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Neighbors press Harrisburg Council to halt Foothill/Fuder Creek greenway connection behind homes
Summary
Residents near the proposed Foothill/Fuder Creek greenway told the Town of Harrisburg council they learned the alignment only recently, raised safety and environmental concerns and urged more transparency and legal review; proponents and staff said the project has been included in town plans for years and staff will meet with HOA counsel and homeowners during the design phase.
Dozens of residents urged the Town of Harrisburg council on July 16 to pause or re-evaluate a planned greenway alignment that would run adjacent to several established neighborhoods.
Speakers including Darlene Siebert (7917 Tottenham Drive) and Brian Mull (7901 Grimsby Circle) told the council they were alarmed that the connection had advanced without broad neighborhood notice and expressed concerns about safety, privacy, erosion and the loss of sound buffers. Siebert said the change from what residents expected ‘‘from a pathway to a greenway’’ raises liability and policing questions and called on the council to ‘‘hand back the easement.’’ Mull said an HOA vote late in 2023 and a December easement grant occurred without widespread homeowner awareness and disputed earlier statements that the project had ‘‘almost universal support.’”
Town staff responded that the Foothill/Fuder Creek greenway has been on planning documents for nearly a decade and received public engagement in prior land-use updates. Rob (town staff) told the council the project dates to 2015, was reaffirmed in subsequent planning efforts and that the town will work through easement, HOA and legal steps before final design; he said the town typically consults homeowners adjacent to a greenway during the design phase to address placement and mitigation and that staff will meet with HOA and individual homeowners as the process proceeds.
Supporters of the greenway also spoke. James (Jim) Eskew, former Fentanyl HOA president, said greenways improve quality of life and noted the county’s purchase of adjacent land for a future elementary school, calling the planned connection an ‘‘obvious win’’ for safe routes to school and park access. Eskew also asked the council to consider recusal for one councilmember, citing a possible conflict related to a spouse’s involvement in opposition efforts; the council discussion recorded those allegations but no formal disqualification occurred that evening.
The council did not take a policy vote on the alignment. Rob told residents the town is limited in what it can discuss while HOA legal counsel is coordinating with the town attorney; he offered to provide records and said staff would continue meetings and email exchanges to explain the process. The town advised homeowners that design outreach and easement negotiations are next steps, and that the town will evaluate ways to mitigate impacts such as fences, screenings and safety features.
The town manager reiterated that the project’s inclusion in multiple past plans does not negate the need to address current homeowner concerns and pledged to share records and meet with residents and attorneys. No formal change to the greenway alignment or easement was recorded at the meeting; residents were advised that legal discussions between the HOA and town attorney are ongoing and that staff will follow up directly with adjacent homeowners.
