The city of Delaware’s update to its master bicycle plan is a step closer to adoption after two years in the development stages.
City Council adopted its first bike plan in June 2010 and the update was started in 2015. The Delaware Parks and Recreation Advisory Board gave its recommendation for the update last week, concluding months of discussion since Stantec Consulting Services presented the final draft in September.
The Delaware Planning Commission gave its OK Wednesday night.
The new bike plan is “like everything else newer, better and thicker,” said Planning Director Dave Efland, who held up both versions of the plan for comparison at the commission meeting.
Parks and Natural Resources Director Ted Miller presented the entire plan, which has 86 infrastructure-related projects for a cost of $14 million to be spent over 10 years. Of those recommendations, the parks board identified the top 15 projects for a cost of nearly $9.5 million.
The city would not be footing the entire bill if it pursued each project, commission members and city staff said. Costs would be supplemented with grant funding, impact fees and by developers.
Resident Rayna Patton voiced her opposition to a priority project for a $1.67 million multi-use path from Houk Road to the west side of Hidden Valley Golf Course along the Delaware Run. She said there would be no real value to the trail because it does not serve as practical means of transportation and the area has flooding issues.
There would also be habitat destruction from constructing the trail, Patton added.
Commission member Jim Halter said it would be up to City Council to remove any recommendations from the plan.
And Miller said the path would connect with parks and that some bike riders prefer riding through a wooded area.
In other business, the commission recommended to Council the final development plan and plat for The Enclaves At Adalee, located on the west side of South Houk Road, north of Arthur Place. T&R Properties’ development would consist of 15.18 acres for 96 single-family attached units.
Also, the commission recommended an amendment to codified ordinance section 1168.07 to clarify the uses of the tree bank fund, an option for developers who remove replacement-required trees from their sites.
City Council will have final consideration for the commission’s recommendation of both the bike plan and the amendment for the tree bank fund.
