VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON HILLS
PLAN COMMISSION 
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 24, 2008

The special meeting of the Village of Barrington Hills Plan Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Bosworth.

Plan Commission Members Present:	Kenneth Bosworth, Chairman
					Peter Grande
					Patrick Hennelly
					Joseph Messer	
					James O’Donnell
					David M. Stieper

                         Absent:	Lou Anne Majewski
					Michael Schmechtig

EJ&E / CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY:  The meeting was called upon the request of the Chairman for consideration of the petition FD 35087 presently before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) regarding the purchase of the EJ&E Railway by the Canadian National Railway.

The Village Board of Trustees has been given an opportunity to comment to the STB on the petition and have requested the assistance of the Plan Commission.

Present on behalf of the Village staff was Robert Kosin, Director of Administration; Bill Strahan, Village Engineer; Joseph von Meier, Village Attorney; and Konstantine Savoy, planning consultant.

The Plan Commission was presented with a description of the EJ&E and its present trackage through the Village.  It is proposed by the purchase for the number of trains to increase from five trains to twenty trains a day.  Also, the trains will have a length of upwards to one and a half miles.

The at-grade crossing of Penny Road, Old Sutton Road and Otis Road were examined for traffic flow and usage by service routes, school buses, and emergency vehicles.  No parallel routes exist between the crossings.

The land uses along the tracks were identified to be either single family residential or forest preserves.  Along some segments the trackage was higher than the adjoining residences.

Stormwater within Flint Creek passes under the track at certain locations, including the existence of an in-channel check dam built in 1910 under the train trestle.

The headwaters of Spring Creek begin on the southeastern end of the train tracks in the area of Old Sutton and State Route 72 and flows northwesterly in to Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve.

The residences receive their water from private wells locally supplied.  The aquifers are shallow and susceptible to contamination.

The EJ&E has an interconnect with the Union Pacific Chicago Northwest Line over which Metra runs its commuter service known as the Harvard line.

In the discussion of staff comments, the Commissioners considered providing a statement to the Board of Trustees identifying issues and concerns of this change in land uses.  On a motion made and seconded, the Chairman was provided with the direction to obtain staff assistance and provide the comments of the Commission.  In the discussion on the motion it was so advised that the draft comments would be circulated only for the purpose of additions or deletions prior to submission to the Board of Trustees.  Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.


There being no further business for the purpose stated, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m. after being so moved and seconded.

Respectfully submitted,



Robert Kosin
Acting Recording Secretary

Plan Commission / Special Meeting
January 24, 2008 – Page 2