Thank you for green lighting the bunts road multi use path, this helps everyone and makes it safer for walkers, wheelchair, scooters, skaters, bikes and the like.
I strongly support the addition of the high visibility crosswalks that are currently being added to the intersections of Cordova and Detroit, Hilliard and Madison, Woodward and Madison, and several other locations. It is one step in the right direction of making our infrastructure safer for pedestrians. I urge the administration to continue on this trajectory by placing physical barriers near intersections that would both prevent vehicles from parking in these no-parking zones (which minimizes the visibility of pedestrians) and shorten the distances that pedestrians must cross. I also fully support projects, such as the Bunts multipurpose path, that increase the accessibility of our city for people of all ages and abilities while at the same time decreasing our dependency on expensive motor vehicles, whether gas or electric. Finally, I implore that the city increase its enforcement of reckless driving (including speeding and running red lights) and parking violations.
Against Multi-Modal Path on Bunts Road
While the City of Lakewood asserts that the Bunts Road Rehabilitation Project involved strong public engagement, the process lacked the depth, transparency, and inclusiveness required for meaningful community participation.
Insufficient Notification and Outreach:
The city’s notice sent April 25, 2024, for a May 7 meetings offered residents less than two weeks to prepare. This short window, combined with limited sign placement only along the corridor and at City Hall (only for that meeting) , excluded many who use Bunts Road but don’t live adjacent to it. Broader, outreach and digital engagement were needed prior to not after the meeting.
One Meeting is Not Meaningful Engagement:
A single public meeting with a predetermined plan does not constitute robust input. A co-creative, iterative process with multiple forums would have enabled residents to influence design meaningfully. This did not occur.
Public Comment Was Not Representative:
Only 95 comments were received—a small fraction of Lakewood’s population. A 56% preference translates to just ~53 individuals. This does not represent public consensus, especially as nearly one-third of respondents rejected or did not prefer either option.
Lack of Transparency:
The City has not disclosed how public feedback was weighed against technical factors. Without a public decision matrix or design report, it’s unclear how or if feedback shaped outcomes.
Community Concerns Were Downplayed:
Public concerns about safety, parking, traffic, and equity appear underrepresented in summaries. A full, unedited record of public comments should be made available.
This project deserves a more transparent and inclusive engagement process before moving forward.
I strongly support the Trans sanctuary city resolution and I think Lakewood City Council should definitely approve the resolution making Lakewood a safer place for all folks to live.
I strongly oppose the Bunts Road Multi-Modal Path.
The project removes 134 or more mature trees, narrowing tree lawns to 6.5–7.5 feet, which is below Arbor Day Foundation recommendations for sustainable canopy growth. Replacing 40+ year old trees with small saplings creates decades of lost shade, worsening heat and air quality, especially for the residents of the surrounding areas. The U.S. Forest Service confirms replacement trees take 20–30 years to match the ecological benefits of a mature canopy. Pavers do not replace trees in filtering air, cooling temperatures, or improving water quality.
Safety is also compromised. The path includes 116 conflict points with driveways, in direct violation of ODOT and FHWA guidance, which caution against a multi-modal path on such corridors. Buffer requirements are also unmet, with only 12 inches provided where 2 feet is the minimum federal standard. The Lakewood Tree Advisory Board has opposed further narrowing of tree lawns in Lakewood, but their input appears ignored on this project. Public support is overstated (56 people?), as of now over 1000 residents have signed a petition opposing this project, and dozens of Bunts homes display yard signs against it.
This project sacrifices safety, health, and Lakewood’s canopy for a path that lacks true community backing.
Please reconsider and explore alternatives that protect both residents and our urban environment.
Thank you for green lighting the bunts road multi use path, this helps everyone and makes it safer for walkers, wheelchair, scooters, skaters, bikes and the like.
I strongly support the addition of the high visibility crosswalks that are currently being added to the intersections of Cordova and Detroit, Hilliard and Madison, Woodward and Madison, and several other locations. It is one step in the right direction of making our infrastructure safer for pedestrians. I urge the administration to continue on this trajectory by placing physical barriers near intersections that would both prevent vehicles from parking in these no-parking zones (which minimizes the visibility of pedestrians) and shorten the distances that pedestrians must cross. I also fully support projects, such as the Bunts multipurpose path, that increase the accessibility of our city for people of all ages and abilities while at the same time decreasing our dependency on expensive motor vehicles, whether gas or electric. Finally, I implore that the city increase its enforcement of reckless driving (including speeding and running red lights) and parking violations.
Against Multi-Modal Path on Bunts Road
While the City of Lakewood asserts that the Bunts Road Rehabilitation Project involved strong public engagement, the process lacked the depth, transparency, and inclusiveness required for meaningful community participation.
Insufficient Notification and Outreach:
The city’s notice sent April 25, 2024, for a May 7 meetings offered residents less than two weeks to prepare. This short window, combined with limited sign placement only along the corridor and at City Hall (only for that meeting) , excluded many who use Bunts Road but don’t live adjacent to it. Broader, outreach and digital engagement were needed prior to not after the meeting.
One Meeting is Not Meaningful Engagement:
A single public meeting with a predetermined plan does not constitute robust input. A co-creative, iterative process with multiple forums would have enabled residents to influence design meaningfully. This did not occur.
Public Comment Was Not Representative:
Only 95 comments were received—a small fraction of Lakewood’s population. A 56% preference translates to just ~53 individuals. This does not represent public consensus, especially as nearly one-third of respondents rejected or did not prefer either option.
Lack of Transparency:
The City has not disclosed how public feedback was weighed against technical factors. Without a public decision matrix or design report, it’s unclear how or if feedback shaped outcomes.
Community Concerns Were Downplayed:
Public concerns about safety, parking, traffic, and equity appear underrepresented in summaries. A full, unedited record of public comments should be made available.
This project deserves a more transparent and inclusive engagement process before moving forward.
I strongly support the Trans sanctuary city resolution and I think Lakewood City Council should definitely approve the resolution making Lakewood a safer place for all folks to live.
I strongly oppose the Bunts Road Multi-Modal Path.
The project removes 134 or more mature trees, narrowing tree lawns to 6.5–7.5 feet, which is below Arbor Day Foundation recommendations for sustainable canopy growth. Replacing 40+ year old trees with small saplings creates decades of lost shade, worsening heat and air quality, especially for the residents of the surrounding areas. The U.S. Forest Service confirms replacement trees take 20–30 years to match the ecological benefits of a mature canopy. Pavers do not replace trees in filtering air, cooling temperatures, or improving water quality.
Safety is also compromised. The path includes 116 conflict points with driveways, in direct violation of ODOT and FHWA guidance, which caution against a multi-modal path on such corridors. Buffer requirements are also unmet, with only 12 inches provided where 2 feet is the minimum federal standard. The Lakewood Tree Advisory Board has opposed further narrowing of tree lawns in Lakewood, but their input appears ignored on this project. Public support is overstated (56 people?), as of now over 1000 residents have signed a petition opposing this project, and dozens of Bunts homes display yard signs against it.
This project sacrifices safety, health, and Lakewood’s canopy for a path that lacks true community backing.
Please reconsider and explore alternatives that protect both residents and our urban environment.