City Council Preview: More Parking Near Metra Station; Drive Through for Corner Bakery

Crystal Lake may soon get more parking spaces downtown for commuters. 

The Crystal Lake City Council is expected to vote on a special use permit amendment and variations Tuesday that would allow the city to expand the daily commuter Metra lot along Railroad Street to include 50 more parking spaces, six motorcycle spaces and bike racks, according to the city council packet.

The parking lot—which is located on Railroad Street between Grant and Second streets—currently has 142 spaces available for commuter parking. 

The plan includes expanding the current commuter lot to the east, with the additional spaces located along the northwest corner of Grant and Railroad streets, according to city documents.

If the lot is expanded, the city is proposing to change the 30 parking spaces designated for on-street commuter parking in front of the Train Depot to free-four hour parking, according to city documents. 

An open house was held on Feb. 11 regarding this project and the Crystal Lake planning and zoning commission approved a special use permit and variations, according to the city council packet. 

Corner Bakery Could Get Drive Through

In addition, the city council is set to vote on an ordinance for a PUD amendment that would allow for a drive through at Corner Bakery, 815 Cog Circle. The planning and zoning commission approved PUD amendment at an earlier meeting. 

Improvements to Streets

The city council will also vote to approve a bid for SKC Construction, Inc. as the contractor for the city's 2013 crack sealing program at Tuesday's meeting.

The program includes routing, cleaning and sealing of cracks in street pavement and "is typically applied realitively early in the overall life cycle of the pavement to reduce the amount of water that can infiltrate into the roadway base," according to the council packet. 

The bid is for $32,828.70 and would include sealing of cracks on the following streets:  

• Berkshire Drive from Darlington to Virginia Road
• Castlefield Lane 
• Central Park Drive
• College Street
• Copperfield Lane
• Kennsington Lane
• Lutter Drive
• McHenry Avenue from Crystal Lake Avenue to Route 14
• Midlane Drive from Ryan Way to the city limits
• Mitchell Court
• Munshaw Lane, Oriole Trail from McHenry Avenue to Crystal Lake Avenue
• Raymond Drive
•  Shelton Lane
• Skyridge Drive
• Somerfield Lane
• Stockton Lane
• Tanglewood Drive from Woodscreek Circle to Alexandra Boulevard
• Terra Cotta Road from Wyndmuir Drive to Blackthorn Drive
• Trailwood Court from Woodscreek Circle to Alexandra Boulevard
• Warrigton Lane and Woodstock Street from Walkup Avenue to Route 14. 

The Crystal Lake City Council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the city council chambers at 100 West Woodstock St. in Crystal Lake.