Council rejects signal at Karl Traeger School entrance after debate over safety, property and traffic impacts

The Oshkosh Common Council voted 1-3 to reject ordinance 25-5-30, a proposal to designate the entrance to Karl Traeger School at West 20th Avenue and East Drive as a signalized intersection.

The measure was introduced at the council meeting as an engineering-driven change intended to address heavy queuing and left-turn delays during school pick-up and drop-off. Council member Belo moved the ordinance with Spanbauer seconding; the roll call recorded Spanbauer — No; Flom — No; Belo — Aye; Boguar — No, and the motion failed.

The issue drew a public comment from neighbors Lisa and Mike Cobley, who said they live at 2950 West 20th Avenue and oppose the signal. "We do not want the light installed. We don't think that it's beneficial for the neighborhood. We simply don't want it," Lisa Cobley said. The Cobleys told the council they had consulted local real-estate sources and said being adjacent to a traffic signal can reduce a home's value by an estimated 2%–5% and creates an "idling cars visual eyesore"; they also cited research they said showed higher particle concentrations near signals and a risk of increased rear-end crashes.

Jonathan, a traffic analyst with Traffic Analysis Design, told the council the school and the consultant team had examined several options including roundabouts and split driveways and concluded a signal best addressed the peak surge during pick-up and drop-off. He said the primary problem the plan seeks to address is "the ability to turn left out of that driveway" and long queues within the site. Jonathan said the report projects a 34% reduction in right-angle crashes and a 14% reduction in all crashes based on DOT crash modification factors, while acknowledging rear-end collisions could rise in some scenarios.

Nate Hansstein of Bray Architects, who said he works with the school district, added that vehicles have been "backing up onto Twentieth Avenue" during worst-case periods and that adding queuing length and a turn lane would reduce that backup. School-district representatives also told the council that an approved referendum will expand the school, which the district said will increase traffic volumes and made the signal more likely to meet signal warrants in the future.

Council debate reflected a split between members who sided with nearby residents and those who accepted the consultants' analysis. Council member Flom thanked residents for raising the issue and indicated opposition, describing the proposal as "a solution looking for a problem." Council member Blum said he would not support the change, citing possible impacts on the neighboring business and residence. Council member Belo said he would vote in favor, calling it a proactive step to address an expected increase in traffic. Mayor Spanbauer, who led the meeting, also opposed the ordinance in the roll call.

City staff clarified that the ordinance under consideration would only designate the intersection as signalized in the municipal code; it would not prevent the school from continuing its on-site construction or other site improvements under existing approvals.

With the vote failing, the council did not adopt the ordinance to permit a signal at that location; the school district and consultants may pursue other operational changes at the site or return with a modified proposal.

Ending: The council's decision leaves current traffic controls unchanged at West 20th Avenue and the Karl Traeger School entrance. The transcript shows council members and staff noting that future traffic growth could again prompt reconsideration and that the school retains authority to continue its site work within existing approvals.