Tyrone council adopts 10-foot width for two multiuse/golf-cart paths after resident safety concerns

The Tyrone City Council on [date not specified] voted to set the Laurelwood and East Crestwood multiuse (golf-cart) paths at 10 feet, moving away from a previously proposed 12-foot standard for parts of Laurelwood.

Resident Lisa Landsberg told the council she was attending her first meeting to raise safety concerns about the narrow path to downtown, saying, "Getting to downtown, though, is tricky for us because the path is about 2 feet," and urging officials to consider curbs or guardrails. A council member who conducted site visits presented photographs showing how 10- and 12-foot paths look in real conditions and said a wider path can improve safety and future connectivity.

Other council members said the two locations under consideration have relatively low projected golf-cart traffic and that 10 feet would be adequate there. Council member Billy Campbell said the recently built 10-foot path on Tyrone Road has operated without problems and moved that the two sections be set to 10 feet; another member seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.

Philip, a town staff member presenting the project designs, clarified how the width reduction would be implemented: the design would shrink the reserve strip on the house side (the landscaped/grassed area between the houses and the path) rather than move the path closer to the street. He also noted that one short Laurelwood segment must be reduced to 10 feet because of right-of-way constraints before it expands to 12 feet further along.

Council discussed maintenance of the grass strip between the path and road. Staff said property owners may maintain that strip; if owners decline, the town will include it on its regular mowing schedule under the town's contract with its mowing vendor.

The decision affects two active projects (Laurelwood in property acquisition, East Crestwood approaching acquisition). Council members who favored retaining 12-foot widths urged saving 12 where pedestrian and cart volumes are higher, such as busier Briarwood segments; the council reserved the option to reallocate funds for future widening if demand increases.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the design adjustments described to implement the 10-foot widths for the two identified segments, and retain 12-foot sections where council directed them to do so.