Correction: Comments made by Council Member John Barnes have been updated to accurately reflect his proposed amendment to bifurcate the Edloe Street Pathway process.

Following an evening packed with public comments, the West University Place City Council voted Feb. 28 to approve an updated conceptual design for a jogging path along the east side of Edloe Street between Albans Road and Georgetown Street.

The Edloe project has drawn attention across the West University Place community, including a number of public comments at the Feb. 28 council meeting as well as one that took place Jan. 10. Following the Jan. 10 meeting, city officials proposed changes to the plan to include pet friendly fountains and retain trees for shade.

Mayor Susan Sample joined council members Melanie Bell, Shannon Carrol and John Montgomery in voting to approve the new plans for the pathway as presented by the West University Place Parks & Recreation Department.

Council Member John Barnes voted against the measure after requesting an amendment to the plans that would have split the project into two pieces, which Barnes said would allow the city to postpone work on a northern segment—between Sunset Boulevard and Albans Road—to give residents a chance to provide more feedback. Barnes said he supports the southern portion of the project moving forward independently.

While most of the meeting's attendees were in favor of some sort of pathway being constructed, about half of the public’s comments were against building the portion between Sunset Boulevard and Albans Road. Concerns included traffic congestion, the cost, and comments that the segment between Sunset and Albans was a “road to nowhere.”

Community members who came out in support of the project cited the safety improvements it would bring around street crossings as well as the potential beautification of the city.

“You have a chance to pick up where we left off," former Mayor Bob Kelly said at the meeting. "This is the ideal time to make West [University] a little bit safer.”

The council’s vote solidifies the plans drafted by the park’s department, creating direction for contractors with TerraLab to complete construction documents. When a design contract was initially approved in October, the project was estimated to cost $468,000.