Residents urge traffic study, park access as planning commission advances Madison Reserve housing plan

Matt Daley, a resident of 99 Andrew Court West, told the London City Council he supports homeownership opportunities but urged the council to require an independent traffic engineering study and on-site parks before approving the Madison Reserve development. "I would like an independent traffic engineer to take a look at this and figure out what's the best way we can handle this," Daley said, adding concerns about two vehicle entrances and the potential for added traffic near East High Street and nearby schools.

Daley also told council the project — which he said would bring about 269 units and roughly 715 residents at a density he estimated as about 4.9 units per acre — lacks a neighborhood park. He cited the city's own guidance of roughly 10 acres of park per 1,000 people and noted nearby existing parks are a 28-to-52-minute walk away for some lots. He asked council to ensure the development includes park access so children are not "playing out in the streets."

Council members and staff said the development is scheduled for a public hearing Oct. 2, 2025, and that the matter remains before both the planning commission and council for additional review. A staff member on the dais confirmed a public hearing will occur at the start of the Oct. 2 meeting. Council members and several staff acknowledged traffic and drainage will be central issues for further review; one council member noted revisions to the development plan have already been made in response to neighborhood concerns.

During an extended discussion later in the meeting, a representative for the developer (identified in the planning record) described the product as an "attainable home" product intended for first-time buyers and said the builder expects prices in the low-$220,000 range. The developer and councilors said lot sizes for the project include some narrow 40-foot lots to keep home prices lower and that options such as 2-car garages and slab foundations are planned so the houses remain affordable. The developer and city leaders said some plan elements were changed after neighborhood meetings, including widening internal roads at the request of fire and safety officials.

Neighbors at the meeting repeated concerns about vehicle congestion on East High Street and Sharp Avenue, the number of cars per household, and whether the neighborhood design provides adequate green space and play areas for children. One resident asked the city to consider traffic-calming measures, additional entrances, or a traffic signal at a nearby intersection; another described waiting in a driveway for long stretches at peak hours and urged the council to study how added trips from the development would affect both peak and off-peak conditions.

City staff and council members said some traffic analysis has been discussed; one council member said a traffic study is being commissioned for the larger area that includes the Madison Reserve site and other nearby segments of State Route 142, though council and staff did not specify whether that study will be independent of the developer's consultant. Council members encouraged continued neighborhood engagement and said the council will accept public comment again during the Oct. 2 public hearing.

Because the planning commission’s recommendation and the need for further technical studies remain outstanding, council members did not vote on zoning or final approvals at the meeting. The council president noted the matter will return for formal action after the scheduled public hearing.