Washington St. Residents Question Proposed Bus Garage

May 30, 2024 by Allison Wilson

A proposed bus garage on Washington Street recently sparked controversy, drawing many residents to Chardon Planning Commission’s meeting May 14.

When it came time for public input, a number of people living around the construction area came forward with concerns.

Resident Glenn Pisching spoke on behalf of a number of others who live in a set of condos near the site and gave the commission several letters from those unable to make it.

Their primary concerns, he said, were lighting, exhaust and noise.

One of the letters, from resident Danielle Vancura, who conducts telehealth therapy sessions, was apprehensive.

“These factors could have a detrimental impact on my ability to work effectively and on the quality of life in the community,” she wrote.

Resident Barb Petersen, who had recently had a heart and kidney transplant, was concerned about the health impact of fumes from the buses.

According to Chardon Schools Assistant Superintendent Steve Kofol, buses are purchased on a rotation, with the fleet being refreshed every 12 years.

“They are up to standard at the time of purchase as far as the diesel requirements and exhaust requirements for those vehicles,” he said.

There will also not be a diesel smell due to use of DEF, an additive that assists in the burning of diesel, he added.

Petersen raised concern with water runoff from the lot.

“There has been a runoff of water and they fixed it supposedly because it was just undermining that building B. That’s all going to go down into Washington Street, which right now, the sewer system and water runoff is horrendous if there’s a downpour,” she said. “It’s a swimming pool.”

Per City Engineer Doug Courtney, the applicant would be required to submit a comprehensive stormwater management plan, detailing quantity, runoff and quality of runoff.

At the moment, there’s no control on the site at all, he said.

Runoff was also something resident James Elliott was concerned about.

“Currently, the way our backyards, our properties, the natural grade that’s there now, it flows from east to west. And that vacant lot that’s there now, to the north end where these improvements are going, kind of acts as a spillway, if you will. Like a weir,” he said, noting when that area is paved, it would catch all the runoff from the backyards.

“I want to make sure you’ve taken that into consideration for your capacity to handle that water,” he said.

Jeff Henderson, representing ThenDesign Architecture, responded the amount of water from adjacent properties had been taken into account as part of stormwater calculations.

Elliott also asked about the impact of engine idling.

“The sound of diesel engines idling carries a long way. The lower the frequency, the further it carries,” he said.

The school has to follow anti-idling requirements, Kofol said, adding, however, he could not recall the exact minutes the buses are allowed to idle off the top of his head.

“We do not let the buses sit and idle for long periods of time,” he said. “Obviously, it’s burning fuel.”

Block heaters are used in the winter, keeping the buses from idling for long periods of time warming up.

Resident Diane Robbinson asked if an environmental impact report would be required and voiced concern on property value.

“Is there any way for us as residents, or how do we go about finding out how our property value has decreased because of this, and how we can have our taxes reassessed because our property value decreased?” she asked.

Commission member Andrew Blackley told Robinson when it came to taxes, her best bet was the Geauga County Auditor’s Office, as the city does not control property taxes.

When asked if the school had received complaints from residents by the current bus garage regarding pollution or noise, Kofol said he had not personally received any.

“I get probably more concerns regarding the traffic around the school in general,” he said.