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Health & Fitness

Lake County Board Action: March 2014

Lake County Courthouse Expansion Project Advances 
The county board recently approved an agreement with the City of Waukegan that advances the courthouse expansion project in downtown Waukegan. The $100 million project includes a nine-story courthouse and a new tunnel connecting the jail and existing courthouse. Construction is expected to begin later this year. This agreement calls for streetscape and pedestrian improvements around the complex, resurfacing of Washington and County Streets, as well as exterior improvements to the existing sky bridge pedestrian walkway. Visit lakecountycourthouseexpansion.com to learn more about the project. 

Board Approves Regulations for Medical Cannabis Facilities in the Unincorporated Areas 
Under the new state law that legalizes medical cannabis, local governments are required to accommodate medical cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries (drug stores) within their jurisdictions and may adopt 'reasonable' zoning regulations in doing so. The County and local municipalities worked together to develop model zoning regulations and are now using those model standards in developing their ordinances. The County's new regulations govern both site location restrictions and operational standards (including setbacks, security, signage, etc.) for medical cannabis facilities in the unincorporated areas. Once additional Administrative Rules are adopted, the State will begin issuing licenses for cultivation centers and dispensaries throughout Illinois. Lake County could be eligible for up to one cultivation center and three dispensaries.

County Board Approves Widening of Peterson Road - Road Projects Open up Central Corridor 
The county board recently awarded a construction contract for the widening of Petersen Road in the central area of the county. This $11 million dollar project will reconstruct and widen the road from two lanes to four from US Route 45 in Libertyville to west of IL 83 in the Village of Grayslake and will include a major expansion of the intersection at IL 83. This is the first of two upcoming Petersen Road expansion projects with the second project from IL 83 to west of Alleghany expected to be constructed next year. The board also approved a preliminary study to plan for the future extensions of Fremont Center Road, Winchester Road, and Alleghany Road. All of these projects will improve congestion and mobility, and are expected to open up the central corridor of Lake County to economic development. 

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