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Downtown merchants, residents tell council stalled projects, safety and closures have hurt businesses
Summary
Local business owner Andrea McMillan and resident Cheryl Litke urged Mansfield council to address stalled downtown development, event decisions and pedestrian safety, saying closures and shifting event routes contributed to lost retail and safety incidents; council heard the comments during citizens’ remarks.
Two citizens told Mansfield City Council on April 14 that recent council decisions and project delays have harmed downtown merchants and residents.
Cheryl Litke, who lives on Breckenridge Road, urged the council to consider neighborhood impacts when approving projects and described drainage and backyard damage she attributed to upstream development. "The result of decision you made allowed projects to be constructed in my neighborhood," Litke said, citing an upzoning that allowed multifamily at Debbie Lane and Walnut Creek and warning about drainage and pond impacts.
Andrea McMillan, who owns Andy Mac Candy Shack in historic downtown, criticized council follow-through on several downtown projects and event management. McMillan said the city closed a lot in 2024 that merchants relied on, moved parade routes and failed to deliver promised downtown developments. She also flagged public-safety issues, saying "in the past few months, there's been 3 people hit while in the crosswalk," and questioned why the city had not adopted measures to prevent further injuries.
McMillan and others asked for more proactive outreach to downtown businesses before changing event plans or closing lots and urged council to prioritize pedestrian safety and predictable event management. Council did not take immediate action in response during the citizens’ comment period; several council members acknowledged the concerns and said comments would be noted for staff follow-up.
The speakers requested that the council engage more directly with downtown merchants and residents before altering event logistics or approving projects that could change traffic patterns and foot traffic.
