Kentwood Committees & Boards
Committee of the Whole (Back to index)
Minutes for 10/04/2011

Present: Commissioners: Sharon Brinks, Michael W. Brown, Robert Coughlin (on speaker phone), Frank Cummings, Ray VerWys and Mayor Richard L. Root. Also present: Assistant City Engineer Tim Bradshaw, Deputy City Clerk Mary Bremer, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, City Engineer Steve Kepley, Police Chief Richard Mattice, Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Fire Department Administrative Assistant Nancy Shane, and Public Works Director Ron Woods. Also: Planning Commissioner John Helder and Julie Makarewicz of the Grand Rapids Press.

Commissioner Cummings was Acting Chairperson.

1. BRETON AVENUE CORRIDOR DESIGN AND WALMA AVENUE
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

Community Development Director Schweitzer began the meeting with the presentation that was made to the Planning Commission at their September 27th meeting with slides updated from that meeting.

The overview issues included speed being an issue, a T-intersection with no traffic signal, limited pedestrian crossing opportunities, expected increased pedestrian activity with the addition of the new library and the crossing for the proposed extension of the non-motorized trail.

Some of the Planning Commission considerations included: changing Breton from a 4 lane road to a 3 lane road; the locations of additional pedestrian crossings; additional bus stop design and locations which will not impede traffic flow; and whether to install a round-about at that intersection.

Schweitzer reported that after considerable discussion, the Planning Commission is recommending to change Breton from 4 lanes to 3 lanes (8-0 vote) and a round-about installed at the Walma-Breton intersection (6-2 vote).

City Engineer Kepley reviewed some of the changes that would need to be implemented if the number of lanes is decreased including: bus stops location and design; pedestrian movements if a round-about is installed; and some of the discussions with personnel from the Disability Advocates and Association for the Blind.

Discussion then continued among the City Commissioners as to traffic concerns if lanes were reduced from 4 to 3, the advantages and disadvantages of a round-about, the development of Breton south from 52nd to 60th and if it would impact traffic flows, the option of a traffic signal rather than a round-about and where to locate pedestrian crossings.

It was the consensus of the Commission that these issues be resolved at a Committee of the Whole meeting on October 18th with a final decision to be made at that meeting.


The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 P.M.





Mary Bremer                            Frank Cummings
Deputy City Clerk Acting         Chairperson