Battle for Right-of-Way on 4th Street Comes to Coopersburg Borough Hall Tonight

The battle about the right-of-way on a section of 4th St. behind the Coopersburg Diner is the sole purpose for a special session called at Coopersburg Borough Hall tonight at 7pm. Council voted to turn the two-way street to a one-way street after residents complained about damage done to property that runs along 4th as well as properties along Spruce Alley next to the diner.

Council voted 7-0 to change the street from two-way to one-way at the Oct. 26 borough council meeting. In council minutes from the Oct. 26 2010 meeting, resident Denise Shafer stated that her yard was rutted and "four inches deeper than it ever was." At the Oct. meeting, council voted 7 to 0 to change the roadway to a one-way street. Poles were erected and prepped to transition the street to one-way.

But by the , Mayor Timothy Paashaus had yet to sign any formal documentation to move forward with the plan. At the Dec. 15 Meeting, Paashaus, holding up petitions with over 200 signatures explained, "I didn't feel that the plan reflected the will of the residents."

Bus driver Kelly Goodman, who brought a petition signed by over 20 bus drivers for the Southern Lehigh School District worried about the safety of students if the street was converted to one-way. "Our children are very important. [4th st.] being two-way has helped tremendously, and if we change it to one-way, someone could forget and plow into our bus."

The motion to change that section of 4th St. into a one-way street, as well as Spruce Alley failed to gain a majority during a vote, and the street stayed two-way.

The street issue was in front of council again during the public comment portion of the . "I don't understand why the street didn't change," said Shafer, who returned to speak before council.

Council member Dennis Balascak formed the special committee to bring both sides to the table to discuss the matter, and hopes to resolve the ongoing dispute. Balascak hopes to have something workable to present to council at the next meeting Feb. 22 at 7pm.