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Pathway planning rolls into neighborhoods
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - June 24, 2009)
Pathway planning rolls into neighborhoods
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The City of Chardon will employ a mix of neighborhood representatives to help guide it in efforts to build a network of pathways.
City Council and the city's planning commission met with consultants D.B. Hartt, of Cleveland, last week to review possible pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.
Officials are looking at paths that will allow families and casual cyclists to move from various points in the city to shopping, schools and Chardon Square. Various plans include connecting neighborhoods in the south and the schools to the north to the central city and connecting the two ends of the Geauga Park District's bike path.
Council agreed that representatives of all areas of the city may best decide what those paths will look like.
Planner David Hartt said any steering committee should include a minimum of 25 to 30 people. He said, because members often may miss meetings, the high number is needed to ensure a diverse representation at each meeting.
Council anticipates that the committee, which only will make recommendations, will be able to finish its work in less than three months.
Mr. Hartt said plans for the paths needs to be viewed as a "long-term vision" for the city, which may be implemented in sections rather than as a one-time project. He said it is likely such a plan could take 15 to 25 years to implement.
Councilman Jefferey Campbell Jr. said residents in his part of town would oppose plans for bringing paths in front of their homes, even if they are in the public rights of way. He said residents have become accustomed to a certain character in their neighborhoods and would be unwilling to compromise.
Donald Lannoch, a planner with D.B. Hartt, said side paths, which are separated from roadways by curbed, landscaped islands that run parallel to the roads, would be situated only along the widest rights of way. Those exist along South Street (Route 44), North and South Hambden streets and Water (Route 6) and Center (Route 44) streets. He said 31 percent of the paths planned would be situated within rights of way. He said paths are projected to only cross the properties of eight homes.
Councilwoman Leslie Bednar said, while residents may oppose such plans now, they may change their minds once they become educated about the economic and quality-of-life issues that are benefits of such pathways. "We need time to have people understand the benefits," she said.
The attitudes of residents may change over the 20 years needed to bring the paths to the city, Mrs. Bednar said.
Mr. Hartt agreed, saying the city should now be looking at its philosophy toward the paths, rather than potential problems. He said some residents may change their attitudes after seeing sections built and the positive effect it has on the city.
Planning commission chairman Kenneth Miller said the city is involved in a "major chess game" with officials attempting to predict their opponent's possible moves 24 to 30 moves ahead. He said it is the role of city officials to be visionaries, rather than respond to single complaints about what residents don't like. He said inviting a good representation of the public into the discussion would give officials better direction.
"The public will tell us very quickly what is feasible and what is not," Mr. Miller said.
Councilman Robert Cromwell also cautioned officials to be specific with what its plans will be. He said the public voted for a larger log cabin on the square, but plans have dragged because some now say it's too big or they don't like the architectural style.
Mr. Hartt said officials have to be flexible in their plans to adapt to what the community wants. He said cost and community reaction may change what the city ultimately will do.
"Don't say it's this or nothing," he said. "You have to be flexible."
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