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Council approves modified roadway plan for Octavian Park; debate centers on roundabout, trees and business impacts
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Summary
Chillicothe City Council adopted changes to roadway plans tied to a $35 million park grant, dropping roundabouts on Water Street but keeping a roundabout at Yactangian Mill. Council debate and public comments focused on safety, loss of about 27 mature trees, and complaints about public notification and committee communications.
Council members voted April 28 to adopt modified roadway plans for Octavian Park connected to the Appalachian Community Grant Program, approving a plan that removes roundabouts from Water Street while retaining one at Yactangian Mill.
“Ultimately, we decided no roundabouts on Water Street, but we decided to keep the roundabout at Yactangian Mill to improve the safety near the school,” Councilman Creed said during the safety service committee report and later urged council to support the ordinance.
Creed said the administration used the 1993 master parks plan and the 2023 comprehensive plan to guide decisions and described two options for Trishler Road: keep the road at a cost of $850,000 and remove at least 27 mature trees, or remove the section of road at a cost of about $50,000. “The cost of $850,000 for keeping the road and elimination of at least 27 mature trees in the park versus $50,000 to remove that section of road became a cost and impact to the park that I was not willing to recommend,” he said.
Creed and other council members said the administration intends to add walking trails, an amphitheater, pickleball courts, a rentable event pavilion and a permanent restroom facility as part of the master plan. Creed acknowledged concerns raised by residents about vehicular and pedestrian safety, parking loss and construction impacts on businesses, and described measures including a two-way road around Enderland Circle and four raised pedestrian crosswalks to slow traffic.
A resident, Jackie York of 10 Keresley Place, told council she opposes the roundabout at Yactangian Mill and presented a petition opposing the plan. "I'm still against that roundabout over at Mill And Yocktangi," York said, adding she had learned committee membership lists included residents who were not notified of meetings: "He was never called to a meeting 1 time. He was never informed about a meeting 1 time."
Resident AJ Tanner urged clearer, plain-language communications from the city about agenda items and legislative changes so residents can track updates and understand impacts.
The ordinance modifying roadway plans (Item 2) passed by roll call. The administration and council said construction timing and final construction costs will determine which elements of the plan move forward and when; council members said they relied on the 1993 and 2023 planning documents and community feedback in reaching the decision.
The ordinance was adopted on third reading and recorded as approved by unanimous roll call.
