The Culver Town Council members held a public hearing last week concerning a request to amend a traffic ordinance that regulates traffic around the Culver Schools during student drop-off and pick-up times.

Max’s Playhouse owner Brandy Pohl purchased two residences at 454 North School Street and 450 North School Street for day care services.  The homes are on the east side of the street, opposite of the school corporation.  She asked the town council members to amend the traffic ordinance to allow two-way traffic on School Street during pick-up and drop-off times so it accommodates her clientele by not having students cross the street.  The current ordinance restricts cars from going north from Lake Shore Drive to College Avenue during the time periods of 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

If the ordinance is not amended then she said at the time that she would need to install a parking lot, to which the surrounding homeowners are opposed. 

In a work session held last week, Pohl updated the council to say that the Board of Zoning appeals denied a parking lot at 454 School Street, but said she could put in a driveway with three parking spots and a turn-around. 

Culver Community School Superintendent Karen Shuman commented that the number one priority is student safety and that one-way directional traffic is best in that area.  Culver Police Chief Wayne Bean also stressed safety and that one-way traffic on School Street during student drop-off and pick-up should stay intact. 

Pohl argued that elementary school students can simply be let off at the school while parents at her preschool have younger children that need to be taken into the facility and they need to give instructions to update the staff on the status of toddlers and infants.  

In the end, the option of making School Street a two-way street during school drop-off and pick-up was not feasible.  A driveway was found to be the best option, and an update will be provided in a future meeting.