Many Glenview and Northbrook residents may be self-isolating or working from home this winter due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the weather outside and the location of their cars should continue to be noted.
As these communities enter the snowy season, village officials are reminding residents of street parking rules and snow clearing operations.
“To help our crews work efficiently and safely, the most important thing residents can do is keep their vehicles off the streets when plowing is taking place,” reads an announcement on the village of Northbrook’s website.
Glenview’s overnight street parking ban went into effect Dec. 1 and will remain in effect through March 31. The ban prohibits overnight parking on all public streets in the village between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
On-street parking permits may be available to those who have no available off-street parking. Those parking request forms are available on the village’s website.
“This regulation is necessary to make it easier to remove ice and snow,” village spokeswoman Lynne Stiefel said in the village’s December “Glenview Connection” video.
According to Stiefel, snow plows and salt spreaders are called to action when 1-2 inches of snow are forecast.
Main roads will be salted on a priority basis, centered around traffic and safey considerations. Neighborhood intersections aren’t done on a routine basis unless ice presents a safety issue there, Stiefel said.
Property owners are responsible for shoveling the sidewalks along roads and also need to clear snow from fire hydrants on or near their property, Stiefel said.
“It’s important for firefighters to have clear access in case of emergency,” she said.
Pushing or blowing snow from sidewalks and driveways into the street is prohibited, Stiefel said. Snow may roll off the edge of the plows into driveways that are already shoveled, and she suggested that shovelers push snow to the right when facing the street so that the snow will be “downstream” of the plows.
In Northbrook, street parking is prohibited when 2 or more inches of snow has fallen until snow clearing operations have finished. As in Glenview, the village deploys snow plows and de-icing trucks when needed.
According to spokeswoman Kylie Cerk, residents will be notified via email and text with Northbrook Notify when that parking ban is in effect and when it has cleared. They can sign up for those notifications on the village website.
Residents can also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at 847-564-2060 to find out whether or not the parking ban is in effect and to report cars in the street.
Vehicles violating the ordinance may be ticketed or towed for being hazardous, according to officials.
According to officials, it is unlawful for anyone to place snow from private lots or driveways into the streets, or to “obstruct, harass, prevent or otherwise interfere” with village personnel or vehicles involved in snow removal.
“This season, the village is asking residents to be patient as Public Works clears the way,” the website states.
kedquist@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist
