A dispute over roadway safety involving two villages, one township, one township road district, two developers and a supermarket chain has been settled, according to Mokena village officials.
Trustees this week approved a settlement among the parties that will include some changes in the layout of LaPorte Road east of La Grange Road, where a shopping center is under construction.
The Village of Mokena, Frankfort Township and the Frankfort Township Road District took Tri-Land Properties, H&D Development, Dominick’s Realty Trust and the Village of Frankfort to court last year, seeking what they called a safer configuration where LaPorte Road runs along the end of the Hickory Creek Marketplace development.
Mokena and Frankfort officials said significant improvements, such as turning lanes and traffic signals, were needed for a safe traffic flow at the shopping area.
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The agreement has received a tentative approval from negotiators representing each of the seven parties to the dispute, Mokena Village Administrator John Downs said.
The dispute centered on jurisdiction and design issues, Downs said. “It’s not just a Mokena-Frankfort thing,” he said. “This is not just a border war.”
Now Frankfort Township will dedicate a right of way for public improvements to the east side of LaPorte Road, and Dominick’s Realty Trust will pay the township $38,000 in compensation.
The east and west sides of the intersection of LaPorte and La Grange Roads will match up, with LaPorte Road narrowing to the east of the intersection. Dominick’s Realty Trust will pay for the intersection improvements, with Frankfort Township and the Frankfort Township Road District contributing $25,000.