After more than a month of debate Mansfield City Council unanimously agreed to table bill 13-296, which would have authorized John Fernyak to fund a study to evaluate the feasibility of a conversion of Main and Diamond Streets to two-way traffic. The structure and wording of the proposed legislation was cited as the reason to delay a vote.
Seven local business owners in addition to Fernyak spoke up during caucus at Mansfield’s City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Wooster has been posed as a model for potential outcomes in Mansfield. Recently some members of council participated in a fact finding trip to Wooster. At council Tuesday night, Fernyak investigated and reported on concerns raised by the mayor.
Wooster has one major highway cutting through downtown while Mansfield has two. Wooster has five percent of downtown properties unoccupied while Mansfield has 30 percent unoccupied. Mansfield has 12 loft apartments, Wooster has 40. Wooster has 16 restaurants, Mansfield has eight.
In addition to the street conversion, Fernyak noted other issues that are a challenge to small business owners. Wooster has a “one-stop” shop approach to opening new businesses, while in Mansfield there are five different offices to contend with.
Councilman Michael Hill isn’t convinced that people wish to live downtown, “As for lofts, I can’t see anybody coming to downtown Mansfield at its current level.”
Steve Zigmund is one of the founders of the soon to open Phoenix Brewing Company, which will be located on Diamond Street.“One of the things that drew me to downtown is all the activity that is going on down there, the restoration of all the buildings, the constant improvement, and I see these two-way streets as another improvement. In many towns where they do this, business picks up and you get a lot more people downtown. You get a lot more people downtown and you get more business. You get more business, you get more people. And I think that’s what we all want down here. It’s been shown time after time that this works,” said Zigmund.
Downtown Hair Designers is located on a busy section of Main Street and does not have a parking lot of it’s own. Kelly Ball’s customers utilize on-street parking exclusively.
“I am totally against the two-way on Main Street. I have a business on Main Street. I rely on my parking,” she continued, “I can’t see an elderly individual, which is my bread and butter, that I pay my taxes on, which you guys get paid also, walk two blocks from the free parking up to the salon.”
Ball is convinced that the conversion would ultimately force her to relocate her business. She did concede that if her parking would remain preserved she could be open to the conversion.
March will mark the third year in operation for Relax it’s Just Coffee and owner Paul Kemerling has been so busy with his growing business he hasn’t had time to come to council until this week.
“I would strongly encourage you to proceed with the study to explore two-way conversion,” he continued, “What I’ve tried to create downtown with my coffee shop is a destination. In all the conversation that I hear about one-way and two-way conversion what I hear is an emphasis on the part of those who oppose two-way is that it will somehow impair people from the easy and effective transference through our town. I think that’s a good thing.
“I want people to stay here….If it takes them a couple of extra minutes to get through–fantastic. They might stay, they might shop, they might stay the night, they might get an extra latte,” added Kemmerling.
Don Nash has operated Don Nash Limited on Third Street for more than 50 years. “Because there has been no public announcement of anything to do with specifics, I think this should be tabled so that the public can understand what is coming. I haven’t spoken with anyone that is in favor of it,” said Nash.
Ed Harris, president of Downtown Mansfield Inc. reminded council that this matter has been studied and the city already has five options approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). These options include the scenario described in this proposed legislation. Furthermore, $180,000 has already been spent on these studies which were funded by the city as well as private dollars. All of this went through the proper channels including public forums.
Both Hill and Nash asserted that Fernyak’s motivation might be personal gain. Fernyak responsed, “I’m trying to create a viable and active downtown with a greater tax base. I want more buildings filled downtown and that will generate more tax revenue.”
In light of issues raised during caucus, council unanimously voted to table the bill for further review.
Other matters of key significance were also on the agenda at council. Linn Steward presented promising news to council. If the city continues on it’s current path she expects that the city will be taken off of the fiscal emergency list as early as next year. This projection is far earlier than anticipated.
Councilwoman Ellen Haring was quick to commend Steward for her efforts, “Director Steward received the highest regard from the auditors. All the requirements have been met. The budget committee was impressed that against formidable odds her department has delivered such a high level of service.”
Tuesday also marked the retirement of Councilman Scott Hazen, who will be replaced by Jon Van Harlengen. Members of council showered Hazen with glowing comments and humorous memories of their time in service together, or in the case of Councilwoman Haring, her time as Hazen’s sixth grade teacher.
Mayor Tim Theaker had this to say about Hazen, “What I’ve seen here in this short period of time is that you take the citizens to heart and you put them first. I agree with what others have said, you are a class act, and I’d like to echo what Director Spon said in that you are a person that definitely wants to make the city better and you take into consideration seeing things from both sides. Whether that is Democrat or Republican and that is what need to have–people who work together.”
“I’m trying to create a viable and active downtown with a greater tax base. I want more buildings filled downtown and that will generate more tax revenue,” stated John Fernyak.
