Issue #5: The proposed connection and extension of Margate Drive will severely impact Old Farm Village.
The developer has proposed connecting the new “Kenley” subdivision to an existing cul-de-sac in Old Farm Village, turning a quiet dead-end (Margate Drive) into a through street for a much denser development.
The lack of any new stoplights at the proposed Aptakisic intersection would likely push “Kenley” residents to seek a stoplight at any of the exits from Old Farm Village, as using the poorly conceived Aptakisic Road intersections would be very challenging.
Most importantly, the traffic evaluation submitted by the developer did not assess traffic impacts through the Margate Drive cul-de-sac or Old Farm Village and instead opted to assess traffic impacts on Aptakisic Road alone despite acknowledging that residents would use the Weiland Road/ Thompson Blvd intersection.
The Village should require a revised and independent traffic study prior to any annexation discussion that includes a detailed analysis of projected traffic volume through Thompson Boulevard, Highland Grove Drive, Hidden Lake Drive, and Margate Drive, the impact on pedestrian and bicycle safety, consideration of emergency vehicle access, potential for congestion, and resident concerns.
This change would significantly increase local traffic, alter the neighborhood character, and reduce safety for existing residents. None of the proposals here are aligned with Buffalo Grove’s Strategic Goals.
A Margate Drive extension will bring significant traffic through Old Farm Village as residents of Kenley will seek the safer lighted intersections at Highland Grove, and both ends of Thompson Blvd. This greatly altered traffic pattern has not been evaluated or studied but would add dozens or hundreds of new vehicles onto quiet Old Farm Village Roads
No traffic lights are planned for the entrance or exits of Kenley. The only left turn onto Aptakisic Rd. will make the route significantly more dangerous and instead Old Farm Village will serve as a safer ingress/egress point for Kenley subdivision residents.
A closer examination of the provided traffic study reveals that at the Saturday midday peak, nearly 1,634 new trips will be generated in and out of the subdivision. If even less than 50% of these trips choose to exit through Old Farm Village, there will be hundreds of extra vehicles entering and leaving the subdivision.
Margate Drive would become a connector road seeing hundreds of cars pass by on a typical Saturday