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Canton council stalls proposal to convert downtown Main Street to one lane after business opposition
Summary
Councilmembers debated removing “Project 19,” a proposed one‑lane road diet in the downtown master plan, after downtown business owners presented 29 signatures opposing the change; council chose to defer a final decision to a March retreat and did not approve a motion tonight to remove the project.
Councilmembers discussed whether to remove “Project 19,” a one‑lane “road diet” concept included in the city’s downtown master plan, after downtown business owners and staff raised concerns and cost implications for redoing plan renderings.
The downtown master plan consultant told council removing Project 19 would not change the underlying data analysis but would affect several design concepts: it would prevent widening sidewalks on North Street and would require changes to parking layouts. City Engineer Bethany Watson told council that updating the renderings and cost estimates to remove Project 19 would cost about $25,000 (roughly $15,000 for updated concepts and quantities and $10,000 to update renderings).
The matter drew public comment from a downtown business owner who said she and a council member visited businesses and returned with signatures opposing the one‑lane idea. “Every single business owner that we talked to did not like this idea and does not want it implemented in the master plan,” the speaker said while presenting 29 signatures to the council.
Councilmembers traded perspectives on the tradeoffs. Watson said leaving Project 19 in the plan would not obligate the city to construct it and that any project would require separate engineering, public hearings and further council approval. Others on council said they want more data about how similar conversions have affected deliveries and downtown business operations elsewhere before deciding.
A motion to remove Project 19 from the plan was made but received no second and died. Council agreed to place the item on the agenda for a more in‑depth discussion at a March council retreat; staff and the downtown development authority were asked to return with further information and, if desired by council, a scope and cost estimate to revise the plan.
City staff also signaled they will convene a committee with the Canton Police Department and downtown stakeholders to address immediate pedestrian and delivery safety concerns in the downtown area regardless of the long‑term master plan decision.
Council stressed that adopting the master plan is a conceptual step and that any specific project would require separate design, funding and public processes before construction.
