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Smithsburg council opts for alternative 4 with 14-foot lane compromise for downtown square
Summary
After two votes, the Smithsburg Town Council rejected a narrow-lane proposal and approved guidance to pursue Alternative 4 with lanes widened to 14 feet, citing a compromise between pedestrian space and emergency access.
The Smithsburg Town Council on a motion approved guidance to pursue Alternative 4 for the downtown square, but with a compromise to use 14‑foot travel lanes instead of the narrower 12‑foot lanes first proposed.
Councilors debated four layout options that balanced parking, outdoor seating and pedestrian access. Engineering consultant (Speaker 1) said a narrower layout would provide more room to rebuild ADA-compliant ramps and allow businesses to add outdoor seating. Opponents warned that shrinking lanes too quickly could impede emergency vehicles and eliminate parking. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” one councilor said during the debate.
An initial motion to proceed with Option 1 failed after a roll-call vote (the motion “died at 3 to 2”), prompting a follow-up motion to pursue Alternative 4 with a 14‑foot lane modification; that motion passed, giving staff and the project team direction to proceed with design adjustments.
The approved guidance directs staff to carry the 14‑foot lane width into the next design steps while rebuilding curb ramps to meet ADA requirements and addressing drainage and snow‑storage concerns raised during the meeting. Council members also asked designers to consider transitions from adjacent 16‑foot approaches so the reduction to 14 feet is gradual.
The design decision will be incorporated into the town’s capital improvement plan; staff said final construction funding and scheduling will be addressed in future budget conversations.
