PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- After a lengthy debate Wednesday (Oct. 20) evening, Pepper Pike City Council voted to accept a $500,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant, if it should be approved within the next month, so that the money can be used to install a trail within the median of Gates Mills Boulevard.
Council had voted in February to seek the grant, but in recent months talk had turned to a discussion on whether a majority of residents really wanted the path within the 130-foot wide median. City Engineer Don Sheehy has estimated the trail’s cost at $1.1 million.
Mayor Richard Bain stated Wednesday that the results of two residents’ surveys show that the people of Pepper Pike want the trail. Some council members were not so sure of what residents really want, and believed that the subject of a trail should be included with discussion about a larger walkability plan for the city, which would include adding sidewalks to some main streets. In the end, council voted 5-2 to accept the grant, with Councilmen Jim LeMay and Richard Leskovec dissenting.
The first survey questioned residents about their desire for the Gates Mills Boulevard trail, while the just-completed survey, spearheaded by LeMay, was called a “pathway-sidewalk” survey. The first survey garnered 881 responses, and the second, 871, both of which Bain said were good gauges of the community’s thoughts, with both representing a larger turnout than for the May U.S. Congressional Special Election.
Bain sent an email to residents Oct. 18 in which he dissected the results of the most recent survey. That survey showed that 69.3 percent of respondents favored the boulevard path. Of those respondents, 35 percent live along the boulevard, and 55 percent of them supported the trail.
The first survey revealed that 64.5 percent favored the trail, which would accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists.
Speaking Wednesday, LeMay said, “I am in favor of increased walkability for the city, but I’ve always conditioned that support on two or three things that are important to make sure we’re doing the right thing for all residents.” LeMay said he conflates walkability and the boulevard trail because he believes that both should be planned out together in a professional way and with the strong support of residents. He said that 871 responses means that thoughts about the trail of 82 percent of the city’s voting age population are not known.
Councilman Scott Newell stated that he has spoken with residents who want the safety of sidewalks on main streets. Newell, too, asked that information be gathered professionally to best learn residents’ thoughts about the two projects. While Newell ended up voting in favor of accepting the grant money, if awarded, he was successful, after that vote was taken in having council and Bain commit to undertake an independent study by a survey company to look at Pepper Pike’s priorities so that it can be better known residents’ thoughts about walkability.
The city conducted the recent two surveys without the aid of survey professionals.
“Not just walkability,” Newell said of what the professional survey would gather, “but other things. What the residents like about the city, what they think needs improving -- similar to the survey that Orange (Village) did (in 2014). I think it’s important.”
As for the sidewalk portion of the most recent survey, it showed that 84 percent of residents 30-54 years old favored sidewalks on certain main streets, and 65 percent of those 55-69 years old were also supportive of looking into sidewalks.
Discussions about a Gates Mills Boulevard path began in 2013. Bain, who differentiates between the path and a sidewalk program, does not disagree with examining a sidewalk program.
“This path is an element,” he said, “it’s not a sidewalk. It’s a trail, it’s a path and a hard surface, but it’s a path on publicly owned property that is an element of a much broader landscaping program. Here, we’re talking about a path that is an element of the beautification of Gates Mills Boulevard.”
Accompanying the path would be $150,000 worth of new trees and landscaping. Bain said those who supported the path in the survey are excited about it and have told him things such as how a path would help if one is hearing impaired and doesn’t like to ride a bike on the street, or how a median path would make safer those who walk along the boulevard, especially after dark.
The Mayor also believes by accepting money for the path, if offered, a trail would fit into the Cuyahoga County Greenways Plan, which “envisions an interconnected system of on-road bicycle facilities and off-road, all-purpose trails,” according to its website. Such a fit, he said, could allow for more grants to come Pepper Pike’s way and further decrease costs of the trail and the cost of the planned 2023 resurfacing of Gates Mills Boulevard. If a trail is installed, the city would be in position to receive county grant money for $800,000 for the resurfacing job.
Ursuline Sisters’ appeal
The Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, through their lawyer, John Slagter, formally appealed during Wednesday’s meeting council’s previously approved use variance conditions for the Sisters’ planned 25-unit, 10-building home development for developmentally challenged adults. The Creative Living for Life dwellings would be built and operated by Medina Creative Living, and would be built on nearly five acres the sisters own south of Ursuline College, and north of Fairmount Boulevard.
Council took no action on the appeal Wednesday.
A statement issued after the meeting by Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland President Sister Ritamary Welsh read: “The Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland have appealed the use variance to the Pepper Pike City Council. We are grateful that the variance was granted to build Creative Living for Life on our property, but are deeply concerned about the additional conditions the Planning and Zoning Commission placed on the approval, which will significantly limit our options for the future use of our property. While we work with the city to resolve these concerns, the sisters are working with Medina Creative Housing to find the best placement for everyone involved for the 25 units.
“We are hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement with the city to allow this important project to move forward without preventing other possibilities for the use of our property.”
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