Annehurst School Safety Study Indicates Solutions Need To Be Found. Fox In The Snow Sets Opening Date.
Annehurst Safety Study Highlights School Traffic Hazards as City Considers Legislation
A recent neighborhood-led traffic study at Annehurst Elementary School has revealed serious safety hazards for students walking and biking to school, prompting renewed calls for permanent infrastructure changes as the City of Westerville considers new safety legislation.
The volunteer-conducted study, compiled over several weeks in August and September, documented heavy vehicle traffic, poor visibility, inadequate signage, and repeated instances of dangerous driver behavior during school arrival and dismissal times.
In one three-day span, volunteers observed 27 vehicles running the red light at Granby Place and Main Street — one of the busiest intersections in the Annehurst neighborhood — while children and families attempted to cross on foot or bike. Additional concerns were recorded at the school’s south driveway and at the nearby intersection of Granby Place West and Old Coach Road.
“This report is not the end of the process but really just another step towards a safer neighborhood,” said Michael Batchelder, a resident and parent who helped organize the study. “It takes time and effort, but we’re starting to see positive changes take place.”
The report includes quantitative data from multiple observation periods. On average:
340 vehicles passed through the Main/Granby intersection during dismissal,
83 walkers and 39 bikers crossed at that location,
70 vehicles exited the school driveway in 20 minutes,
Many of those vehicles failed to make complete stops, and some disobeyed temporary traffic controls intended to keep traffic away from pedestrian routes.
At the school’s main driveway, volunteers observed that drivers frequently turned left directly toward the Granby/Old Coach intersection, despite signs and cones intended to prevent such movement. When those cones were removed for part of the study, the number of drivers making illegal left turns steadily increased each day.
The report recommends several interventions, including the installation of permanent right-turn-only infrastructure at the driveway exit, construction of raised crosswalks, signal-activated flashing beacons, additional school zone signage, and a redesign of Main Street to reflect its current 25-mph school zone designation.
“We do not want to wait for another tragedy to make safety changes,” the report states, “but rather to be proactive in our approach.”
Batchelder said the effort was rooted in community concern but only moved forward with support from local organizations.
“What I’ve learned so far is it is possible to make changes in your own neighborhood,” he said. “But it is a process that takes support and buy-in from stakeholders. So, we got the neighborhood association and PTA involved. That wouldn’t have been possible if this wasn’t an issue people were concerned about.”
In addition to school administrators and parent groups, representatives from the City of Westerville, Westerville City School District, and Franklin County Metro Parks participated in meetings and reviewed early findings.
“We met with the school principal, city, and school district staff because they’re the ones who, at the end of the day, have the power to get things done,” Batchelder said.
The timing of the report aligns with Westerville’s broader efforts to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. City officials are currently conducting a speed study on Main Street, and discussions are underway regarding traffic calming measures and legislative options. The Annehurst findings may help guide those decisions.
Residents have also requested a joint meeting with city, school, and park officials to coordinate next steps and ensure neighborhood voices are heard in future planning.
In the meantime, volunteers and parents remain focused on ensuring the children’s basic safety as they cross streets to and from school each day.
Link to the Pedestrian and Bike Safety at Annehurst Elementary School
Earlier in The Westerville News
Fox in the Snow to Open Fifth Location in Westerville on October 11
Fox in the Snow, the popular Columbus-based café and bakery, will open its fifth and largest location on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 8 a.m. in Uptown Westerville.
The new café, located at 79 S. State St., features 3,000 square feet of space and 90 seats, including a large outdoor patio, which is larger than any of the company’s existing locations.
To celebrate the grand opening, the first 150 guests in line will receive a free, exclusive Westerville café t-shirt. The café will offer its full menu, including several customer favorites.
“This is our fastest buildout ever—under six months from finding the site to opening day,” said co-founder Lauren Culley. “Opening our fifth shop is both humbling and exciting—and we’re thrilled to now be a part of the Westerville community.”
Founded in 2014 by the husband-and-wife team of Jeff Excell and Lauren Culley, Fox in the Snow is renowned for its scratch-made pastries, hand-pulled coffee, and design-forward cafés. The Westerville opening follows successful expansions into Italian Village, German Village, New Albany, and Dublin.
Signature items include the “World’s Best” Egg Sandwich, made with soufflé egg, candied bacon, arugula, Swiss cheese, and Dijon sauce. The sandwich has sold over one million units and was featured by Food & Wine. Other menu staples include giant cinnamon rolls (named the best in Ohio by Eat This, Not That), blueberry galettes, and a rotating selection of seasonal pastries and croissants.
All menu items are made from whole, fresh ingredients. House-made elements include doughs, jams, custards, icings, and syrups. The café also features a complete coffee program with espresso drinks and flavored syrups made in-house.
Fox in the Snow also recently launched a catering and delivery service and will release new branded merchandise—available online and in stores—to commemorate the Westerville opening.
Previous Fox in the Snow in The Westerville News
Fox In The Snow In Uptown? — March 3, 2025
Fox in the Snow Conversion Begins — May 6, 2025
Fox in the Snow and Corbin Mural Approved — March 7, 2025
Business News Briefs Including Fox in Snow, West House, Stone & Sparrow, and Birdie Books — September 6, 2025
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