ASHLAND — Between Greenbriar Drive and Garfield Avenue, there is a lone sidewalk that some residents use to walk their dogs and others may use as a shortcut to the Ashland County Fairgrounds in September.
Perhaps the city of Ashland was once going to build a road there? Maybe a developer had installed the sidewalk years ago? Today’s city council don’t know why it was installed, but they do know that all the adjacent property owners want it gone.
When legislation regarding the proposed street (sidewalk) vacation was brought before council Tuesday evening at its Nov. 19 meeting, they unanimously decided to table it until its Dec. 17 meeting when they expect to make a decision.
Council president and first ward representative Steve Workman highlighted the need to give property owners an answer — one way or another — and suggested that be done no later than the end of the year.
At its previous meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 5, council held a public hearing about possibly removing the sidewalk after every adjacent property owner signed a petition to have the land returned to their possession. Ideally, the city would have the sidewalk removed before this happens, at least one resident requested. She had concerns of liability issues, assuming people might still use the sidewalk anyways, according to Mayor Matt Miller, who brought her comments to the hearing.
Only one property owner attended the public hearing. He spoke in support of the proposed street vacation, but also expressed three concerns, including: the water that sits in the area because it could be dangerous to pedestrians, the pedestrians themselves who may continue to use the sidewalk unaware of the change in ownership and how the owners could identify their new property lines.
He also shared that he mows and maintains the grass around the sidewalk, even though it is considered city property.
Following the hearing, the city of Ashland’s board of revision recommended the sidewalk be removed in a 2-0 vote. Two of the three-member board, Mayor Miller and finance director Larry Paxton made the recommendation as the third member, law director Richard Wolfe was not in attendance.
However, the decision won’t be final until it has council’s approval. And when brought before council as a proposed ordinance at its regular Nov. 19 meeting, a different perspective was offered up. Pastor John Bouquet chimed in from the audience to say that he and many other residents use the sidewalk. A few council members who had visited the sidewalk since the previous meeting shared the same observation.
Law director Wolfe encouraged council to first ask themselves if the sidewalk had any public purpose, and then if it does, to weigh that public purpose — either current or future — against the private purpose.
“It’s a nice sidewalk. I see people walking on it,” said Second ward councilman, Robert Valentine.
He expressed concern with using city funds to remove the sidewalk and about landlocking potential building lots by vacating it.
Further, the city would need to maintain access to the area to maintain a waterline located along the sidewalk.
This conversation is anticipated to continue at the Dec. 17 meeting and a vote is expected to follow.
Other legislation
Council also passed legislation allowing the mayor and director of public safety to advertise for bids and to enter into a contract for the US-250/I-71 water and sanitary sewer extension project.
Council approved new 10-year, 100 percent tax incentives to lure more housing development to Ashland. The new Community Reinvestment Area tax incentives will be offered to developers who are building apartment buildings or subdivisions with more than 12 units or 12 building lots.
They did not approve an ordinance that would have changed the name of Sedden Court to Community Way at the request of the Kno-Ho-Co Community Action Commission.
Many shared concerns about the precedent it would set. At large councilman Dan Lawson said he might have had a different opinion on changing a street’s name if it was to honor someone.
Other stories relating to Tuesday’s Council Meeting
