Bell Boulevard study could focus on relocated highway

However, Caffrey said the road-moving proposal or "picket" option would come at greater cost to the city and any private investors. The city and consultants don't yet have an estimate, she said.

Council members, however, said they prefer the study address a balance of goals.

Place 1 Councilman Stephen Thomas said he had also heard more public concern about traffic.

"There is [also] a lot of concern that the current business owners might be kind of displacing the smaller businesses," Thomas said. "And I'd really like to hear feedback [from business owners]."

Place 5 Councilman Jon Lux said he thinks the study should stay as comprehensive as possible.

Before City Council, Caffrey said she reviewed other Bell Boulevard redevelopment options discussed at the April 7 public meeting. City consultants suggested adding a new road between the future retail on Bell Boulevard and Buttercup Creek Nature Preserve to the west. They also suggested the city could modify the intersection of six roads to four roads, by removing Old Highway 183 and leaving only the sections at both ends of Bell Boulevard, Buttercup Creek Boulevard and Brushy Creek Road.

At the April 7 meeting, consultant Rebecca Leonard conducted a live poll of about 200 people. About 79 percent of the respondents said they supported a possible new road along a new park. About 76 percent of the respondents said they supported modifications to the six-way intersection.

Caffrey said the city could encourage private investors to add more apartments to a new district. Apartments would encourage high-end retail and future new office space, she said.

Correction: This story has been updated to include the correct former title for Katherine Caffrey as well as to clarify that the city, not private investors, would modify the six-way intersection and the city would encourage private investors to add apartments to the district.