Residents of the neighborhood near North Broadway and North High Street packed the commission's Jan. 8 meeting to voice their concerns.

Members of the CAC have been in contact with the Columbus Department of Public Service about the possibility of widening East North Broadway at the intersection with North High Street to allow a turn lane to alleviate traffic problems in that area.

At its January meeting, the CAC considered a resolution to the city clarifying that while widening to allow for a turn lane might be acceptable, the CAC would not support the overall widening of North Broadway between North High Street and Indianola Avenue.

The resolution, which echoed a resolution passed in 1982, was meant to quell concerns of homeowners that the widening for the turn lane would lead to the eventual widening of that entire stretch of the street, said Commissioner Clare Balombin.

"That is what I've heard is underlying all of the concerns," said Balombin, who represents some residents in that neighborhood.

Commissioner Chris Gawronski, who also represents the area, said the resolution stemmed from rumors in the neighborhood that the proposed turn lane was an attempt by the commission and the city to widen the entire street, which has been proposed in the past.

"We, as a commission, have no intention of creating a Morse Road on East North Broadway," Gawronski said. "We need to be careful about what we do in that area and on that street."

The resolution expressed the commission's opposition to widening the entire street and the desire of the commission to work with the city to determine the benefits and the problems in altering that intersection.

But residents who attended the Jan. 8 meeting said the CAC should wait until residents have an opportunity to see the city's proposal and traffic models for the intersection.

The city has scheduled a public meeting for 7 p.m. Jan. 20, at Clinton Heights Lutheran Church, 15 Clinton Heights Ave.

Shelby Jones, chairman of the East North Broadway Street Residents' Association, said he supported the spirit of the resolution but felt the commission was acting too quickly and for the wrong reasons.

"This is the first step in solving some of our fears," Jones said. "You're doing this in great haste in order to appease us."

Several commissioners also voiced their concerns about the need for such a resolution.

Commissioner Mike McLaughlin said the resolution to work with the city seemed unnecessary if the city had already met with some commissioners about the issue and planned a public meeting to get feedback on the intersection.

"I think it's redundant if the meeting's already scheduled," McLaughlin said.

Commissioner Brian Byrne also said he didn't see why the resolution was necessary.

"I don't understand why we're doing this resolution in general," he said.

Balombin and Gawronski, along with commission chairwoman D Searcy, supported the resolution to remind residents of the CAC's stance on widening the road and to send the message to the city that, despite that stance, they were open to all options to improve traffic around that intersection.

"We're trying to leave it open for the city if they have a good proposal at the mouth of East North Broadway," Balombin said.