053011 College of Wooster requests closing of part of Gasche Street
By Sharon Haught
May 23, 2011
331
Summary: The proposed closing of Gasche Street between University Street and Wayne Avenue could bring new green space areas to the College of Wooster campus.
The community got its first glimpse at what the College of Wooster could be transformed into over the next 10-15 years when legislation was introduced at Wooster City Councils May 16 meeting requesting the closing of Gasche Street between University Street and Wayne Avenue.
According to College of Wooster President Grant Cornwell, as part of the colleges updated strategic plan, the college wants to transform the narrow road that runs between the Wooster Inn and the colleges power plant into a green space that could include an exercise trail, general field for recreation or picnic area for the campus community and local residents to enjoy.
According to College of Wooster Vice President for Finance and Business Laurie Stickelmaier, the safety of community members and students who currently walk along that section of Gasche Street has been a concern for many years.
Being a pedestrian on Gasche Street is very, very dangerous, said Stickelmaier.
This portion of Gasche has no sidewalks, the shoulders of the street have fallen away and the profile has heaved up in the middle making it impossible to walk anywhere other than the center of the street, said Stickelmaier adding pedestrian activity around this area is very heavy though from our students to golfers to visitors to the Wooster Inn to community members who are trying to walk between University and Wayne.
Stickelmaier noted that according to a 2007 traffic study, there was very little through traffic on this portion of Gasche Street and that the cars that did use the street often traveled at a much higher rate of speed than is safe for the condition of the road.
Wooster Fire Chief Rob Eyler and Police Chief Steve Glick also advised college officials that the closure of Gasche will not impact emergency access because it is not used for emergency vehicles because it is such bad repair, added Stickelmaier.
Stickelmaier also noted that this portion of Gasche Street has been closed to vehicular traffic for a year due to the construction of the new Scott Center without hardship to area residents.
While some council member including Jon Ansel and David Silvestri signaled their initial support for the request, Councilman Mark Cavin and a number of local residents expressed reservations about loss of one of the few north/south arteries in that area of Wooster.
Councilman Jon Ulbright noted that local residents will have an opportunity to voice their position on the proposal.
According to Ulbright, though the city isnt legally required to do so because the only two parties that own property that would be affected by the closing – the College of Wooster and Norma Booth - have both given their consent to the closing, the city will send written notice of the proposal to residents on Wayne Avenue between Beall Avenue and Palmer Street, on University Street from Beall Avenue to Palmer Street, on Gasche Street from Wayne Avenue to Kieffer Street and on Gasche Street from University Street to Spring Street.
According to Ulbright, members of the public can provide their feedback during a special one hour session of councils Infrastructure Committee scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on June 6 in council chambers and during the actual City Council meeting that follows immediately thereafter.
Ulbright also noted that it was his intention to give the ordinance three full readings, meaning that council would likely take final action on the measure during its June 20 meeting.
Should there be a need for additional public feedback, a second special meeting of the Infrastructure Committee would be scheduled just June 20 at 6:30 p.m. just prior to councils regular session.
