Residents press city to reroute heavy trucks from Sheridan Hills neighborhood

Several Sheridan Hills residents and the homeowners association’s attorney urged the City Council on Sept. 15 to restrict heavy truck traffic on Real Bird Way (Realburg/Real Bird Way) and to direct commercial hauling to Fort Road, which they said was built for commercial traffic.

Michael Lansing, retained as legal counsel for Sheridan Hills Homeowners Association, outlined vehicle counts and safety concerns. Lansing said the Gateway Master Plan recorded Wilbur Way as a minor collector and that he observed approximately 90 heavy haul trucks per day using the residential street. He described narrow setbacks and short distances between houses and curb that make pedestrian and driveway conflicts more dangerous; he urged a council work session with public works to consider reclassifying the route as non‑truck.

“I’m pleading to you as elected officials to think about the children, think about the safety, think about the taxpayer dollars, and the developer for obtainable housing,” Lansing told the council.

Resident Bonnie Ramthin said trucks start as early as 5:30 a.m., that the roadway is crumbling under the load and that flying gravel and potholes make walking and using strollers unsafe. “This is dangerous and destructive. The road is not designed to carry heavy truck traffic,” she said.

Gordy Lockwood described noise and vibration near homes and expressed fear for children playing along bicycle routes. Janie Jolman raised planning history and questioned whether previously accepted right‑of‑way decisions routed heavy traffic through fragile drainage areas; she urged council to consider alternatives and to coordinate with county planners and future conservation‑district proposals.

City staff and councilors acknowledged prior communications between developers, staff and a public‑works official and said the city would follow up. Kelly Schroeder, city planner, said staff had been in contact with the developer and that Wilbur Way’s development plan requires reconstruction to residential standards; she also confirmed that Fort Road is a commercial road that could serve as an alternative route.

Ending: Residents asked the council to schedule a work session and to direct public works to explore truck‑restriction signage or routing changes; council accepted public comment and said staff would follow up with available options.