School Bus Traffic Concerns Nearby Residents of Planned Bus Facility on Richmond Road
Council Approves Closure of Unused Right-of-Way for School District Development
The Stillwater City Council approves the closure of approximately 91,188 square feet of public right-of-way located at 5021 N. Perkins Road. The closure will allow for expansion of Stillwater Public School's Operational Educational Support facilities.
The closure includes portions of Northgate Drive and Benjamin Street that were never improved and currently offer no public benefit.
"This right of way to be closed abuts the north and east boundaries of Lot Four, Northgate Commercial Area, First Section," explains Josh Brown, Project Manager with Development Services, during the Feb. 24 meeting.
The right-of-way closure is part of a larger plan for the site, which will include the relocation of the bus facility currently located at Lincoln Academy.
Stephen Gose of Gose & Associates, representing the school district, provides additional context about the closure.
"This was platted. The streets and the area south of it were platted. The areas to the north and the east were not. They're unplatted. And so this is just trying to clean that up," said Gose. "They're currently planning on putting the bus facility that's down at Lincoln Academy up here."
Satellite imagery of the current OES facility with neighborhood to the north and drawings of the new school bus parking. SPS says buses will enter at Northgate Drive and exit on Richmond Road to the south.
Addressing bus traffic concerns
During the public hearing, a resident who lives across the street from the property expresses concerns about construction traffic and future bus traffic.
"I'm one of the houses across the street from the property," said Mike Siegfried. "My question is, because there is already construction and earth moving right now, they're going up and down the road in front of my house. So if we're closing the road, I would assume there would be no more traffic across that pathway."
Siegfried also asks about future access for buses that would be parked on the property.
Gose addresses these concerns by explaining the current construction plans.
"The plan right now is they will enter off Northgate and exit onto Richmond," said Gose. "And we've been coordinating that tie in with the work getting ready to happen on Richmond."
Mayor Will Joyce clarifies that the portion of right-of-way being closed is not currently being used as a road.
"We're not closing that," said Joyce, referring to the existing paved road. "We would just be closing where there is a right to build a road or a plan to build a road around the back."
Gose confirms this understanding, stating, "We're not planning on removing any of the concrete paving that's there."
Rob Lamecker, Director of Facilities Management at Stillwater Public Schools, shared with The Stillwegian that the nearby residential area was carefully considered in the design to ensure minimal disturbance from early morning bus traffic.
School buses will enter the lot on Northgate Drive, reverse into the parking spaces, and exit on Richmond Road.
"We are aware of some of our neighbors’ concerns and are addressing them to the best of our ability," said Lamecker. "We want to be good neighbors."
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