Residents of a dead-end street in an Ohio city are up in arms because the city plans to install a common road outside their homes.
As part of the road work, the city of Toledo plans to install sidewalks along non-through roads and residential streets to improve safety and accessibility.
But not all residents are happy with the idea, saying they will be expensive to install and maintain, will damage trees and plants and are unnecessary.
Mark Gensler, who lives in a dead end he told The Toledo Blade: ‘It just seems like it’s a waste of money and resources. They don’t think about the older people who have to go out and shovel snow to maintain the sidewalk.’
Residents expressed their concerns to the city council, which is now considering removing the sidewalk requirement from the ordinance.
As part of the road works, the Toledo City Council plans to install sidewalks in dead-end streets and residential areas to improve safety and accessibility
But not all residents support the plan. Point Place resident Barbara Grzeszczak told ABC13, “And for our little cul-de-sac, I’m here for them not to put in sidewalks.”
The city plans to install the sidewalks under a 2010 ordinance called the Complete Streets Policy, which requires sidewalks to be part of any road improvement project.
The proposal has been welcomed by many residents, who say it will improve accessibility.
Valerie Fatica, disability officer for the city of Toledo, said: ‘Many of our residents were upset about the installation of the new water meters in their homes.
“However, the city did not allow opt-out because, like the sidewalk network, it works best when the system is complete.”
But others say sidewalks are unnecessary and will cause more trouble than they’re worth.
Barbara Grzeszczak, a Point Place resident for 40 years, told ABC13, “And for our little cul-de-sac, I’m here for them not to put in sidewalks.”
‘I have a sprinkler system. I live around the corner and have quite a few sprinkler system heads that will have to be dug up and moved, which will be quite expensive, according to my sprinkler guy.’
The council is considering adopting an amendment to exclude cul-de-sacs and cul-de-sacs from the sidewalk requirement. They have until July to make their decision.
The anti-sidewalk contingent wants to be able to opt out of politics, saying they see little foot traffic on their streets and don’t want the hassle of maintaining them.
The council is considering adopting an amendment to exclude cul-de-sacs and cul-de-sacs from the sidewalk requirement.
They have until July to make their decision.
One cul-de-sac resident, Debra Hulles, told The Toledo Blade: ‘We’re not trying to be politically incorrect towards people with disabilities. We just want a new street without sidewalks. It is a small dead end, which has existed since 1954.
‘Redo our street, but do not make sidewalks. Take that money and allocate it to another city project that people want.
A fellow resident, Lynn Morris, said: ‘We have no foot traffic. “I think it will be a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
He is also concerned that a tree will have to be removed from his yard to make way for the sidewalk.
She said: ‘I have a very mature tree that took a hit from the tornado last year. I’m trying to revive it. But when they cut to put in a sidewalk, it will be close enough to the roots and it will kill it.’
Councilwoman Cerssandra McPherson told the outlet that the city must consider residents’ concerns before making decisions.
She said: ‘I think one of our weakest links is communication.
‘Before making decisions, we do not contact the citizens who this will affect.
‘We have to do better because citizens are taxpayers. They are holding us responsible.
“We must first go to the citizens who live here and find out their opinions and thoughts, sit down and talk.”
