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SYRACUSE - Even the storm brewing outside couldn't compete with the animosity between neighbors inside Wawasee Middle School Tuesday at the informational meeting regarding the proposed relocation of a portion of Eli Lilly Road.
Dave Lichtenauer, a past president of Wawasee Property Owners Association, opened the meeting and said the goal of the public forum was to present the crowd with a "factual" presentation of the road proposal.
CEO of Boston Scientific Peter M. Nicholas, speaking on behalf of the Eli Lilly families who want to move the section of Eli Lilly Road between Warner and Bishop/Seth Ward roads, said he and his family have "been coming here for a long time," and wouldn't want to do anything to offend the people at the meeting.
Nicholas said there was a plan to bring in hundreds of homes to the area so he purchased property owned by Don Byrd - the former Wawasee Golf Course - to prevent that. By buying more property in the area, Nicholas said he was able to prevent the development of area wetlands.
He wants to relocate the road back north for the security of his home, safety of his children and noise control. He said there were many accidents along the road, too, and moving the road may help prevent them.
"Fundamentally, it is the right thing to do," Nicholas said. "If you don't agree with it, I'd like you to know what you're disagreeing with."
Phil Beer, vice president of USI Consultants Inc., Indianapolis, said the proposed plan is to shift the road to the northeast and eliminate a portion of Eli Lilly Road. The new section of the road would begin near the Tobias home, curve to the southeast and tie in to Bishop Road.
The new roads will be boulevard style, will have curb and gutter and any sewer problems in the area would be taken care of as part of the project.
A multi-use path will be built 15 feet off the new proposed Eli Lilly Road and Bishop Road that people can use for jogging, biking, etc. The new roads will have turn lanes and median will be created and maintained by the Lilly family, Beer said.
Norm Christianson, dean emeritus of environmental and earth sciences at Duke University, said he first got to know the place two years ago on several occasions. In that period of time, he said he came to recognize the "unique history" of the lake.
A variety of challenges face a place like Lake Wawasee, he said, including human activity, run-off and changes in land use. He said the proposed project goes well beyond the idea of first do no harm and is a model for future projects treatment of the environment.
Moving the road 100 feet provides relatively small benefit, he said. Benefits to the area would come from the engineering work, the curbing and guttering and the diversion of water run off into a proposed reforestation area.
"As big a project as this may seem, it is relatively small compared" to the whole Lake Wawasee area, Christianson said.
The meeting was then open to the public. The first several speakers were in favor of Eli Lilly Road being moved, but in a different manner. The other proposal would have the road relocated closer to the railroad tracks. Several residents along Eli Lilly Road then spoke in favor of the proposal, called plan C, as presented.
People in opposition to the road being moved at all spoke up.
"As much as I can empathize," said one man, "I can't say I'm in favor."
A resident of the Spink Condominiums said she doesn't want to live off a boulevard and doesn't want see the removal of 800 trees, which would be required with the relocation of the road.
"What happens to the birds over there?" she said. Making the road straighter will make it a drag strip, she said. "I can understand you wanting more privacy, but you've known that for years," she said.
A letter read aloud from a couple who could not attend the meeting said they objected to the relocation and privatization of the road. The road, according to the letter, is for all the public, not just a select few.
Beer responded that their proposal would not make the road private, it would remain a county road.
Lewis Dickerhoof said he understood if there was objection to the relocation, the matter would be dropped. But the way the matter was being presented Tuesday, he said, it's as if it's already going to be done.
"I'm not willing to change that road for the good things you've done," Dickerhoof said. "I'm just a dumb farmer but I'm smart enough to know when someone's jerking me around. I'll fight this to the bitter end."
For the next 30-plus minutes, attorney Dick Green spoke against the road relocation, despite some residents' attempts to make him sit down. Green said the proposal was akin to the five lane argument in downtown Syracuse, "like putting a rose in a cornfield. It's a waste when not needed."
He said the people most affected are not the people who live along Eli Lilly Road but those who use the entire road to get to their homes east of the road.
Green said the reason for the relocation of the road "boils down to privacy, pure and simple," and it was wrapped in environmental issues, though there have been no concerns about them before now.
He also reiterated that if there was any objection to the road relocation, Nicholas promised to drop the project altogether.
"To my dying day, I'll wonder why a man like Peter Nicholas can look me in the eye and promise me" if there's any opposition, he will not proceed, but then goes ahead and does the opposite. "Keep your promise, Peter, and leave the road alone."
Half of the crowd agreed by giving a standing ovation.
The meeting lasted more than 2-1/2 hours.
