At Catasauqua Borough Council's regular meeting Nov. 4, council members discussed a request by a resident to improve Franklin Street.

Council's initial response was to reject the proposal. Several members of council suggested PennDOT reject a proposal to grant access to a state highway [Lehigh Street].

At an earlier workshop meeting borough Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmick commented a resident can request a street be improved after which the borough is under an obligation to comply with the request. Because Franklin Street is an official street, access to Lehigh Street cannot be unduly restricted.

Franklin Street is a paved roadway that is routinely accessed from Tioga Street.

"There are garages on the street and homeowners use the street to access the garages," Council President Brian Bartholomew said.

The pavement ends at a gravel area before the street takes a dive to Lehigh Street. The Zoning Hearing Board approved an application in 2012 for a garage that fronts Lehigh Street. The property is owned by Julio and Wendy Lebron of 101 Main St.

The homeowners improved the area adjacent to the garage with a gravel surface. They are now requesting that the street be further improved.

"Access to Lehigh Street would be dangerous," Councilman Brian McKittrick said. "The road is steep and does not allow adequate visibility."

"I don't think anyone is going to make it up the hill in the winter," borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder said.

Bartholomew proposed the street be made one way, even though the owners of the garages on the upper part of Franklin Street would be in violation of the one-way provision when they access their property from Tioga Street. Sight lines from Franklin Street to Lehigh Street were questioned.

"It isn't much better at Main Street," said Public Works Director Jeff MacHose.

The high bluff on the corner of Main Street and the curve in Lehigh Street could cause the restricted sight lines. The borough wants to review its options to determine what can be done to improve the street.