PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 27, 2006
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
DISCUSSION REGARDING COURTRIGHT ROAD EXTENSION PROJECT
7:45 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mayor Shaver opened the work session at 7:45 P.M., with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mayor Shaver present. No members were absent. Others present were: Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Ed Drobina, Lance Schultz, Jennifer Frommer, David Owens, and others.
2. Review and discussion of the Courtright Road Extension Project. Mr. Schultz provided a brief background on this project. He stated the property was annexed into the City in March of 2005, and in July of 2005 the developer requested approval of Phase I. That legislation has been Tabled at Council since that time waiting on resolution of the realignment of Courtright Road.
Mr. Smith clarified that the three lots on the southeast corner are not in the subdivision, and further the preliminary plat was approved in the Township.
Ms Frommer clarified that staff has had many meetings on this issue and the annexation document does contain a clause that you can’t cause the development to be more expensive than it was when originally approved in the Township. She stated the developer had provided four options and Service Committee determined Option C was the preference. Ms Gilleland stated of the four options, Option C was the most cost effective. Mr. Fix stated we would not be in this position if the Township had paid attention to our traffic plans from the beginning. Mayor Shaver inquired if there would be any benefit from eminent domain for Option C and Ms Frommer stated we would still have the same cost issues. Mr. Fix stated this would also benefit the Township and questioned if they would be willing to help pay for this project. Ms Frommer clarified the road would not be built in Phase I of the development but would be built in the next few years.
Mr. Smith stated the City had also considered the 256 by-pass project and questioned if that would be better than the Courtright Road project. He stated at although the by-pass was less than optimal it would take advantage of a large investment the City just made with the purchase of the bus barn property. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt that the Courtright Road extension would end up with traffic going off of Diley Road, through Cherry Hill, and ending up on Milnor Road. He stated he felt this was a major safety concern and he has major issues with providing a way for traffic to cut through residential neighborhoods.
Mayor Shaver stated one of our biggest traffic issues is on S.R. 256 by the sports complex and Seton Parish, and the Courtright Road extension would alleviate some of that traffic. Mr. Wisniewski stated his concern was also that Cherry Hill and Stemen Road are “loaded” streets, and we would just be putting a “no load” connector between those two neighborhoods.
Ms Frommer stated the traffic on S.R. 256 is not getting better, and this project could dump traffic from 256 onto Courtright instead of going on to Center Street. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt improving S.R. 256 would have less impact on residential neighborhoods. Mr. Wisniewski stated the problem is that Wellington Park will happen no matter what Council decides on Courtright Road. Mr. Sabatino stated if we did nothing, then it would have access to Milnor Road, and Mr. Wisniewski stated that would just develop another Cherry Hill with people using it as a cut through. Ms Gilleland stated there is no perfect answer since we are not starting from scratch. She stated it is very difficult to plan for 20 years in the future when we are dealing with issues as they are today. Mrs. Riggs stated she felt Council just as to do the best they can with what we have now.
Ms Gilleland stated the purpose of this work session was to get a feel for how Council would like to proceed on this issue, and Mayor Shaver stated from all of the discussion this evening he thought the majority of Council agreed that Option C was the best option for the Courtright Road project. Ms Gilleland stated she would continue to work with the developer and would provide more information to Council as it becomes available.
3. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further, the work session closed at 9:15 P.M., February 27, 2006.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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ATTEST:
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