Gates Mills Village Council heard extensive presentations on three design alternatives for a downtown sidewalk project connecting Gates Mills Elementary School to the village center during an Oct. 21 meeting that addressed community concerns about usage and property impacts.
The project would create a pedestrian route from the lower school parking lot to the village center, primarily using a west-side path along Chagrin River Road with a prefabricated pedestrian bridge crossing a tributary.
Mayor Steve Siemborski presented new information addressing concerns raised at previous meetings, including a letter from school principal Laurel Ravida outlining anticipated usage. The principal indicated students would use the sidewalk at least monthly for library visits, outdoor education, and collaborative projects, with specific curriculum connections to water quality studies and ecosystem research.
Ravida wrote that students could access more books and resources, receive research support from librarians, use technology and maker spaces, and benefit from classroom collaboration. She specifically mentioned fifth-grade ecosystem studies and kindergarten nature observations that would benefit from the safe walking route.
Councilman David Atton suggested the library could deliver books to the school, but Siemborski noted the usage extends beyond just book access to include six other educational purposes.
Village Engineer Chris Courtney walked council through three design options: the original five-foot-wide sidewalk with a six-foot bridge, a narrower three-foot sidewalk with a four-foot bridge, and an east-side alternative requested by some residents.
The narrower design would save approximately $45,000 but Courtney noted the tighter width might not provide adequate space for safe pedestrian passage when groups use the walkway. The east-side option would cost an additional $150,000 to $160,000 due to steep grading requirements, retaining walls up to four feet high, and substantially more tree removal.
Courtney explained the east-side route would require approximately 300 feet of retaining walls, wholesale clearing and grading of the right of way, moving seven utility poles at likely cost, and would be 175 feet longer than the west-side option. The extensive construction would substantially change the look and feel of the downtown area.
The prefabricated steel truss bridge would use weathering steel that develops a rust-colored patina, eliminating the need for repeated stripping and painting while blending with the surroundings.
Councilman John Deacon, who created an online forum to gather community input, said feedback had been overwhelmingly positive and it was time to make a decision after extensive deliberation.
The project is funded by three sources and represents a commitment to create a safe pedestrian connection between the school and village amenities including the library, park, and arboretum. Traffic consultants previously determined the west-side route along Chagrin River Road provides the safest path for students.
Siemborski noted the village cannot change speed limits or move signs on Chagrin River Road without approval from the Ohio Department of Transportation, as it is a state route.
Council was expected to vote on two resolutions following the presentation: one accepting a bid and awarding a contract for the downtown sidewalk improvements, and another authorizing the mayor to enter a purchase agreement with Contech Engineered Solutions for the prefabricated pedestrian bridge system.
Related: Gates Mills Fire Department Gains New Firefighter, Seeks Bids for Million-Dollar Engine | Gates Mills Approves $1 Million Road Program as Pavement Scores Improve
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