Oxford Village officials last week expressed their desire to review and approve any changes to the proposed Polly Ann Trail pedestrian bridge over M-24.
Council last week voted 4-0 that ‘any scope changes? to the proposed bridge plans, such as dimensions and the addition of stairways, be ‘resubmitted to the village (both planning commission and council) for review and approval.?
Plans to change the proposed bridge’s camber (or curvature) and width to comply with both state and federal requirements prompted council’s resolution.
The action was also triggered by some officials? desire to ensure stairways leading from the bridge to sidewalks along M-24 are definitely included in the final design and construction.
Council originally approved the bridge design plans at its Aug. 24, 2004 meeting. In September 2004, the Michigan Department of Transporation rejected the design plans because the bridge wasn’t wide enough and the camber didn’t meet with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Plans are now being reworked to increase the bridge’s width from 12 to 14 feet and reduce the actual camber from 3 feet to 1 foot, yet have the outward appearance of a 3-foot curvature remain as originally planned.
‘If any applicant in the community had filed a site plan for review and changed the width of their building by two feet and the length by 10 feet and added two outside stairways after the initial approval had been given, that person or persons would be required to come back to the planning commission and council for reapproval,? said Councilman Steve Allen.
‘I don’t think we should be getting in the business of changing the rules to meet the demand of the situation,? Allen said. ‘And I think it’s only fair for the whole thing.?
Allen said he also wanted to make sure stairways were included as originally requested at the Aug. 24 meeting by village Planning Commissioner John DuVal.
At that Aug. 24 meeting, Bridge Project Manager Larry Obrecht told officials, ‘I would suggest to you it’s (stairs) a good idea. And I’ll attempt to incorporate it . . . I’ll be pleased to pursue that and see if we can install a staircase.?
‘We have asked for those stairways, but we’ve yet to see them in writing,? Allen said last week. ‘I don’t want them to be committed just to a conversation. I want them to be committed to paper and an approved site plan document so they will be required to be built.?
Allen noted that Obrecht did mention the stairways in writing in a Dec. 30 e-mail to village Manager Joe Young.
In that communication, Obrecht said, ‘It was always my intent to handle the stairs? through the bridge contractor as a ‘change order? rather than ‘engineering? them into the plans, which ‘seems to incur an expense that’s not necessary.?
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Meeting with Obrecht Jan. 11
Organizers of the petition drive which garnered 520 signatures opposing construction of the Polly Ann Trail bridge have arranged for a Tuesday, Jan. 11 public meeting with Bridge Project Manager Larry Obrecht.
The purpose of the meeting will be to allow citizens to ask questions of Obrecht and voice their concerns and opinions regarding the proposed bridge, according to organizer Marilyn Schils.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and take place in the Oxford Village Community Room, which is located across the hall from the village council chambers at 22 W. Burdick St.
Schils is hoping for a large turnout and said everyone is welcome. For more information Schils can be reached at (248) 628-1371.