The city of Delaware’s proposal to install no-parking signage on a portion of Firestone Drive was redirected to staff for further deliberations based on resident feedback.
Chris Stephens, a resident in the Sunnyview/Carson Farms subdivision, informed the city about the issue of many vehicles parked on both sides of the drive between Gold Dust Court and Delaware Drive.
“The result is that only one car can pass through the stretch at any given time,” he said in a an email to the city. “As more and more houses are built, this road has become a major thoroughfare to these neighborhoods. Unfortunately, this road was not built by today’s standards and as a result is not wide enough.”
In a letter to residents on Firestone and nearby streets, Delaware Police Chief Bruce Pijanowski said city staff will recommend no parking on Firestone between Boulder Drive and Delaware Drive to “allow for vehicle, school bus and emergency apparatus maneuverability and traffic safety.”
During Monday’s meeting for the city’s Parking and Safety Committee, Fire Chief John Donahue said parking on both sides does hamper emergency medical and fire services.
“It is extremely tight” for their vehicles, he said.
But Donahue said he would leave it up to the committee and responses from about 15 residents in attendance.
There was no majority consensus among the property owners who spoke at the meeting. Some were not clearly either against or for the proposal but offered their own solutions and ideas.
Some residents supported banning parking on the north side of the drive between Gold Dust Court and Delaware Drive, where it curves. Vehicles cars create a blind spot for traffic, according to some residents.
“That seems to be the trouble spot,” said resident Gregory Nance. “That’s pretty dangerous.”
Other residents asked for the no-parking portion to be extended beyond Delaware Drive, which is expected to bring more traffic with further housing development.
City officials said the narrower and older road goes from Boulder to Delaware Drive. There have been three crashes within the vicinity including one DUI-involved incident. But city staff said it was aware that restricting parking could increase traffic speed.
“The possibility of a speeding increase could increase,” said Delaware police Capt. Adam Moore.
That was a prime concern for resident William Brown, who said there are many children in the neighborhood.
“The speeding is going to come back as a problem,” he said.
The committee asked staff to determine if no-parking signs on the curve portion of Firestone was viable. City Council member Chris Jones asked Moore to have police monitor the traffic speed of the drive.
In other business, the committee:
• Discussed multi-way stop signage at Cobblestone Drive and South Houk Road. Council member George Hellinger said he opposed the proposal. Staff said there were two accidents at the intersection and the committee approved staff to monitor the speed.
• Approved staff to submit an ordinance to City Council for a name change of an access road of U.S. 23 to Kingman Hill Drive. City officials said one of the six-affected property owners opposed the change. The road is legally an easement in Liberty Township which, along with Delaware County, approves the change. The name change would help EMS and fire services to locate the property, Donahue said.
• Was updated about a multi-way stop sign at Cambridge Drive and Ablemarle Drive. Staff recommends no signage but will monitor the intersection.
