Petition calls for speed bumps in Perry subdivision

At the first work session of June 2020 for Perry Mayor and Council, Director of Community Development Bryan Wood brought before council, Monday evening, a petition to install a speed bump on Stonegate Crossing in the Stonebridge subdivision, to deter speeding.

Wood explained, the petition was signed by 28 residents of the 55 homes in the subdivision, which equaled to over 50%. Wood shared that he had not been able to find historic practices on the installation of traffic calming devices, and he was bringing the matter before council to get their questions and comments on what other materials and information would need to be acquired before bringing the matter back before council for consideration.

Wood also noted that according to the international fire code, traffic calming devices, which included speed humps and bumps, require approval by the fire official as they interfere with response times of law enforcement, fire protection and other emergency services.

Wood shared that the subdivision has speed limit signs displaying 25 miles per hour. In addition, he informed that a comment of the petition expressed concerns about speed in regard to children, pets and pedestrians. Wood further informed the subdivision contains sidewalks on either side of the street. Also according to Wood, the exact number of bumps was not included in the petition.

Wood suggested there be a policy with the city in regard to speed bumps, which included the number and spacing, as to avoid taking them back up if they were not satisfactory to citizens, with which Councilman Darryl Albritton agreed.

Councilwoman Phyllis Bynum-Grace recalled that when the speed bumps were installed on Whipple Street, it was required that 75% of residents sign in agreement of the implementation. This point was echoed by Councilwoman Joy Peterson, recalling that is what she had been told after a constituent approached her about a similar issue.

Mayor Randall Walker pointed that there needed to be consideration taken for services that are provided by the city such as fire, police, and other emergency services, noting concerns for fire engines. Walker also mentioned alternative measures that could be taken in the place of speed bumps and also called for a policy to be adopted.

Councilman Riley Hunt posed the question of speed complaints, to which both Bryan Wood and Major Bill Phelps expressed they did not know of any.

It was council’s decision that there would be no action taken on the matter at this time, and that Wood would bring before council a policy concerning traffic calming devices at a later date.

In other business, Director of Economic Development, Ashley Hardin, brought before council the matter of revisions to the Opportunity Zone designation, which the city received earlier this year. Hardin shared that currently there are four properties off of Main Street included in the program, which is a 10-year program aiming to revitalize “blighted” areas of the city.

Hardin explained that a developer approached her about possible incentives or local, state or federal programs that could be utilized for revitalization on Courtney Hodges Boulevard. Hardin said, after researching, a solution thought of would be to rewrite the application for the Opportunity Zone designation to include properties in that area. Included in the rewrite would be properties located at 405 Courtney Hodges Boulevard (The Scottish Inn), 400 Courtney Hodges Boulevard, 343 Courtney Hodges Boulevard, and 402 Courtney Hodges Boulevard. Also included would be the properties at 201 Kellwood Drive, as well as 203 and 320 South Street.

Hardin asked for council’s consensus to move forward with the application revision. This matter is pending a formal vote at the Tuesday’s regular meeting of Mayor and council.

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