Spring Hills challenge: Balance past, future

SPRING HILL Fighting to preserve the citys historical significance before construction on new developments, several citizens voiced concerns during last weeks transportation study.

The meeting to discuss the proposed Crossings Circle South extension, which would extend from the Crossings shopping center to Kedron Road, was the hottest topic. Understanding the difficult balance to preserve historic battleground and create better, safer connectivity for the city was the purpose of the meeting, Assistant City Administrator Dan Allen said.

This is the study to try and look at a way to solve that issue, but thats not the only issue, Allen said. Weve got property owners who are interested in their rights and wanting to do some developments on the other side, we also have a historic battlefield.

Increasing building permits issued each year is a clear sign Spring Hills growth will continue, Allen said, and with growth comes demand for retail and increased traffic issues. For the area being considered, his presentation broke down the history of the Battle of Spring Hill, three options for the proposed road extension and the balance the city is trying to achieve to ensure the Civil War land is protected.

Weve had lots of public meetings on a lot of different issues primarily to do with transportation, Allen said. And Im thoroughly convinced the typical resident of Spring Hill has no idea we have a battlefield. Were going to start to change that conversation tonight.

The project initially stemmed from complaints regarding the Crossings single roundabout entrance and the safety issues it was causing to both citizens and city officials, Allen said. Of the battlefield that remains undeveloped, around 30 acres of the western portion, where Allan said the most intensive fighting occurred, remains unpreserved.

If approved, the road would be renamed as Luther Bradley Parkway. Bradley, a Union Brigadier General, was severely wounded during the Battle of Spring Hill. His forces held the initial hill, later named Bradley Hill, then Weaver Hill, and later Battlefield Hill.

If you build a road next to a battlefield, I just dont think its appropriate to call it Crossings Circle South, Allen said.

The city hired Volkert, Inc. and Kimley-Horn & Associates to conduct a study on the area to determine the best options for laying a new road without affecting the battlefield, if that were even possible. Brad Thompson of Volkert broke down three options, each with its own pros and cons regarding the battlefield.

The road itself would be four 11-foot lanes, separated by a 15-foot landscape median, 5-foot bicycle lanes and 5-foot pedestrian sidewalks, Thompson said.

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Spring Hills challenge: Balance past, future