The issue of closing Grape Alley was a simple one Wednesday night when Ironton City Council’s public utilities committee met.

“Simple, I’m for it,” committee member Bob Cleary said.

“Both property owners are all for it,” member Aaron Bollinger agreed.

But the issue of vacating part of Washington Street from 10th Street to Jersey Alley was not quite so simple. The issue got attention the first time at a regular city council meeting last week. Rosetta Roberts, who lives on South 10th Street, said closing that part of the street to make way for the development of the old group home and county garage property was not discussed with the four residents who live in that area. She expressed concern that closing it could hamper emergency vehicles responding to calls in that area.

Mayor Rich Blankenship said Wednesday night he had spoken with Fire Chief Tom Runyon and Runyon told him closing that portion of the street will not hamper emergency vehicles. He also pointed out that The Old Engineers LLC, which owns the former garage and group home property, owns property on both sides of the part of the street that may be closed.

Roberts said Wednesday night that people do use that street, although it is in disrepair.

Bollinger asked if Jersey Alley could be made a two way street (it is now a one-way roadway) and if that would help alleviate some of Roberts’ concerns.

Roberts said Jersey Alley may not be wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic.

“Would it alleviate your concerns if Jersey Alley were widened, made better?” committee member Kevin Waldo asked.

“You’d have to go on my property to get it widened,” Roberts replied. She added that the area is rather populated; there is a housing projects and other houses in that area.

“We’ve got to weigh things,” Waldo said. “The detriment of yours and other cars going up and down Jersey Alley versus the benefit of the development of what’s being proposed.”

Blankenship said developers have talked about the need to have the road closed and how that is a major component of making the site useable. Roberts asked why, if the site is not being developed now, why is the street closing an issue now?

“What is the urgency of doing this now?” Roberts asked.

Blankenship warned developers could simply take their plans and go elsewhere, leaving the city with acres of property that stays empty.

Roberts said she is not happy that the people living in the area were not told about the street closing by city officials. Waldo countered her property is not in the targeted area (not on Washington Street).

City Solicitor Bob Anderson said Roberts apparently did find out about the proposal because she has attended two meetings to oppose it.

“So she did find out somehow,” Anderson pointed out.

The Washington Street issue was one of several getting attention Wednesday night. The committee does not need to make a favorable recommendation to the full council on either roadway closing; both are likely to be on the agenda for discussion at next week’s regular city council meeting. City Council Chairman Mike Lutz said a finance committee meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday, prior to the 6 p.m. council meeting.

Committee woman Beth Rist said after the meeting this issue was less between the city council and the residents in the area and more between the residents and developers.