A different kind of street fighting

An escalating fight over a proposed sidewalk is pitting Leesburg's lovers of bucolic, old-style streets against those seeking to protect kids from speeding cars.

The clash could lead the Town Council to reverse its three-week-old rejection of a staff recommendation to build a sidewalk on the east side of Woodberry Road, near the heart of the historic downtown.

After nearly 30 residents spoke for more than two hours at the council's Oct. 27 meeting, largely to protest members' 4 to 3 vote Oct. 14 against the sidewalk portion of a drainage improvement project.

The council voted, 5 to 2, to hold another hearing to talk more about the controversial project. The hearing has not been scheduled.

The latest delay follows years of discussions. Portions of the road, between Edwards Ferry Road and North Street, flood during major storms, such as Hurricane Isabel in 2003. After some residents requested better pedestrian safeguards in 2007, the Town Council took action on a long-term plan that called for sidewalks.

Two couples who live across the street from one another on Woodberry Road epitomize the two camps.

With cars parked on both sides of the street, Chris Cuozzo said, pedestrians often walk in the middle of the road, toward oncoming traffic. With a 4- and 7-year-old, he said, he worries about cars during rush hour.

He and his wife live on the east side of the street, where the proposed sidewalk would be built.

Melanie Cuozzo, 39, staged several pictures that showed how close cars could come to children. She went door-to-door on Woodberry Road to get petitions supporting the sidewalk and recently spent 90 minutes collecting a list of allies' names with phone numbers.

"I am extremely passionate about this," she said. "This is a residential neighborhood."

Residents remain divided. Many of the sidewalk supporters live on nearby side streets. The town staff sent a questionnaire in August to the 19 property owners who would be directly affected by the construction of a sidewalk. Of those who responded, six supported and eight opposed it.

KD Kidder, 58, said she is frustrated that she has to again fight a battle she thought she and her husband, Neil Steinberg, had won. The two have been fixtures of the downtown business community for more than 30 years as the owners of Photoworks. Since February, they have sought to block the sidewalk.

"No one is against the safety of children," Kidder said. "I've never seen anyone have to jump out of the way of a car."

Many who have petitioned the council use Woodberry as a thoroughfare to restaurants, shops and the theater. Kidder said she would prefer that they walk along Harrison Street. Putting in a walking path would force the removal of several big trees, she said, and encourage more cars to drive faster.

The Cuozzos said no signs are posted on the street to remind drivers of the speed limit or that children play in the area.

"We purchased our house based on the character of the neighborhood, and now that's going to change," Kidder said. "This is a historic town, and you've got streets like that where it's hard to turn around. Some of the buildings are right on the street. There's no way around it but to drive slower. To me, that's part of the town. Just slow down."

Leesburg Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd opposed another hearing. She said that she still opposes the sidewalk and that another hearing will only "put off the pain."