Holly Grove residents ask council to delay Norwood Road shared-use path and reconsider alignment

Residents of Holly Grove and nearby neighborhoods urged the Montgomery County Council to delay construction of a proposed shared-use path on Norwood Road and to reconsider placing the path on the north rather than the south side of the road.

Quentin Romano, speaking for residents near Blake High School and the Holly Grove community, described the area’s history and current layout. Romano said the county’s plans initially placed the path on the south side of Norwood Road in a 99-page design packet and that residents and the county’s presentation did not explain why that alignment was chosen. He said community members prefer the north side for reasons including existing setbacks on newer homes there and homeowner privacy on the south side where houses sit close to the road.

Romano said Montgomery County Department of Transportation held a public information meeting on April 2, 2024, and that the Cleveland Clinic Association reviewed the plan and has "voted unanimously to recommend to the county council that implementation of the Norwood Youth Path be delayed to give citizens input into the plan and to consider placing [the] path on the Northern side of Norwood Road." Romano urged the council to delay implementation to solicit resident input and to address design and safety questions raised by the community.

Council staff recorded the testimony for the record; no formal schedule or outcome was announced at the hearing.