Fell Road - Lessons Learned 

Here are a few lessons from the council’s decision on 21 Sep 2022 to cancel the Fell Road Extension project. 
 
A road project can be stopped. 
Occasionally we have heard it said that if a project has been supported previously by the council, and is in the Comprehensive Plan, then it MUST be done, the decision has been made, details of the design can be tweaked but the project can’t be canceled. It is now clear that is not the case, and no member of the present council believes it. Council can indeed change its collective mind.  Mr. Phrampus summed it up in the August meeting: “We are a new council”. By the same token, the next council could decide to reactivate the project, as was mentioned by several members.
 
It takes a strong response from the people.
The council is responsive to input from the citizens in the form of emails, phone calls, petitions, and especially, turnout at the council meeting.  Mr. Bentley summed it up: “Come to the meeting because that's where the rubber meets the road. And had you not been here tonight, this could have very easily gone in a different direction.”
 
Despite the emotional context, the discussions can be civil.
Every resident who asked to speak was accommodated.  No residents or officials were insulted. Council members set an excellent example!
 
There is adequate space for a large turnout.
Council chambers were full, but additional space was made in a nearby room, with video access. 

 

See meeting minutes here: 

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City Council Decision, Fell Road