Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2009

Swansea nixes plans to extend Fullerton Road after residents sign petition

SWANSEA -- Village leaders decided at a Monday meeting to nix plans to connect Fullerton Road to Old Collinsville Road through several subdivisions after more than 200 residents signed a petition to stop the project.

Mayor Jim Rauckman said the city revived plans to extend Fullerton Road in an attempt to improve the village's east-west corridor. Plans for such an extension in the 1990s also were opposed by residents.

This time, the village would have needed to acquire two lots owned by Fulford Homes to extend Fullerton Road from its juncture with Smelting Works Road northeast between Woodfield Lake Estates and Lake Lorraine Estates to Old Collinsville Road.

Residents mobilized against the project last week when they learned that village leaders had approached Fulford Homes about purchasing the two lots and that trustees had voted to pursue the project at a June 15 meeting.

Michael Brown, 52, and Nancy Brown, 46, said they moved to their Swansea home about a year ago because they wanted their 2-year-old daughter to grow up in a private, quiet and safe area. "We've got both that little piece of privacy and access to the city," Nancy Brown said.

The Browns' home is nestled in a buffer of tall, thick trees about 10 feet deep; the Fullerton Road extension would run right behind the trees. The family was concerned about increased traffic, noise, crime and the affects on their property value.

Scott Ross, a Woodfield Lake Estates resident, spoke at the village meeting on behalf of residents. He submitted a petition with at least 271 signatures from those against the project.

Thacker then made a motion to stop the city's inquiry into the two lots and not to extend Fullerton Road. "It's not something I would want if I lived in Mr. Ross' house," Thacker said.