Gates Mills Village Council Delays Sidewalk Project Vote After Heated Opposition

Gates Mills Village Council postponed a final vote on a contentious $250,000 sidewalk project connecting the elementary school to the village center after heated debate from residents and council members during Monday night’s meeting.

The proposed sidewalk would run along Chagrin River Road from the community center to Gates Mills Elementary School parking lot, including a pedestrian bridge over Chagrin River. The project has secured $243,000 in grants from federal, county and private sources, leaving the village responsible for approximately $7,000.

Mayor Steve Siemborski defended the project, citing safety concerns and commitments made to the Mayfield School District and Friends of the Library, both of which contributed funding. He met with district officials earlier this month to confirm their continued support.

“Getting the sidewalk to Culvin Road is not getting it to the school,” Siemborski said, emphasizing the village’s obligation to fulfill donor commitments made over three years of planning.

However, several council members expressed concerns about the project’s scope, aesthetics and necessity. Council member Michael Press called it expensive and questioned whether the primary benefit for six weeks of summer camp justified the expenditure.

“The impression I got from what we heard last month was that the primary use that’s foreseen for the pedestrian sidewalk would be the summer campers who are only here for 6 weeks,” Press said. “It seems a lot of money to spend to solve a six-week problem.”

Dr. James Bernbomb, who lives at the corner of Culvin and Chagrin River Road, strongly opposed the project during public comment. He called it “a solution in search of a problem,” noting no safety incidents have occurred in over 50 years.

“To spend $250,000 on a sidewalk that will never be used is neither reasonable nor responsible,” Bernbomb said. “The only outcome of this project would be a lasting reminder of how a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money was wasted.”

The most impacted resident, Jared Capella of Chagrin River Road, warned his family would move from Gates Mills if the project proceeds. He expressed concerns about privacy loss from the proposed bridge, which would bring pedestrians 12-14 feet closer to his property.

“As the most impacted resident on this project, it’s going to severely impact the privacy that we enjoy,” Capella said. “If this project moves forward, we are going to be moving out of Gates Mills.”

Several supporters also spoke, including Sean O’Hagan, who argued the project addresses a real safety need on a heavily traveled stretch with zero enforcement.

“You don’t see kids there because it is not safe,” O’Hagan said. “This is about improving safety along a heavily trafficked part of our village that is highly desirable for folks to walk on, but for the utter lack of safety.”

The project requires ODOT compliance standards because it crosses a state highway, mandating specific sidewalk widths and crosswalk features that some council members said would alter the village’s character. Council members questioned whether flashing lights and wide concrete sidewalks fit Gates Mills’ aesthetic.

Council member Sandra Turner suggested considering the project in phases rather than the complete package, potentially eliminating the section from Culvin Road to the school parking lot.

Council will review additional renderings, cost estimates for alternatives, and detailed drawings before bringing the matter back for a third reading. No timeline was set for the next vote.

Other Council Actions

Emergency Culvert Repair Approved Council unanimously approved an $88,350 contract with Site Works Unlimited LLC for emergency repairs to a century-old stone culvert on Old Mill Road at County Line Road. The project will use slip-lining technology to insert a new pipe into the existing structure, avoiding road closure. Work begins by mid-October.

Road Closure Alert Brigham Road is closed to through traffic from September 22-26 for culvert replacement work. The 24-hour closure allows eastbound access from Chagrin River Road for residents between Brigham Road and Racebrook Road. Residents from Swiler Road eastward can access their homes westbound from County Line Road.

Senior Services Survey Results The village received 151 responses to its senior services survey, representing strong engagement from the community of 2,200 residents. Mayor Siemborski reported widespread interest in partnering with Community Partnership on Aging for monthly community lunches, wellness checks, and intergenerational programming. Budget estimates will be presented to council in October.

Fire Engine Planning Fire Chief Tom Majeski will present specifications for a new fire engine to council in October, with costs estimated in the low seven figures. Federal emission standards have added 20-30% to equipment costs. The department plans to replace a 40-year-old truck as part of its fleet rotation.

Road Program Completed The village completed its 2025 road improvement program under budget, spending $820,000 of an $850,000 allocation. Work on Andrews Road and Hill Creek Road finished in August, allowing early reimbursement requests.

Levy Renewal Campaign Residents will soon receive informational postcards about the 3.5-mill levy renewal appearing as Issue 2 on the November 4 ballot. The levy generates $616,491 annually for village services and represents the seventh renewal since its original passage in 1996.

Charter Amendment Discussion Council member Michael Press successfully moved to remove from the table a charter amendment requiring voter approval for significant zoning changes. Discussion was postponed until October to allow proper preparation time.

Upcoming Events

The village hosted the Fox Trot race on Sunday morning, marking the event’s return after a decade-long hiatus. Gates Mills Elementary School PTC organized the 5K run, fun run and children’s dash that started at 9 a.m.

The meeting lasted over three hours, with Mayor Siemborski noting Finance Administrator Janet Mulh was on vacation, requiring him to present several items without typical preparation. Council entered executive session to discuss property acquisition and legal matters before adjourning after 9 p.m.