Some Residents Support $4.3M Stormwater Plan in Northwest Winnetka

About 15 residents from northwest Winnetka recently showed their support for a $4.3 million stormwater plan that could alleviate flooding in that part of the village during a Village Council meeting, Chicago Tribune reported.

The proposed plan covers about a 170-acre drainage area north of Tower Road in the Greenwood Avenue and Forest Glen study area where all of the stormwater runoff drains to the Skokie River diversion ditch through a sewer heading west under Tower Road, proposed improvements include adding a trunk sewer along Tower Road, several lateral sewers in the area and a larger outlet pipe to the pond, Winnetka Talk reported.

Not everyone supports the plan, which is part of Winnetka’s $41.1 million stormwater program. Robert Footlik, who spoke on behalf of his 95-year-old mother, Sylvia Footlik, says he’s worried the proposed plan could mean more flooding on his mother’s property on Tower Road near the drainage area but on the Glencoe side, Chicago Tribune reported.

The plan also proposes to install three storm sewer laterals on private property at a cost of $110,000 and could set a precedent of village funding improvement on private property, but trustee Joe Adams said the way he’s understanding the plan is that it’s “a more cost-effective way to alleviate flooding in the entire area and not one specific homeowner,” Winnetka Talk reported.

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