North Bend Planning Board denies developer's plan over public safety concerns

The Village Council of North Bend, Ohio, faced significant concerns regarding a proposed development during their recent meeting on February 10, 2025. The plan, which includes 24 duplexes, raising the potential number of families to 67, has sparked debate over its implications for public safety and infrastructure.

Key issues highlighted by council members and residents include inadequate access for emergency vehicles, with only one entry point for emergency services. This raises alarms about pedestrian safety and the potential for increased traffic, which could adversely affect the community's standard of living and property values. The village engineer requested a sideline study from the developer to assess these impacts, but the developer declined, stating it was unnecessary.

Council members pointed out that the development does not meet the requirements of Section 17 of the village code, which mandates evidence that the project will not impose an undue burden on public services, including fire and police protection. Concerns were raised about the lack of evidence presented by the developer to support their claims that the project would not strain local services. The absence of a comprehensive study to evaluate the impact on utilities and road usage during construction was also noted.

A video presented during the meeting illustrated the difficulties faced by emergency vehicles in navigating the existing cul-de-sac, which is similar in size to the proposed design. This raises further questions about the adequacy of the development's infrastructure to support emergency response efforts.

In conclusion, the council's discussions underscored the need for thorough evaluations of new developments to ensure they align with community safety standards and infrastructure capabilities. The council is expected to deliberate further on these issues before making a final decision on the development proposal.