Debate over carriage walks in Findlay may return

The debate among Findlay officials about the future of the city's carriage walks isn't over yet. A recommendation made by council's Streets, Sidewalks & Parking Committee on Oct. 31 has already been tabled. The committee voted 2-1 to recommend the city continue the practice of removing the walks during curb replacements. Property owners who still want the walks can replace them at their own expense. Councilmen Joshua Palmer, R-7, and James Niemeyer, R-6, voted in favor of the recommendation, with Councilwoman Holly Frische, R-1, opposed. Palmer is chairman of the committee. Palmer then asked that the committee report be tabled at the Nov. 1 regular meeting of council. He said city administrators may have some new information on the walks. "My understanding is that Councilman Palmer had one more tire he wanted us to kick," said Mayor Christina Muryn On Monday. "I do not expect any changes in the decision, but we wanted to exhaust all sources before a final recommendation is made." Muryn said city officials will contact the Ohio Department of Transportation for input and check the rules in other municipalities. There was no word on Monday as to when the new information, if there is any, will be made available. Council's next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. Council meetings are open to the public and are routinely livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. There is currently no meeting scheduled for the committee. The city began removing all carriage walks during street improvements more than a year ago at the recommendation of the committee. Until that time, the walks were being replaced with curbs on the parking side of a street. In October 2021, the committee recommended that Findlay stop replacing the walks altogether out of concern about compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The committee returned to the issue this year after several residents approached council upset that their walks had been removed. Concern about ADA again became the focus point of the debate, however. The committee received three different legal opinions, including an opinion from Findlay Law Director Donald J. Rasmussen, stating the walks, if replaced by the city during street improvements, must be ADA-compliant. The walkways, which provide a connection from sidewalks, across the tree lawn, to the curb, are located in the city's right-of-way. Carriage walks, also known as "courtesy walks," date back to horse-and-buggy days, giving carriage passengers a safe place to step down. As modern streets handle more traffic, however, city officials say they pose a safety concern by providing a "walkway" right into busy streets. Most older neighborhoods still have carriage walks, but as the city updates streets, sidewalks and curbs, they are being removed. Privately landscaped carriage walks would not have to meet ADA requirements, according to city officials. Property owners are already permitted to landscape their tree lawns, but there are rules. Landscaping must not violate any of the city's zoning codes or affect the sight lines for vehicles using the roadway. Landscaping must be well-kept and maintained by the homeowner. The city can also remove the landscaping at any time and is not required to replace it. Trees placed in the public right-of-way must be approved by the city, and can also be removed at any time.