(70 ILCS 1920/5)
Sec. 5.
Legislative declaration.
The General Assembly declares that the
welfare, health, prosperity, and moral and general well being of the people of
the State are, in large measure, dependent upon the sound and orderly
development of municipal areas. The Village of Bellwood, the Village of
Maywood, and the Village of
Melrose Park, by reason of the location therein of 25th Avenue and the First
Avenue vicinity between Lake Street on the North, Oak Street on the South, the
Des Plaines River on the East, and Fifth Avenue on the West and their use for
vehicular travel in access to the entire west metropolitan Chicago area,
including municipalities in 2 counties, as well as commercial and industrial
growth patterns and accessibility to O'Hare International Airport, Midway
Airport, manufacturing, and freight related facilities, have become and will
increasingly be the hub of
transportation from all parts of the region and throughout the west
metropolitan area. Motor vehicle traffic, pedestrian travel, and the safety of
both motorists and pedestrians are substantially aggravated by the location of
a major railroad right of way that divides the Village of Bellwood and the
Village of Melrose Park. Additionally, certain development opportunities may
exist in the project area that would stabilize and enhance the tax base of
existing communities, maintain and revitalize existing commerce and industry,
create opportunities for intersurface modal transportation efficiencies, and
promote comprehensive planning within and between communities. The presence of
the railroad right of way at the 25th Avenue grade crossing is
detrimental to the orderly expansion of industry and commerce and to progress
of the region. To alleviate this situation it is necessary to relocate the
railroad tracks and right of way on 25th Avenue and First Avenue, to
separate the grades at
crossings, to acquire property for relocation or submergence
of the railroad
or highways, to create an agency to facilitate and accomplish that
relocation, and to direct infrastructure and development improvements in the
25th Avenue vicinity between St. Charles Road and Lake Street
and the First Avenue vicinity between Lake Street on the North, Oak Street on
the South, the Des
Plaines River on the East, and Fifth Avenue on the West.
Additionally, certain development opportunities may exist in the West Cook
County
region from Harlem Avenue on the East to I-294 on the West and from Grand
Avenue on the
North to 31st Street on the South that would stabilize and enhance the tax base
of existing
communities, maintain and revitalize existing commerce and industry, create
opportunities for
modal transportation efficiencies, and promote comprehensive planning within
and between
communities.
(Source: P.A. 91-562, eff. 8-14-99; 92-352, eff. 8-15-01.)
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