Pittsfield Township officials revise Lohr-Textile Greenway plans
Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal is pictured on the east side Lohr Road, where a planned pedestrian path will run.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
After months of revisions and meetings, Pittsfield Township officials say they're ready to move forward on the Lohr-Textile Greenway, a 10-foot wide asphalt trail.
Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal said a timeline still hasn't been established for when construction will begin, but she hopes to hear back on easement requests within several weeks.
The pedestrian pathway will run south down the east side of Lohr Road from Ellsworth to Textile roads. It will then continue on the south side of Textile, roughly a half mile to Teft Park.
Grewal said that segment is the first phase in establishing the greenway and is part of a larger effort to develop an easily accessible network of non-motorized vehicle and pedestrian pathways linking Saline, Pittsfield Township and Ann Arbor.
The project is funded by $300,000 in grant money from the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Connecting Communities, awarded to the township last fall. The township board approved the pathway in April and spent the summer soliciting input from community members.
“This is the first part of our overall vision in the township to create a greenway network,” Grewal said. “This fits into that larger vision and the reason my administration is so committed is to create a deliberate sense of community and preserve the quality of life.”
Grewal said the township has made several adjustments to the greenway’s preliminary engineering plan as a result of public input. It has also sent out easement requests to five homes in spots where the pathway may need to run closer to the houses than in the public right-of-way.
Residents received easement request for various reasons. Officials were concerned the pathway might damage drainage systems in some spots. In other instances, there were no public right-of-ways in place to begin with, Grewal said.
The most vocal opponent of the project has been Nicole Bergen, who lives at 1621 West Textile Road. Bergen has five large oak trees in her front yard she estimated at more than 100 years old. Those trees stand in the greenway’s path and would have come down under the original plans.
Bergen said in August that she had met with township officials on several occasions but wasn’t satisfied with any of the alternative options discussed. Most recently, the township offered to run the pathway between the trees and her home, while cutting the path’s width in half on Bergen's property.
Bergen declined to comment when asked this month about her thoughts on the latest offer. In August, she said her dining room windows are frequently open in the summer because they don’t have air conditioning in the room, and bringing the path closer to the home amounted to “an invasion of privacy”.
Several large oak trees have created a point of contention along the greenway.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Bergen added she spoke with an arborist who verbally said he doubted the trees would survive from root damage caused by a path so wide.
Grewal said she has heard overwhelming support for the project, but wants to continue working with those residents who will be impacted on a daily basis by the path. She said most who voiced concerns about the planned route have been willing to work with the township to address those concerns.
“This is a project that we want to do to improve the quality of life in the township,” Grewal said. “But it has to be done in partnership with residents, and I remain steadfast and committed to working with them as partners.”
Among other input, Grewal said residents were concerned by a lack of pedestrian crossings allowing them to access the pathway from across busy roads, while other homeowners wanted the pathway pushed further away from their homes.
Grewal said the township included more pedestrian crossings and moved the path as far toward the road as safely possible. In accordance with federal regulations, the pathway also includes a two-foot shoulder on each side. The township has made smaller adjustments based on individual meetings with residents, Grewal said.
Once the township board approves the final plans, they will be submitted the Washtenaw County Road Commission and Water Resources Commission for approval.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Gemini27200
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
Could AA.Com actually pull the public records and do some investigative journalism, rather than taking an elected officials word for the cost of the project? How about interviewing those affected, again instead of taking a politicians statement as fact? For Saline Doe - Weren't you a NIMBY in regards to Wal-Mart? I think so, please don't throw arrows at legitimate concerns that have been articulated in these comments. There's a private park for the consent judgement subdivision that many of the Pittsfield Elected officials have access to / live in. If a public park is needed in this area, maybe the Parks & Rec Commission can investigate this, or Centennial Farms can have their consent judgement modified to provide public access to their park?
mlivesaline
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
If indeed there is a compromise such that the path can be built and Ms. Bergens, and others' trees saved then shame on these people for still fighting this project. To the people who are gung ho for this project...Please try to imagine the trees in your yard as the ones getting cut down and tell us if you're still for the project.
BikeMe
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 12:36 p.m.
As a cyclist whose safety is being considered, I have a few comments. For this kind of tax dollar investment a better, less expensive use, would be a community education program. Michigan law states that cyclist have an equal right to the road, without harassment by drivers. It's a shame that most drivers are not aware of this Michigan law. The area would be better served to spend the money educating the community by investing in share the road signs and other avenues of education. This short path will do nothing for the miles cyclists ride, even if it were truly intended for cyclists. Roads and traffic are far more predictable in their behavior that children on trikes and bikes. I cannot imagine wanting to use a path whose main purpose is to transport subdivision youngsters to the recreation center. I'm not sure who this path is intended to serve, but I doubt that true cyclists are the intended beneficiaries. I think this project has hidden, personal agendas. The greater good is in education, and I've seen very little of that.
BikeMe
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 12:33 p.m.
As a cyclist whose safety is being considered, I have a few comments. For this kind of tax dollar investment a better, less expensive, use would be a community education program. Michigan law states that cyclist have an equal right to the road, without harassment by drivers. It's a shame that most drivers are not aware of this Michigan law. The area would be better served to spend the money educating the community by investing in share the road signs and other avenues of education. This short path will do nothing for the miles cyclists ride, even if it were truly intended for cyclists. Roads and traffic are far more predictable in their behavior that children on trikes and bikes. I cannot imagine wanting to use a path whose main purpose is to transport subdivision youngsters to the recreation center. I'm not sure who this path is intended to serve, but I doubt that true cyclists are the intended beneficiaries. I think this project has hidden, personal agendas. The greater good is in education, and I've seen very little of that.
SalineDoe
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.
I find it interesting how the NIMBYs are posting here, or should they be called NIMFYs? Some here recommend moving the sidewalk path across the street so that their neighbors have it along their land instead. Trying to pit one neighbor against the other? Me thinks safety should be the primary concern. I restate my earlier comment: there are NO public parks in this area of the township. None at all in the western half of the township. Closest park is miles away in the middle of the township across the street from the former township treasurer, with no way to safely get there other than to drive.
Tom Perkins
Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 11:55 a.m.
Michelle, Township officials held several public meetings and met with multiple property owners individually. As for Mandy Grewal's name not being being in bold, that was an error and I have corrected it. Anyone who reads AnnArbor.com regularly knows names are typically put in bold. I'm not sure how to respond to an insinuation that there was anything more to it. That's just weird.
Deedra Sole-Cravens
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 8:53 p.m.
1) It appears that this is a multi - phase project, is that $300,000 grant only being used towards the first phase of this project? And if so what is the total cost of engineering this path and construction. 2) Mrs. Bergren's trees are not the only trees we are going to be doing without in this project. I live in Bicentennial Farms and the couple just behind us is in the second phase of this pathway which will eliminate all of his trees. 3) Originally Grewal wanted this pathway to connect Centennial and Bicentennial Farms and when she couldn't get those easements all of a sudden their was a push for a Greenway from Saline to Ann Arbor - interesting? 4) To a prior post from SalineDoe there is a Public Park in Pittsfield Township. It is located just across the street from a Pittsfield Township board member who pushed for a public park - it is on Textile, east of State. 5) Doesn't Pittsfield Townships logo have a tree on it - interesting that we are willing to uphold such a "Green" image in our logo yet cut down over 100 trees from project start to finish. I think an additional interview with Mrs. Grewal regarding the phases she has yet to talk about so that everyone can get a clear picture of just how many trees she is really talking about should take place. She has yet to address them recently at public meetings. I'm sure that Mrs. Grewal doesn't mind having a sidewalk close to her front windows as she chose to live in a neighborhood designed that way, but why force others who have lived in their homes even before Bicentennial or Centennial or Sotnebridge subdivisions were thought of to have a lane the size of a ROAD in their front yards and just feet off their front window.
momwhocares
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 8:13 p.m.
Has any one considered that this benefits Mrs. Grewal - as her property in Centennial Estates would become more valuable from this venture. Isn't that politically in-correct? And bordering on a reason to have her recalled? Perhaps the bike lane should continue all the way through the east side of Bicentennial Parkway so my children can ride their bikes to the high school safely. The 4 foot path is just not safe enough. Mrs. Grewal should have a 14' path in front of her home, and tell me how reasonable the plan is. I'm all about the greater good for the community; but I just don't see that this path will get the anticipated use. If we are trying to make the Lohr Textile area more community friendly, wouldn't it be more effective to slow down the speed limit on the roads to say 30 or 35mph? Additionally, why is the path on the east side of Lohr (where there are fewer homes and drives to cross) but on the south side of Textile...where there are so many long time homeowners that are losing their front yards and 150 year old trees. Not to mention the wetlands/bird sanctuary at Textile/State that is at risk. $300,000 - we can't find plenty of critical uses for that funding in our neighborhood? Instead of creating more expense in upkeep and maintenance for a path that may not be used as much as people think. I just don't get it?
Michelle
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 4:23 p.m.
Reading the article made me wonder about a few things... (1) The article mentions soliciting input from community members over the course of the summer. How was that input solicited? Were multiple options for using the money proposed or was the question more like 'Do you want a greenway'? How many actual responses were received? How does the number of responses compare to the population? Not seeing those details in the article makes me wonder how representative of the community that input really was. (2) The article suggests that $300,000 is the full cost of this greenway segment... but is that really the case? I would venture the $300,000 provided by Washtenaw County is for construction only and that expenses necessary to make the greenway a reality are not included in that number. So what is the actual cost and who is paying the difference? Kind of like getting a quote for a new roof and finding out later that quote was only for the shingles - labor, plywood and roofing nails are extra. Surprise! Makes me wonder if the actual cost is 2 or maybe even 3 times that $300,000 and what am I giving up to pay the difference? Should we be spending $900,000 for a 2 mile stretch of bike/jogging path in today's economy? (3) Amen to the comments about maintaining what we already have. Is there room in the budget for maintenance or will this investment fall into disrepair like the others? (4) Why is Nicole Bergren's name put in bold print? Mandy Grewal's name isn't in bold print. Really? What is THAT all about? I am all for safe alternatives to driving and my heart goes out to the family of the cyclist lost on Maple Rd.. but it all has to make sense.
WildBill
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 1:02 p.m.
I am happy to hear so many people supporting Ms. Bergren's property rights. There are other option like moving the path to the north side of Textile which others already mentioned. If this path is going in, let continue to investgate those options. As for the other comments,the paved part of the path is 10 feet wide. Please go to your front yard and measure off 10 feet of property and then decide how close you want that to your house! I agree with the comments regarding maintaining the paths we have (ie Packard Road) before we build new paths. If you want to build new paths, I suggest you start with the older section of the township. Why are these new paths located near new fancy subdivisions. I'd like the paths maintained and new paths in the Northwest section of the township. Our kids ride bikes, too.
SonnyDog09
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.
I still find it hard to believe that they are going to spend $300K to build less than two miles of sidewalk. The cost seems excessive to me.
CobraII
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 1:04 a.m.
Oh come on, "waiting to hear back" is just a polite way of saying eminent domain proceedings are already underway!
JC
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
I had a bike path put in behind my house several years ago and it has improved my standard of living drastically. They have recently expanded the path, connecting it to the border to border system and construction should be completed very soon. I can't wait! Investing dollars that encourage recreation is the best way to spend tax revenue. You can't be happy if you aren't healthy!
mgoaero
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
An alternative could be to make that section of the path (near the oak trees) gravel. Constructing a gravel path would cause much less damage to the roots of the nearby trees. I'm sure joggers and bicyclists could cope with that for a hundred feet if it gets the project through this roadblock.
John of Saline
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 12:14 p.m.
Is the worry about killing the trees from lack of water? If so, maybe porous pavement could be used near the trees: http://www.annarbor.com/vielmetti/sylvan-avenue-repavement/
SMAIVE
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 11:14 a.m.
Megan, you make a very good argument. The damaged trees are a concern. I was surprised a couple weren't lost during the big storm this year. Perhaps the township could plant a number of trees along the property to enhance it even more.
SalineFan
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
I have been looking forward to this path for some time. I am a little disappointed with the delay but, I am impressed that we are trying out best to make it work. I think it is an excellent idea and ride/walk/run with my family. I do hope this happens soon... it would be a shame for it to not go forward.
Pat Ivey
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.
@tdw: The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), which has for decades been the preeminate source of technnical information on the design, construction, and maintenance of roads and such, sets the standard width of a two-way, shared-use (bicycles and pedestrians), off-road pathway at ten feet. Eight feet may be considered if usage is low, but a minimum of two feet clearance needs to be maintained along both sides.
tdw
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 10:44 a.m.
@Treetown that path on Packard IS a bike trail.No winter maintenance.If I road a bike I would'nt use it.It's been a mess for at least 20 yrs
treetowncartel
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
How about a nice path on Washtenaw between the border of the City of Ann Arbor, just before US 23, and the border of Ypsilanti Township at Golfside Road? Also, the Sidewalk on Packard that runs this same stretch will need some serious repair once the water/sewer lines over there are finally replaced. I am sure the contractor is only going to patch the sidewalk.
John of Saline
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.
Could the road be shifted a few feet in that section in a gentle curve, that would allow the new path to have room on the road side of the trees? I'm guessing that would be expensive.
a2huron
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 9:39 a.m.
Don't know about this area but have seen the one along Platt Road. Very impressive and nicely built. Wide enough so bikers and joggers/walkers can co-exist. If this one is anywhere close to the Platt one, these people are getting a nice addition. I often wonder when I see opponents to a public good item such as this if money isn't an issue. Hold out long enough and try to get some $ in their own pockets? What a shame. The rest suffer for this expense.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.
A year ago Pittsfield Township installed a similar path on Platt between Michigan Ave and Ellsworth. It drew many users immediately. Even in the winter you'll find someone on the path almost anytime of the day. I'd encourage people who think this is a waste of money to walk the path on Platt Road. I think you'll be impressed.
tdw
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
Sorry if I seem stupid here but why does it need to be 10ft wide? Thats as wide as a one lane road.I don't live anywhere near there so I don't have an opinion.I'm just curious
Dave Koziol
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 9:20 a.m.
@A2D2 I live along the path, and our entire family is really excited about it. My kids will be able to bike to the Saline Rec Center, and to Borders/Meijers. Right now it is just not safe for them to leave our neighborhood on bikes, but with this path, it will open up a large number of options which I expect we will use for years. Go Pittsfield Township, let's get this path built!
SalineDoe
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.
@Megan: You are absolutely correct. Anyone that drives by this house can easily tell that some of the trees are sickly. A couple appear to have major holes inside them, probably a raccoon's home. And just look at the photo. These trees are right next to the road edge. It is more likely that the road (and salt, oils, etc.) are already doing a number on these trees. We are talking about the equivalent of a sidewalk here and there is one right on the other side of this house leading right along the south side of Textile. Maybe the township should have called it a sidewalk to start with.
Megan
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:52 a.m.
I live near Bergan, the woman with the trees. I understand her concern but here are my observations. I have thought for years that many of those trees looked unhealthy, some parts of them don't produce leaves, and have thought that they would possibly suffer from a strong wind at some point. Second, if those trees were to be cut down, new ones could always be planted providing more privacy for her home from the path and creating beautiful trees that will last the next 100 years. When I heard about the path I was excited. I often thought how nice it would be to bike ride with my children to different places around Saline and Ann Arbor but felt there was no safe way to do that, until now. I believe the path is an excellent idea.
Basic Bob
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
I'm curious why putting the greenway on the north side of Textile Road is such a bad idea. There are no significant trees on the north side. And in the future it seems possible to extend the greenway further east on Textile, right down past the Sutherland farm to the Preserve. The north side seems more appropriate here as well. The people that obviously benefit from this project are the SAS residents in the neighborhoods on the south side of Textile who would use the Rec Center, but don't want to cross a busy road twice. I implore Supervisor Grewal and Commissioner Judge to support the relocation of this project to the north side of Textile Road. It is the green way.
SalineDoe
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:44 a.m.
This is an excellent idea and I am glad to see Pittsfield and Grewal taking leadership on this. Anyone else wouldn't have bothered, and for decades, no one did. Biking/walking safety in this area wasn't on any township leader's radar. A good quarter to a third of Pittsfield's population is in the immediate area. Probably a reason more of them are not seen out on the road edges walking and biking is because it simply isn't safe!! This area doesn't even have a single public township park, and to get to any of them elsewhere in the township, you have to risk your life unless you drive. Besides, from what I have read in other articles, the township is going out of their way to save trees and reroute the path to make it work. If it wasn't, it would be in place already.
foobar417
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:31 a.m.
The point of the project is to begin creating safe, non-motorized transit options. If you create a non-motorized path from Saline to Ann Arbor, folks will commute on their bikes along that bath. Likewise, it will begin to provide safe, non-motorized transit options to Pittsfield area parks. Look at Pittsfield's non-motorized plan. It lays out the network of trails and bike paths they hope to create. This is an important linkage in that network. Anecdotally, the number of folks in Ann Arbor who commute to work and school on bikes has been exploding, following along every expansion in the non-motorized transit network. Just watch how busy the bike lanes and trails are every morning and evening. It's a dramatic change from a decade ago. There is no reason the same won't be true for Pittsfield and Saline. And every bike is one less car slowing you down on your commute.
Linda Peck
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:31 a.m.
I see people biking between Saline and Ann Arbor. I think providing a safe route is really important. The bicyclists need a place to ride that is safe and is an efficient route. I hope more of these long distance routes will be created. My son-in-law bicycles all the way across Ann Arbor, North to South, and he has been hit by a Comcast van! I would like to see more routes to protect him, as well as all of the other people riding, including children. Let's consider this a step in the right direction, and put people's lives above a few trees and $300,000.
RunrDad
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:26 a.m.
@A2D2: I also live near the proposed pathway and have discussed it with several of my neighbors - and we have been looking forward to the path for a long time. Yes, "walk[ing]" from Saline to Ann Arbor is probably not going to be common. However, I suspect runners and bikers will use it regularly - and runners and bikers who would otherwise run on dangerous roads like State and Maple (RIP that biker last year) will find it a great relief. The thought of it being just for "image" or being "environmentally correct" never crossed my mind... you bring up an interesting point, and maybe that is indeed part of it. However, I think the actual benefit is great - and I know many many others who are looking forward to not risking their lives by trying to commute to work without a car or get a good long distance workout without having to drive to Ann Arbor first.
GRANDPABOB
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:10 a.m.
The same complainers,complain about the bycyles being on the roadway then complain when people want to make a path for them.
mbill
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 7:59 a.m.
Bull Dozing + Cut Trees + Paving = Green. It will be great for recreation, but it will require a lot of fossil fuels to implement and will not change the way we use transportation. On the show "Parks and Recreation" they would sell it as "Green" too. This will be great for recreation as there are too few places to ride / walk with out being in danger being hit. More Pavement is not Green.
A2D2
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 7:31 a.m.
Try as I might, I just can't see the practical justification for the project. I live near the proposed path and would be as likely a candidate as anyone to use it. But I'm at a loss to see actually what it would be regularly used for. Is someone going to walk from Saline to Ann Arbor? Rarely.. I hate to say it, but it's starting to feel like it's 99 percent image ("aren't we a trendy, enviromentally correct township") and a 1 percent practical use of $300,000. For that matter, it doesn't take an investigative reporter to find better uses for $300k in our township. For instance, how about finishing the Lohr Rd. repaving project that was started and abandoned. Or maybe the township could pave Textile from State to Platt...........
cfsunlet
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 7:28 a.m.
Hurray for Nicole Bergren for defending the trees. A bike path will be a great asset to this area (especially once they figure out how to get it across I-94). However, I hope an alternative can be found to sacrificing the trees.
A2D2
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 7:14 a.m.
Try as I might, I just can't see the practical justification for the project. I live near the proposed path and would be as likely a candidate as anyone to use it. But I'm at a loss to see actually what it would be regularly used for. Is someone going to walk from Saline to Ann Arbor? Rarely.. I hate to say it, but it's starting to feel like it's 99 percent image ("aren't we a trendy, enviromentally correct township") and a 1 percent practical use of $300,000. For that matter, it doesn't take an investigative reporter to find better uses for $300k in our township. For instance, how about finishing the Lohr Rd. repaving project that was started and abandoned. Or maybe the township could pave Textile from State to Platt...........
Steve Pepple
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 6:08 a.m.
A typo in the headline has been fixed.