Council opens stub street connections city
Madison City Council has paved the way for new street connections throughout the city.
The council voted Jan. 8 to approve an ordinance that requires stub streets to continue onto adjacent property when it is developed.
"We want as many ways to get to your house as we can," Capt. Daniel Busken told the council.
The ordinance was presented for its first reading in December, but resident W.C. Fuller asked the council to table the ordinance until its Jan. 22 meeting to allow residents more time for public input.
"I'm just asking for as much time and attention as you've given to this smoking ordinance," Fuller said.
Councilwoman Cynthia McCollum, who abstained from the vote, began discussion of the ordinance by informing the council she had received public inquiry asking for two additional weeks of consideration.
Council Bob Wagner left the meeting before the discussion of the ordinance or its vote took place.
Councilmen Steve Haraway, Jerry Jennings, Tim Cowles, Larry Vannoy and Council President Tommy Overcash voted in favor of the ordinance.
However, McCollum did agree with the council that stub streets are intended for future connections.
"It is going to connect to something at some point," McCollum explained. "Sometimes it won't, but the bottom line is that's why it's there."
Mayor Sandy Kirkindall added that all stub street continuations will first be evaluated for safety and approved by a city engineer.
Fuller and residents Joe Murphy and Robert Hall voiced concerns on traffic safety and increased crime in existing neighborhoods by opening stub streets.
"Has anyone done a study on that?" Hall asked the council.
In other business, the council:
