Ohio cul-de-sac homeowners go to war against city that plans to install common feature on their street

An Ohio city's cul-de-sac residents are up in arms as the city plans to install a common road feature outside their homes. 

As part of roadworks, the city of Toledo is planning to install sidewalks along the no-through roads and residential streets to improve safety and accessibility. 

But not all residents are pleased by the idea, saying they will be expensive to put in place and maintain, will harm trees and plants and are unnecessary.

Mark Gensler, who lives on a cul-de-sac told The Toledo Blade: 'It just seems like it's a waste of money and resources. They don't think of elderly people who have to go out and shovel snow to maintain the sidewalk.'

Residents expressed their concerns to the city council which is now considering removing the requirement for sidewalks from the ordinance. 

As part of roadworks, Toledo city council is planning to install sidewalks along the cul-de-sacs and residential roadways to improve safety and accessibility

But not all residents support the plan. Barbara Grzeszczak, a Point Place resident, told ABC13: 'And for our little cul-de-sac, I'm here to not have sidewalks put in'

The city is planning to install the sidewalks under a 2010 ordinance called the Complete Streets Policy, which requires sidewalks be part of any road improvement project.

The proposal has been welcomed by many residents, who say it will improve accessibility. 

Disability Manager of the City of Toledo Valerie Fatica said: 'Many of our residents were upset about the installation of the new water meters in their homes. 

'However, the city did not allow opt-outs because much like the sidewalk network, it works best when the system is complete.'

But others say the sidewalks are unnecessary and will cause more problems than they are worth. 

Barbara Grzeszczak, a Point Place resident of 40 years, told ABC13: 'And for our little cul-de-sac, I'm here to not have sidewalks put in.

'I have a sprinkler system. I live on the corner and I have quite a few heads of the sprinkler system that will have to be all dug up and moved, which will be quite expensive, according to my sprinkler man.'

The council is considering adopting an amendment to exclude cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets from the sidewalk requirement. They have until July to make their decision.

The anti-sidewalk contingent want to be able to opt-out of the policy, saying that on their streets they see little pedestrian traffic and they don't want the hassle of maintaining them. 

The council is considering adopting an amendment to exclude cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets from the sidewalk requirement.

They have until July to make their decision. 

One cul-de-sac resident, Debra Hulles, told The Toledo Blade: 'We're not trying to be politically incorrect about people with disabilities. We just want a new street without sidewalks. It's a little cul-de-sac, which has been here since 1954. 

'Redo our street, but don't do sidewalks. Take that money and put it toward another city project that people want.'

A fellow resident, Lynn Morris, said: 'We don't get foot traffic. I think it's going to be a waste of taxpayer money.'

She is also concerned that a tree in her yard would have to be removed to make way for the sidewalk.

She said: 'I have a very mature tree that took a beating from the tornado last year. I'm trying to revive it. But when they cut through to put in a sidewalk, it's going to be close enough to the roots, and it's going to kill it.'

Councilwoman Cerssandra McPherson told the outlet that the city needs to consider the concerns of residents before making decisions.

She said: 'I think one of our weakest links is communication.

'We don’t, prior to making decisions, reach out to the citizens who this is going to affect. 

'We have to do better because the citizens are the ones that are the taxpayers. They are holding us accountable. 

'We must at first address the citizens who live here and get their opinions and thoughts and sit down and have the conversations.'