Poland Village planners propose changes for 2003

POLAND -- A group of graduate architecture students came up with the ideas, and now village officials are hoping to put some of them into place.
A median that would turn U.S. Route 224 here into a boulevard and the creation of a village green where McQuaid's gas station now stands are two things the village planning commission is hoping to bring to fruition in 2003.
Kent State University students spent four days in the village in March studying the land and coming up with suggestions that would make the area more aesthetically pleasing and pedestrian-friendly. The Route 224 boulevard and the village green were two of the suggestions.
Council's consideration
The planning commission has submitted the boulevard recommendation to village council for consideration. The idea is to put something in place similar to that found on Fifth Avenue in Youngstown just south of Gypsy Lane.
The planning commission suggested that the center island run from the Poland/Boardman border to the town center, the area where Route 224 and state Route 170 meet. Planning commissioners hope that Boardman Township officials continue the medians west on Route 224 into Boardman.
The median would be broken into sections to allow cars to make left turns, but the commission wants to determine how long the turning lane must be in certain parts of the road. The planners also want to determine if the village will bear any liability in the event of accidents involving the median.
The members also discussed whether to place permanent medians in the road or temporary medians that do not require a breaking of the ground and can be removed should the idea not work in the long term.
Financial details remain
Planning commissioners hope the changes can be made in 2003. There is no estimated cost, and it is not known where the funds will come from to make the changes.
Planning commissioners said an anonymous organization is looking to purchase the McQuaid's station at the corner of routes 224 and 170. The commission is hoping the property will then be donated to the village so it can be leveled and made into a village green.
jgoodwin@vindy.com