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-News Articles/Editorials/Letters to the Editor-
1/24/2001
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A bike path on Carson City's west side continues to draw complaints from nearby homeowners five years after the project was first proposed. The V&T bike path runs between Kings Canyon Road and Combs Canyon Road in a combination of bike lanes and paths. One crucial portion of the path skirts the eastern boundary of the Wellington Crescent subdivision, separated nearly the entire length by a stone wall. However, about 150 feet of Wellington Crescent separates the path from Ash Canyon Road. After nearly two years of discussion, the property owners association and the city still haven't reached an agreement on how to finish linking the path through the subdivision to Ash Canyon Road. Because the project is funded through a $200,000 federal grant, the path has to be built on at least 12 feet of property. The city has a 5-foot easement on the edge of the subdivision and needs up to 7 more feet from the Wellington property owners. Members of the Wellington Crescent Property Owners Association recently asked the Parks and Recreation Commission not to approve the city's updated bike plan until concerns over bike access in their neighborhood are addressed. Many complained that in two years, none of their concerns have been addressed. Because Wellington Crescent is a private subdivision, property owners are concerned about encouraging recreation uses in their neighborhood, said Jim Grimpe, president of the property owners association. All streets are owned and maintained by property owners, and residents say the city hasn't told them who is liable if an accident occurs on one of the subdivision's streets. The proposed expansion will run right in front of Jeannine Dunbar's house. She said not only will moving the path to the middle of the entrance ruin its symmetry, it will also hinder access of emergency vehicles and school buses. She said all homeowners want is a fence separating the subdivision from the path and for the city to earnestly address their concerns before taking space in the Wellington South entrance. "We've said it's a real disruption to take 7 feet," Dunbar said. "School buses have a hard time making the turn now. We're not trying to govern what the city does on their land. The people here have no qualms with the bike path. What we want is to separate the bicycles from our property and separate our liability from the cyclists." Steve Kastens, Carson City parks and recreation director, said communication on the V&T bike path project has suffered this year because of his involvement with the problems at the Carson Aquatic Facility. Kastens said the city is willing to put up a fence between the path and the subdivision. He said a landscaped island in the middle of Wellington South may have to be modified, but concerns over the road are being addressed. A meeting is schedule tonight with Grimpe, Kastens and members of the parks and recreation commission to try and iron out the final details. "I don't see a lot of big issues," Kastens said. Kastens had no estimate for when the project should be finished. The project was funded through a federal grant and is being designed by Nevada Department of Transportation engineers. The V&T bike path project from Kings Canyon Road to Combs Canyon Road follows the following route: - Through the Highlands Subdivision from Kings Canyon to Washington Street. - The path is to travel north from here on Longview Drive to Ash Canyon Road as a bike lane. - From here the path will go nearly to Nye Lane before reverting to bike lanes on Murphy Drive to Combs Canyon Road. |
