During the Oct. 28 virtual meeting on proposals for Mulberry Downs Circle, multiple residents objected to how NDOT determines who gets to vote on vertical traffic-calming measures, argued cushions should be placed where cut-through drivers speed (on the curve), and raised concerns that bikeway bulb-outs and delineators could eliminate parking on side streets.

One resident questioned fairness after Greaves explained the policy that ballots go to owners of parcels that touch the affected right-of-way: "So they get a 112 condos get a ballot and 6 houses on Mulberry Downs get a ballot? How's that fair?" The resident and others said the neighborhood identity extends beyond the small set of parcels that will receive ballots.

Residents also said the measured speeds that NDOT presented were skewed by placement of counters near the entrance and hill; another asked that cushions be placed above the curve where out-of-neighborhood drivers accelerate. A resident expressed stark opposition to cushions: "I truly do not want the speed cushions at all." NDOT staff responded that placement is constrained by design standards (no stop signs for traffic calming, limits on cushions on steep curves), by the need to protect existing bike lanes, and by the original application limits (Berrywood Way to Dickerson Pike).

Concerns about buses and parking recurred. One participant noted a Metro bus turnaround at Berrywood and said cushions at that location would be problematic; Greaves said cushions are narrow in real life, should allow room for bus maneuvers and will include signage and delineators. On bulb-outs, Greaves said they enforce an existing Metro parking code that prohibits parking within 35 feet of a crosswalk to preserve visibility, but residents warned that nearby dead-end streets that rely on curb parking could be affected.

Several residents said they expect few eligible ballots in their part of Mulberry Downs and questioned whether the cushion ballot would pass; NDOT said only a ballot will show community support, and promised to post plans online, mail unique-code ballots to parcel owners and open a six-week voting window.

The meeting closed with a county official thanking NDOT staff and urging neighbors to keep in mind the department’s objective of applying consistent standards across the county.