bluff Village President Regis Charlot provided a snapshot on planning, capital improvements and finances among other topics at a July 25 forum sponsored by the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce.
Lake Forest is set to have a new strategic plan soon with Tack mentioning information was used from a survey conducted last year to initiate goals and priorities for the City. A draft plan is set to be introduced to the City Council in August with a final version delivered afterward.
Tack said there are approximately $30 million scheduled for capital improvements. He noted a roughly three-day project is set for August near the intersection of Deerpath and Green Bay Road for water main work. That will foreshadow a much larger initiative next year with a streetscape reconstruction of Deerpath between Green Bay Road and Western Avenue that could take around four to five months.
Finally, Tack said the City is engaging in public sessions regarding enhancing Bank Lane.
“We are trying to improve the streetscape and create an environment that encourages pedestrian access to the central business district,” he said.
Tack wished that might spur “thoughtful redevelopment” of that corridor replacing what he described as “obsolete architecture.”
“We are hoping businesses will be encouraged to do new and creative things stimulated by what we do with the streetscape itself,” he added.
Tack also mentioned the July purchase of a Conway Park building intended to be converted into the new police headquarters.
“The next year we are going to spend in the process of design and needs assessment hopefully culminating with a financing plan to meet those needs,” Tack said.
Finally, Tack noted the public works department is discussing Market Square lighting, where gas lamps are used.
“When you have a historic district, people want it to look a certain way. They don’t want it to be brightly lit like a mall,” he said. “We want to keep them, we want to keep the aesthetic but we also want to make that safer particularly in the central business district going north out of Market Square.”
Tack pointed to the opening of the Deerpath Community Park, bluff stabilization at Forest Park Beach and a recently completed resurfacing of a section of the Robert McClory Bike Path as other recent city achievements.
Up north in Lake Bluff, Charlot mentioned work is ongoing both on the Village’s strategic plan and a separate comprehensive land use plan.
“The (comprehensive) plan is really meant to establish logical land use and community development policies as a guide in decision-making process for Village officials and advisory boards,” Charlot said.
He anticipated it would be completed by the end of the year.
Charlot also mentioned the Village is engaged in a “missing middle” housing study with the goal of diversifying the village’s housing stock amid diminished inventory and rising prices.
“People who want to downsize in Lake Bluff can not find a house for their use,” he said.
In terms of infrastructure projects, Charlot mentioned the Village’s upcoming $22 million stormwater improvement project believing it will have a “transformational” effect on the village.
He said the Village is still waiting for $6.5 million from the Illinois Department of Transportation but the intent is to start as early as 2026.
Charlot also noted the Village is preparing for renovation of a section of Green Bay Road and its bridge in March 2026. He said the project could take about six months.
He added the Village will be pursuing streetscape improvements for the area known as Block One in the central business district. He wants it to have a curbless space and festoon lighting similar to the nearby Block Two.
“The appearance of our downtown is important to us,” he said.
Both Tack and Charlot said their communities were on sound financial ground.
However, both communities will have to absorb a loss when the State of Illinois permanently removes the grocery tax starting Jan. 1, 2026.
Tack projected the annual loss will be approximately $500,000.
After the session, City Manager Jason Wicha said the state collected the tax and distributed the proceeds to individual communities who have the right to impose the tax on their own.
“The City has not had any discussions about imposing any local grocery tax,” Wicha said.
However, he said the subject will likely come up as part of next year’s budget development process.
Charlot anticipated the financial impact would be about $182,000 a year, but did not see the Village imposing that tax.
“We will be able to offset that loss with other tax revenue streams,” he said following the session.
On other subjects facing the community, Wicha said in an interview the City is likely to announce a new police chief in August. Michael Lange has been serving as interim chief since the retirement of Karl Walldorf.
Charlot did not talk about the Village’s ongoing dispute with the Lake Bluff Park District over pickleball play during his presentation. But he said afterward, he believes a resolution to the issue is very close between the two parties.
