Dayton city council passed an ordinance designed to help clear the way for a proposed ADA-accessible path connecting with the Riverfront Commons Trail during a meeting on June 4.
The ordinance authorizes the city administrator to deliver an application to the city’s planning commission to facilitate a site plan review for the Highpoint Townhome Development if certain conditions are met.
The conditions are part of an agreement between the city and developer Brendan Sullivan that would enable the construction of an ADA-accessible path connecting with the Riverfront Commons Trail.
City Administrator Jay Fossett said the developer would provide an easement on his property for the city to build the path. Once the parameters are worked out, the city would then take the development application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for site plan review.
“These are conditions we are putting on this, in order for us to submit an application to the planning commission,” Fossett said.
On Berry Street near the river, there is an open area that was left intentionally. No buildings can be built there. This is where the path could go.
“We are planning to put … an ADA accessible path down into the river trail,” Fossett said. “We’ve got some funding from South Bank Partners to do that. And this Friday, we’re submitting a grant to OKI for funding to design and construct it.”
Right now, he said there is no way to get to the riverfront trail if you need an accessible route. At present, firetrucks can maneuver down, and there is a path designed by Sanitation District 1 for their trucks to service the area, but it is very difficult.
“I ride a bike, and it’s electrified,” Fossett said. “And even with an electrified bike it’s really hard to get on that trail. It’s dangerous… So we want to make it ADA accessible. The master development agreement calls for access to the lower trail in this area.”
Sullivan introduced himself and said his company is working out a plan with the city. He said he’s enjoyed seeing all the activity now taking place along the river but had noticed how hard it can be to get to the trail.
“Jay has requested our team to deed a piece of our property or grant an easement through there,” Sullivan said. “We’ve told him we’d like to work with the city to make that happen and accommodate them any way we can. We think it’s not only an asset to the development but to our site as well.”
The proposed easement would be a total of 23 feet, but Fossett said the trail would not use all of that. The city is still working on getting the exact dimensions and won’t sign until all has been agreed by both parties, he said.