first on decorahnews.com: Short Street property owners rally against proposed street project

Property owners along Decorah's Short Street are organizing in opposition to a proposed construction project involving the road.

City Engineer Lindsay Erdman met last week with property owners to discuss plans for a $2 million to $3 million makeover of the road planned for next year. 

Those plans call for Short Street to be turned into a three lane road, with a center turning lane.  Erdman says he is proposing the change because there are several "turning issues" on Short Street.  For instance, the plan calls for a new entrance to the Culver's restaurant.

The proposed Short Street plan also calls for bike lanes on both sides of the street and sidewalks on both sides.  Erdman says the new street would be 46 feet wide, instead of the current 31 foot width.  Sidewalks and right of way would add another 20 feet.

Property owners say the plan is too expensive and would take too much of their property.  They are pushing for a less extensive project.

A meeting of the City of Decorah's Street Committee will be held next Monday evening at City Hall, but it's not certain there will be enough time on the committee's agenda to discuss the Short Street project, since discussions must be held on several other street projects.

Neighboring property owners say they plan to come out in force at Monday's City Council meeting.  Some 30 neighbors attended last week's meeting with Erdman--and organizers say they're aiming for an even bigger crowd next week.