CENTERBURG — Tami Ruhl of Knox Public Health presented the Knox County Active Transportation Plan to Centerburg Village Council on Monday.
Ruhl, healthy communities coordinator for KPH, said the goal of the plan is to make the healthy choice an easy choice.
“When people are more active, they are going to be healthier,” she told council.
Knox County has high rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and heart disease. In addition to improving residents’ health, the plan works to increase safety for cyclists and pedestrians and reduce the impact vehicular traffic has on the environment.
The plan analyzes existing conditions, plans, and programs. It provides recommendations and priorities for each participating community (Centerburg, Danville, Gambier, and Mount Vernon) and suggests potential funding sources to complete the projects.
Specific to Centerburg, the plan notes 4.7 miles of sidewalks needed, including gaps on Union, Preston, Factory, and Dally streets for access to the elementary school; Main Street, extending to Foster’s Pharmacy and Memorial Park (including ADA access); and gaps on 16 residential streets.
Recommendations include adding marked crossings on Columbus Road/U.S. 36 at Hometown Market and Dollar General and at West Main/ Willis Street where the current sidewalk on the north ends. The plan calls for adding pedestrian signals at West Main/Clayton.
Other recommendations include:
•Extend proposed sidepath/sidewalk along Columbus Road/US 36 from Dollar General as new developments are built
•Add sidepath or sidewalk on north side of Columbus Road from Factory Street to access business destinations
•Add a trail segment connecting Heart of Ohio Trail to West Main/US 36 for access to destinations
•Add an on-street bikeway to connect HOOT to downtown Centerburg on Hartford, Houck, and Clayton
•Alternate routing – Add an on-street bikeway to connect HOOT to downtown Centerburg on Hartford Avenue or Ewing Street
•Add an on-street bikeway along Clayton St connecting to Heart of Ohio Trail
•Streetscape enhancement on Main Street from Preston to Clayton streets
Short-term priorities identified for the next five years are the streetscape enhancement, sidewalk on Union, Factory, Preston, and Dally streets, crossings at Hometown Market and Dollar General, and adding a sidepath/trail on the north side of Columbus Road from Factory Street to access business destinations.
Councilwoman Saundra Dove, who, along with Councilman Dave Beck, helped create the transportation plan, said sidewalks on Union, Factory, Preston, and Dally streets are a priority for getting kids to school.
“Crossing to Dollar General, that’s a big need as well,” she added.
“My concern is people riding in wheelchairs,” noted Councilman Tom Stewart.
Beck requested Village Solicitor Lauren Swihart to prepare a resolution of support for the plan for council’s March meeting.
Council also discussed the pending Intel expansion in Licking County and how it will affect the village.
“It almost seems like this is happening at warp speed,” Mayor Greg Sands said.
Noting the acreage taken up by Intel, Harvey Solar Farm, and the poultry operation owned by Ohio Fresh Eggs and operated by Trillium Farms and New Day Farms, he said, “That gap of property, which is substantial, will catapult people our way.”
Sands said that development officials said Intel plans to hire 1,000 people and send them to the West Coast for training. They will return and train the balance of Intel’s Central Ohio workforce.
He pointed out that the additional workforce members coming from the West Coast will be able to buy a lot more land compared to California’s house/land prices.
Regarding Beck’s concern about potential subdivisions and capacity, Sands said the village will have to lean on developers to provide the infrastructure.
Stewart noted that the village is working to get zoning, building, and fire codes in place to handle the anticipated influx.
“People moving from Powell and Delaware are looking to come here because our codes are lax. What we have to do is make sure our codes are as strong as where they are coming from,” he said.
“We have to remember that Centerburg is not going to be the Centerburg as we know it,” he continued. “People don’t like change, but we’re going to have to. We can’t keep it as it is, but we can try.”
Regional Planning Commission
Councilman Greg Myers told council that RPC denied a request to extend the deadline for the Mount Olive Farms subdivision on Johnsville Road (Ohio 314). A Jan. 22 deadline passed without RPC receiving requested documents. The owners will have to start the process again if they wish to pursue a subdivision.
RPC also approved the rezoning of two lots on New Delaware Road.
Legal
Attorney Swihart said she will send letters to around 20 of the “most egregious” property owners who have failed to respond to village requests to clean up their nuisance violations. Letters will go out starting mid-March.
