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Council coalesces around keeping Smithland Drive’s stub (option E) after debate
Summary
After hearing engineering options, council members expressed concerns about school traffic, neighborhood character and cost and indicated a working consensus to keep Smithland Drive’s southern stub as-is (option E) while reserving the stub for possible future action.
Project engineer Greg Anas presented five reconstruction options for Smithland Drive that would replace undersized culverts, improve utilities and offer varying degrees of connection to Oak Park Circle and sidewalks. He said all options include roadway and utility improvements and that some options (B, C, D) require budget amendments to add sidewalks or connect to Oak Park Circle.
Council debate focused on the tradeoff between emergency access and everyday traffic. Chief Fagan said a southern egress would improve first-responder accessibility. At the same time, several council members warned that a full through-connection could increase school-related rush-hour traffic and change long-standing neighborhood character. After discussion, the mayor reported a working consensus in favor of option E (no new connection now), with the stub preserved so the council can evaluate future options or a vacation process decades later. Greg Anas acknowledged staff will return with details on long-term maintenance and any budget implications.
