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Residents urge clearer public-comment opportunities and question proposed traffic spending
Summary
Two residents at the Wooster City Council meeting asked the city to improve public-notice and comment opportunities for planning processes and raised concerns about a proposed traffic project and neighborhood congestion.
Two members of the public addressed the council Monday with separate but related concerns about local planning and traffic.
Mister Gooch of 1636 Gashi Street said residents often see public-meeting signs and attend to learn more, but then are not given a meaningful opportunity to speak. He asked the council to ensure the planning, Board of Zoning Appeals and design-commission processes include clear public-comment opportunities and to publish a simple flowchart explaining how those processes work and where residents can comment. Gooch also suggested the city consider an online application form to recruit volunteers for boards and commissions, citing Dublin, City Green and Oberlin as examples.
Mister Barnett, speaking afterward, raised traffic and safety concerns near his neighborhood. He said congestion before and after the school day causes safety worries and told the council he opposed spending what he described as $4,000,000 on a traffic "peanut" project, saying it could lower nearby property values. Barnett said travel times from his house to nearby locations were short and questioned the scale of the proposed expenditure.
Councilors acknowledged both speakers; no formal action was taken at the meeting on either suggestion. Council members encouraged residents to provide written feedback and noted departments can be asked to review public-notice procedures and project rationales.
