02/06/1996 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 2/6/96 t AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Jeff Tasse, 5522 Quail Run, representing the Pheasant's Walk-Quail Run and West Park- Forest Ridge Homeowners' Associations, spoke about the bike path for the proposed Crocker-Stearns Road e~ctension. Mr. Tasse said that he and the other residents were in attendance to safeguard the enhancements that they had obtained for both their area and the entire city. Also, the residents have represented the interests of the Forest Ridge Elementary School. Through Council's help and many political efforts, they obtained the noise barrier walls that will enhance the overall project. This is the first time that noise walls have been included in a project on an urban arterial route as opposed to an interstate highway. Mr. Tasse met with Brian Driscoll from the County Engineer's office to review the plans for the project. The bike path has been removed from those plans, and the proposed entrance to the Metroparks has not yet been included. Mr. Tasse commented that, back at the time when the bike path was being discussed and the residents' reasons were presented as to the further encroachment on the properties, it had been pointed out that there would be an additional land requirement of approximately 15 feet for the bike path. There has been a proposal that the sidewalk. be altered from 5 feet to 7 feet to serve as a multi purpose path. The county project engineer has told Mr. Tasse the multi- purpose path could easily be done. Mr. Tasse feels this would provide access to the Metroparks and maintain safety standards that might be compromised with a bike path. He urged Council "to stay the course, to be true to your constituents, to maintain your support of the removal of that bike path." Mr. Nashar commented that he did not think Council would have any objection to widening the sidewalk to 7 feet in lieu of a bike path. Mr. McKay asked Mr. Tasse if the project engineer had said the addition to the sidewalk could be done without moving the project closer to the residents. Mr. Tasse said that Mr. Driscoll felt this could be done very simply. Mr. McKay said he felt the sidewalk could be utilized for pedestrians and bicycles as the current bike path along I-480. Mr. Musial agreed there would be no problem allowing the bicycles on the wider sidewalk. Also, he noted that this was not a new idea but had been discussed two years ago. Mr. Tasse agreed that this idea had been discussed as a compromise back in 1991 and 1992. Mr. O'Grady asked that Mr. Tasse confirm that he had no objection to a wider sidewalk to be used for both bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Mr. Tasse said the residents have not objected to this since 1992 and would have no objection now, with the understanding that the wider sidewalk would not increase the right-of--way. Mr. O'Grady said the one thing that has impressed him more than anything else related to this issue is the vast amount of misinformation that is being circulated He does not feel that Mr. Tasse represents all of the residents of the Forest Ridge-West Park area because he has received a great many phone calls from residents who strongly desire the bike path. Also, after discussions with educators and students who are in favor of the bike path, he does not believe that Mr. Tasse represents the Forest Ridge Elementary School. Mr. O'Grady made the following responses to Mr. Tasse's remarks: 1. It is true that the bike path has been removed from the engineering plans, but it is important to note that this was never authorized by the city. Ordinance 96-12 will authorize the payment for the removal services that were never requested. The cost of removing the bike path is $15,000, and the cost to replace it is $4,000. 2. With regard to 6