The GCA Newsletter: Volume I, Issue IV – May 5, 2008

 Walgreen’s Parking Lot Design (at Mary Frank Elementary School)

In our last issue we reported concerns about a potential traffic and safety hazard in the design of the parking lot at the new Walgreens/MFB development site at the corner of Adams Road and SR23, across the street from Mary Frank Elementary School.  Over the last several months GCA has noted frequent community-expressed concerns about traffic congestion and safety at the site.  It didn’t take much investigation to learn that the issue is still a sore subject in the community.  GCA recently noticed that the one of the exits from the Walgreens parking lot was across the street from the entrance to the school prompting GCA executive board member Bryan Palonis to call and speak with the Executive Director of Saint Joseph County Area Plan Commission, John Byorni.  He learned that PHM school board officials were given an opportunity to review and approve the parking lot design prior to start of construction.  Before giving approval PHM officials asked for and received a number of concessions, one of which was a Right-Turn-Only sign at the parking lot exit.  A visit to the site confirmed that the exit is being constructed so that drivers can only exit the parking lot on the Adams side by making a right turn on to Adams.  The entrance on the Adams side is also configured to discourage drivers heading west on Adams from making a left turn into the parking lot. 

GCA remains concerned about this project, its impact on traffic in the area, and more importantly, the potential for hazard to the children attending Mary Frank Elementary School.  There was community opposition to the development project from day one.  Petitions were circulated and residents showed up to oppose it at every public meeting.  This was not a case of people opposed to development; it was a case of people directly impacted by and opposed to this development.  These were parents and other citizens concerned for the safety of children, and for the efficiency of the already strained traffic control system in the area.  The two concerns are one and the same.

Although we don’t know for certain, it seems possible from what we do know that after realizing the project would go forward with or without their approval PHM officials felt they had no choice but to negotiate concessions as a condition of approval.  That’s called making lemonade out of lemons.  If that’s the case, the PHM officials did the best they could under the circumstances, and we applaud their thoughtful response to the situation. 

GCA joins the residents of the community in their belief that a Walgreens/MFB enterprise is a poor fit in that location.  In truth, that piece of land, situated so tightly between two converging and well traveled roads, and in such close proximity to an elementary school, is a poor fit for commercial development of any kind.  The development has too many characteristics of a potential hazard; that is what parents of the children in the school believe, it is what the Granger residents we’ve talked to believe, and it is what we believe. 

The big question is what can be done about it at this late hour? 

GCA and its members believe a community must solve its own problems; no one else will do it.  We define the community as comprised of three entities: local business, residents/homeowners, and local government officials.  GCA believes that to solve problems and to accomplish effective change all three of these entities must work together.  In a situation like this, where so many people are concerned about safety, GCA is committed to engaging positively with local business and local government in cooperative efforts to seek solutions.  As we continue to explore solutions, alternatives, and options concerning the Walgreens/MFB development project we will, when appropriate, seek ways to engage Walgreens/MFB, the site developers, and local government in a dialog concerning the problem. 

For the present, GCA will watch the location very carefully, and we encourage all our members to do the same.  This is a call to action to all of us.  If through circumstance it appears at any point in the future that business development on that parcel has created a clearly hazardous situation for the children at Mary Frank Elementary School it is our responsibility as a community to work together to solve the problem quickly.

Traffic Problems at Capital and SR23

Another traffic fix can be credited to GCA through the efforts of board member Bryan Palonis.  Bryan started calling INDOT officials nearly two weeks ago about the poor timing of the signal lights at this intersection, and eventually learned that they weren’t aware of the problem.  As soon as Bryan explained it to them they promised to fix it quickly.  When it still wasn’t fixed last week, Bryan called INDOT again.  This time he was told that a needed part hadn’t come in yet but that the problem was expected to be fixed as of Friday of last week.  Bryan timed the light over the weekend and discovered that the problem has been fixed.

The second problem at that same light is the absence of a right turn lane.  Bryan has to date been unable to locate the officials in INDOT who are responsible for fixing that problem, but he will continue to make calls until he finds the right people who can address the issue and explore with them what can be done.

The GCA Communications Committee

Among the newly formed committees within Granger Community Action is the Communications Committee, headed by executive board member Valerie Ovaert.  The committee’s primary responsibility is ensuring that information flows freely in both directions between the GCA executive board and the membership at large (all 22,000 Granger homeowners and residents).  Among the tasks this committee works on are finding and opening up new media channels; ensuring the weekly newsletter goes out on time and with the most up-to-date information; overseeing development of the GCA website, and once the website is online, ensuring that the content is kept up-to-date with the latest and most complete information available.  Like all GCA activities, the Communications Committee is an all-volunteer effort and volunteers contribute time that would otherwise be spent with their families or their professions, a sacrifice all members properly owe thanks for.  Current volunteers include Jerry and Dora Madsen, Amy Shrout, Evonne Corbett, and Timm Darr.

Granger Illegal Sign Clean-up

The GCA Executive Board is planning a Saturday event where we all get together and go around Granger taking down illegal signs.  You’ve probably noticed the “Mr. Handyman” signs – there’s one on nearly every power/telephone pole in Granger.  When GCA called this company they bragged about being a large “multi-national” corporation with offices all over America.  It’s unfortunate that they didn’t take the time to learn the laws and aesthetics of the community before they littered the landscape with their signs.  Once we’ve set a date for the cleanup we’ll call Mr. Handyman and give them an opportunity to police their own signs.  If you are interested in participating in this event (we expect it to take approximately two hours on a Saturday) please email us at gcac46530@comcast.net, or call us at 574-247-1125.  When we’ve set a date we will contact each volunteer, as well as publicize the event in this newsletter.

Granger Paths 5k Run

The Friends of Granger Paths, Inc. has announced its Third Annual Granger Paths 5K Run/Walk for Sunday, May 18, 2008, at 9 a.m.  The event will be held at the Harris Branch library on Elm Road just down the street from the Harris Fire Station on Highway 23.  Registration forms are available at many retail establishments in the Granger area, or from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on race day. Forms are also available at www.grangerpaths.org.  Andy McGrail is the race director, and can be reached at 574-243-1452.  Please feel free to call if you have any questions. 

Many prizeswill be awarded for a variety of age and skill categories and there will be goodie bags with fun prizes for all participants.  Special t-shirts were produced for distribution to the first 300 registrants. The cost is $20 for advanced registration and $25 on the day of the race.  (The cost is $18 for non-timed participants.)  

This is a great warm-up for the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend at the end of the month.  It is also a great opportunity to provide community support for Granger Paths, a non-profit organization attempting to establish safe multi-use paths throughout the Granger community; pathways that will provide the public the opportunity to safely walk, run, or bicycle through the area to schools, the library, ball fields, between subdivisions and to our commercial retail establishments.  Along with the well-known health benefits of exercising, the paths will reduce dependence on motor-driven vehicles which will help environmental efforts.

Submissions to the Newsletter

If you have something you’d like to see appear in this newsletter, submit it by email to gcac46530@comcast.net, or by mail to GCA Newsletter, 50750 Sherwood Drive , Granger, Indiana 46530. 

Comments, Questions, Feedback, or Corrections

If you have comments, questions, feedback, or corrections on anything appearing in this newsletter please contact us by telephone at 574-247-1125, or email us at gcac46530@comcast.net.  Your opinions are vitally important to GCA, and we strive for 100% accuracy in our newsletter.  We will correct any errors as quickly as possible following notification.

The GCA Executive Board