43
Canfield Road's fate sparks debate at meeting
CANFIELD
Controversy over Timber Run Road between a Canfield Township development and a Canfield city development has sparked a heated debate.
The normally empty council meeting room was filled Wednesday with residents of both Canfield Township and Canfield city, each debating what they thought was best for their neighborhoods.
Timber Run Road connects Stonebridge, a development in the city, and Westbury Park, a development in the township. Many Stonebridge residents think the road should close due to increased traffic problems, while many Westbury residents think closing the road will lead to increased wait times for emergency personnel.
Throughout the community there are residents who fall on either side of the debate.
“Seconds matter,” said Councilman Joe Locicero.
Don Hutchison, Cardinal Joint Fire District chief, said it’s a matter of following fire code. To be in compliance with fire code, there must be two access points for emergency personnel in a development exceeding 30 homes. If a development has fewer than 30 homes but has plans to increase the number of homes, the access point must also be open.
Westbury Park has more than 30 homes, which would make the closure of that road a fire-code violation.
“The safety of everybody, that’s what I want to see,” Hutchison said. “This is a community risk, city and township.”
Hutchison, speaking as a representative of the fire district, said all he wants is an unimpeded, open road. The fire district is willing to pursue litigation if a decision regarding the access road violates fire code.
Mayor Bernie Kosar Sr. suggested keeping the road open, but limiting access to emergency vehicles and personnel.
Marie Cartwright, township trustee, said the township’s position is that the open road was planned from the beginning and should remain open.
“It was stated as public policy, that roadway was going to get in there at some point in the future,” said Councilman Charles Tieche.
Atty. Mark Fortunato said the final decision will be made after council receives position statements from the Ohio Turnpike Commission – which, in 2015 paid for the road to be finished – and the Cardinal Joint Fire District.
In other news, Kosar announced Windsor House assisted-living facility will break ground sometime in March.
City and township officials cooperated on the Windsor House project to make it a joint economic development district. Windsor House, bordered by state Route 446 and Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, will bring 72 jobs to the community.
Other development suggestions included city Manager Joe Warino adding a progressively worsening bump on Skyline Drive to the third phase of the resurfacing project in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“We are looking into possibly getting partial funding for it from ODOT,” Warino said.
A Good Evening Canfield event was announced for 6 p.m. April 13. It will be at the Tippecanoe Country Club, 5870 Tippecanoe Road. City, school and township officials will give updates.