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Residents contest sidewalk maintenance assessments in public hearing; council delays vote
Summary
Multiple residents testified during a public hearing about the 2022 and 2024 sidewalk maintenance special assessments, citing high costs for corner lots and inconsistent repairs; council closed the hearing and did not vote on the ordinances that night.
Gahanna residents on Tuesday raised objections during a public hearing to proposed special assessments tied to the city's 2022 and 2024 sidewalk maintenance programs, saying some property owners — particularly corner‑lot owners — faced disproportionately high bills.
The hearing covered three ordinances read into the record: Ordinance 0031‑2025 (levy special assessments for parcels in the 2022 sidewalk maintenance program), Ordinance 0032‑2025 (2024 sidewalk maintenance program) and Ordinance 0034‑2025 (amend Creekside Outdoor Refreshment Area). Several speakers focused on the sidewalk assessments and asked the council to reduce or restructure charges for corner lots.
Why it matters: the city is asking some property owners to share costs for sidewalk repairs; several speakers said they did not own the property during the 2022 work, disputed what was actually replaced on their parcels, or said the assessments were much higher than their neighbors’. Council closed the hearing and said the ordinances would be voted on at a later meeting.
Public testimony and numbers cited
Erica Bell Parker (304 Haymarket Place) said she opposed sharing costs for a 2022 sidewalk project because her family did not own the property when the work was done; she cited a total assessment listed at $9,462 and said she did not know which portion of the work was on her parcel.
A recorded video comment from a resident who identified only as Erin said corner lots face a heavier burden and asked the city to split parcels or increase assistance for corner properties. Erin said she was the third‑highest cost in the 2022 program — more than $1,700 — while an adjacent neighbor paid about $200. She said of the 258 parcels in the 2022 program, only 15 were over $1,000.
Other residents described damage to driveways and storm drains that intersected with planned sidewalk work and asked for leniency or clearer outreach. Dr. Judith Bach said two large blocks that had been expected to be changed were not completed and that she received a notice without prior clarification.
Council action and next steps
The council opened the public hearing after the administrative reading of the three ordinances; the administration had no further presentation. After hearing multiple speakers, the council closed the public hearing and recorded the speaker slips. The ordinances were not acted upon that night and will be scheduled for a subsequent council meeting for a vote. The mayor and administration indicated residents could receive outreach from city staff following the hearing.
Quotes
"We are against sharing the cost for the sidewalk program," Erica Bell Parker said, identifying timing and ownership as core concerns.
"If you cut that price in half, if you didn't improve the half of my property that didn't need improved, it would be down to ... much more reasonable," a resident identified in a video (Erin) said, urging the council to increase assistance for corner lots.
Reporting notes
The public hearing covered two special‑assessment ordinances and an amendment for the Creekside Outdoor Refreshment Area; neither assessment ordinance was voted on at the meeting.
