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Committee and staff press developers to preserve Lantern Chase woodlands, seek greenway connections to Delaware Run
Summary
Advisory committee members and staff discussed pushing developers to preserve wooded areas between Lantern Chase and Millers to create a linear greenway connecting Smith Park and Delaware Run; staff said early engagement with developers is most effective and noted that the land is privately owned, so preservation depends on developer cooperation.
Committee members and planning staff discussed efforts to make the undeveloped wooded area between Lantern Chase and the Millers property part of a connected greenway that would link Smith Park to Delaware Run and, eventually, to Gallon Park. A planning staff speaker said the department "saw a value of, you know, these green areas trying to connect those and get us out to Delaware Run," and described earlier work with a developer to preserve a small green area and install a gravel trail.
Staff emphasized the limits of city authority over private property. "That's not city owned. That's privately owned," one committee member said; planning staff responded that while the city cannot force preservation, early conversations with developers create opportunities to request green corridors, open space or linear connections as part of subdivisions. Staff encouraged sustained community engagement and attendance at planning meetings so developers understand the community’s priorities.
Committee members said such a greenway would support east-west and north-south connectivity across the city and create local access to nearby woods without driving. Staff noted past work to diagram linear greenway concepts and to suggest preserved corridors to developers during early design phases.
No commitment or land-acquisition action was recorded in the meeting; staff and committee characterized the item as planning-stage advocacy and outreach that depends on developer cooperation and later formal planning submissions.
