Council moves engineering studies and right‑of‑way steps for Brecksville/Pleasant Valley corridor; tree‑removal change order fails

The Independence City Council on March 12 approved contracts to study and design improvements along the Brecksville Road/Pleasant Valley corridor and passed an ordinance allowing the city to secure immediate access to private property for tree removal and right‑of‑way work; a requested change order to expand a tree‑removal contract failed.

The council accepted a $50,000 proposal from GPD Group to start a Federal Highway Administration‑level study of the Pleasant Valley Road and I‑77 interchange and approved a separate, up‑to‑$50,000 engagement with DLZ for preliminary engineering to develop a dedicated westbound right‑turn lane at East Pleasant Valley and Brecksville Road. City staff said the GPD study will examine 20‑ to 30‑year traffic projections, crash history and safety, and help position the city for federal grant funding. Don, representing the engineering department, said the work is required to meet ODOT and FHWA guidelines.

Why this matters: councilmembers and staff said the corridor has experienced rising traffic and queueing that can back onto I‑77 ramps, raising safety concerns. The engineering work is intended to produce the traffic analyses and design documents needed for state and federal review and for grant pursuit.

Council also debated and then passed ordinance 2024‑34 to appropriate funds and, if necessary, initiate court petitions to obtain immediate access to several parcels so contractors can begin tree removal before April 1. Staff and the law department said April 1 is a deadline for tree work because of seasonal restrictions; the city reported it has access agreements for some properties and remains in negotiations with others. The law director described the appraisal and deposit process the city will use when filing a petition for appropriation under state procedure if amicable access cannot be obtained.

Two separate purchase and sale ordinances (authorizations to acquire two parcels) were discussed as part of the corridor work. Council considered agreements to purchase two houses at amounts cited in the meeting — $255,000 and $240,000 — that staff said would allow the city to assemble needed right‑of‑way and then, in the near term, assign the purchase agreements to a private developer who is under contract to develop a medical office project. City staff said any assignment to the developer would transfer the purchase obligation to that developer; council was told the city could also retain at least the easements if the private transaction does not close. Council members pressed staff for written assurances and noted the fiscal risk if the city ends up owning properties while a private buyer delays or withdraws.

A proposed change order (ordinance 2024‑26) to increase the Townsend tree‑trimming and removal contract by $66,350 — intended to cover urgent tree removals tied to the Brecksville Road project — failed on a roll call vote. The Council vote on that change order was: Councilman Narduzzi — yes; Councilman Tagliotti — no; Councilman Traquis — no; Councilmember Viverka — no; Councilmember Wachanowicz — yes; Councilmember Day — no; Councilmember DeGeronimo — yes. City staff explained the change order had been requested because some property owners had agreed only to limited access and the tree work needed to start quickly.

Council members asked for more detailed traffic and safety data for the East Pleasant Valley intersection design work and several said they preferred committee review before advancing construction funding. Some members also questioned appraisal comparables used for right‑of‑way values and asked staff to provide appraiser explanations to property owners who raised concerns.

The council discussion included public comment urging resident input on development plans for other city parcels and a reminder from a resident that property assembly and eminent‑domain steps affect homeowners. Staff said they would continue negotiating access agreements and try to reduce the number of parcels for which court appropriation would be necessary.

The meeting record shows the GPD contract and the DLZ design retainer were introduced and either approved on the consent agenda or referred to committee as described; the appropriation ordinance for right‑of‑way (2024‑34) was adopted so staff can secure access and, if necessary, proceed with appropriation petitions.

Looking ahead: staff said early tree removals could begin this week on properties where access agreements are secured; the interchange and intersection studies will proceed with field counts and crash analyses and could be used to pursue federal highway funding if the studies identify warranted improvements.