Residents urge changes to parking rules and sidewalks; family urges restraint over memorial controversy

During public comment at the Hilliard City Council meeting on April 28, three residents addressed council: Ellie Ward asked the council to stop “dragging [her] dad’s name through the mud” in a dispute she described over a proposed memorial; Anthony Schonfeldt urged the council to consider removing or reducing the city’s minimum parking requirements in Chapter 1127 of the codified ordinances; and Laith Habow asked council to prioritize walkability and improved sidewalks.

Ellie Ward, who identified herself as a West Jefferson resident, said she had come prepared for an “angry” speech and described the emotional impact of what she characterized as council members’ public scrutiny of her deceased father. “I was once again shown how cruel people can be,” she said, and asked council members not to “continue dragging my dad’s name through the mud.” Ward said she wanted a park honoring her father and argued the council’s handling of records and due diligence had been unfair to her family.

Anthony Schonfeldt, 3065 Golden Oak Drive, told the council that minimum parking requirements in Chapter 1127 of the city code make housing more expensive, hurt small businesses and force residents to subsidize car infrastructure. “Removing these mandates doesn't mean banning parking. It simply means giving businesses, builders, and residents the freedom to choose what they need,” Schonfeldt said, and urged council members to work with staff and the planning and zoning commission to begin conversations about changing the code.

Laith Habow, 1775 Ridgebury Drive, spoke on walkability and sidewalk conditions in Hilliard. Habow said the city's “walk score” is low and described cracked sidewalks, sections that end abruptly and cars parked on sidewalks. “Walking allows us to be healthier and it allows us to have more economic freedom,” Habow said, and asked the council for more funding and attention to pedestrian infrastructure.

Nut graf: Public commenters highlighted both a local family dispute over a proposed memorial and policy issues — parking minimums and sidewalk maintenance — that callers said affect housing affordability, local business access and day-to-day mobility.

Council response and next steps Council did not take formal action on the matters raised during public comment at this meeting. The issues Schonfeldt and Habow raised were framed as requests for staff study and future discussion; councilmembers and staff did not announce specific follow-up deadlines during the meeting.

Ending: The council moved on to its legislative agenda after the public-comment period; no votes or formal directives tied to the public comments were recorded in the transcript.