Powell City Council will conduct the first reading of an ordinance on Tuesday to make left turn restrictions at the intersection of Liberty and Olentangy streets permanent.
During its June meeting, council approved restricting left turns from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday in response to construction on State Route 315. But some council members said the restrictions helped the flow of traffic during the evening commute during the closure of State Route 315. The roadway was reopened to traffic on Aug. 1.
Powell City Manager Steve Lutz previously said, “The great majority of the feedback we received (regarding the turn restrictions) has been positive.” Some local business owners have expressed support for the restrictions, but have opposed expanding the hours.
In August, Councilman Tom Counts said drivers have good options to make left turns in both directions on Liberty Street at Murphy Parkway and Grace Drive before arriving at the Olentangy Street intersection. He said he favors making the turn restrictions permanent.
Lutz said enforcement will be an ongoing issue with the city’s police department. In the future, police will skip warnings and issue tickets if violations occur.
The proposed ordinance has an emergency clause.
In other business, council:
• Will consider an ordinance to provide a contracting procedure for the construction of the Park at Seldom Seen Road. The city council wishes to directly negotiate with contractors after initial bids exceeded the $3.4 million budget for the park. City officials would like the 23-acre park to be open by the fall of 2018.
• Consider approval of a final development plan for DJCF Holdings LLC to construct a 3,000-square-foot building on an existing site at 18-36 Grace Drive. Ill Mannered Brewing Co., a current tenant, would relocate to the building since it has outgrown its current space.
• Consider approval of a combined preliminary and final development plan for a retail center on 1.51 acres of land located at the southeast corner of West Olentangy Street and Murphy Parkway.
Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Green Municipal Building, 47 Hall St.
