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Petitioner and city officials discuss annexation of land on Route 179 to address safety and development
Summary
At a special Bellefontaine City Council hearing, petitioner Gary Alexander Jr. and city staff discussed an annexation of roughly 2.5 acres along Township Road 179 that would bring a stretch of right-of-way into the city to enable speed postings and safety improvements; council asked for a traffic study and noted jurisdictional limits.
A special hearing opened on an annexation petition by Gary Alexander Jr. to bring about 2.5 acres along Township Road 179 into the city, a move city officials said would put a significant portion of the road’s right-of-way under municipal control and allow interim safety measures.
City Engineer Mr. Bischoff told council the annexation includes roughly 0.7 acres of township right-of-way on the east side of Route 179 and is large enough for “about four single-family lots.” He said the annexation would consolidate control over a stretch of the roadway that is now split between township, county and city jurisdictions and would allow the city to post reduced speed limits and pursue safety funds to pay for improvements. “That will give us control of that entire stretch of roadway that’s been annexed on both sides,” Bischoff said.
Council members pressed staff on traffic flow and safety at the intersection of County Route 10 and Route 179. One council member said residents report speeding and heavy pedestrian traffic on 179. Several members urged further work to acquire additional right-of-way as a next step to secure the corridor.
Petitioner Gary Alexander Jr., who addressed council from the lectern and gave his address as 1393 Township Road 179, said his plan is to create four lots and that annexation would allow him and the city to address driveway visibility and speed concerns. “I have a plan here…my intent is to have four lots,” Alexander said, adding that prior attempts to resolve the safety issue outside the city had not succeeded.
Council members discussed a proposal to commission a traffic study on Route 179 after the new year to establish a technical basis for design changes. Staff emphasized that while annexation would not solve every safety problem (because not all adjacent parcels are in city limits), it would allow the city to post speed limits on the newly annexed stretch and seek funding for roadway improvements.
The hearing concluded after public comment. No final annexation ordinance vote was recorded during the hearing; the council adjourned the special session with plans to return at the scheduled time.
