Two East Memphis neighborhoods request that the planning board approve closing two streets to through-traffic.

The neighborhoods would gain at least the perception of pedestrian safety, deterred crime and even, in one case, the amenity of a 7,200-square-foot asphalt park.

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But making a sacrifice would be residents along neighboring streets that become alternate routes for heavier traffic, and all motorists who would have fewer choices on how to drive from Point A to Point B.

The Land Use Control Board is to hear the two applications among 22 cases at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 8.

For many months now, motorists have been blocked from turning east off Highland onto residential street Mimosa. The Memphis City Council approved that west end of Mimosa be closed temporarily so residents could create a 160-by-45-foot pocket park in the street.

Now, the Highpoint Terrace Community Development Association requests that the partial street-closing be made permanent.

Neighborhood volunteers painted the asphalt, erected barriers and large planters, and installed street furniture. They used the space to organize free, community fitness and yoga sessions, held a firefighters appreciation dinner there, and hosted food and dessert trucks there.

“It has changed our neighborhood immensely into a close-knit community,” Lauren Lee Giovannetti wrote to the board.

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Kristin Layman Norwood, who lives in front of the park, wrote one of 30 letters supporting the permanent closing.

“I have met more neighbors during the pandemic than I have in the entire 7 years I have been in the neighborhood,” Norwood wrote.

“I love the way it has brought our community together even more than it was before. It is such a positive space for families and friends to gather and for children to play,” Norwood wrote.

Not all neighbors agree, even some who also live on Mimosa. Opponents filed 18 letters of opposition.

“The frustration it has caused me, my family, friends, Ubers, delivery drivers, etc., has been ridiculous,” Haley Pike wrote of the street closure. She said her property is next to the street park.

“… I have spoken with several neighbors ON MIMOSA that are adamantly against closing off the street due to safety reasons and I have to echo their concern. Emergency services are not able to get through quickly. I have had to call the ambulance and it took twice as long because the paramedics were so confused on where to go,” she wrote.

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Eric Ellis, who lives on nearby Charleswood, wrote, “My fear is the idea of closing off streets will spread.” He asked rhetorically, what is to stop him from petitioning that Charleswood also be blocked.

Ellis said proponents have provided no data about the effects on traffic or crime. “We need reasons other than a few privileged folks that want to live on a private street,” Ellis wrote.

The City Engineer’s Office weighed in, writing to the board, “The proposed closure will result in increasing the volume of traffic on adjacent parallel streets in this neighborhood.”

The Division of Planning & Development (DPD) recommends the Land Use Control Board reject the request to permanently close the west end of Mimosa. The planners cite zoning code language that states, “Developments shall provide roadways permanently open to the public that provide communitywide access as part of an overall connectivity network who’s spacing generally occurs at one-fourth-mile intervals.”

Blocking access to the west end of Mimosa would create a distance of more than a quarter-mile to other east-west streets off Highland, the planners’ report indicates.

The planning staff also recommends the board reject a similar request by residents of Saint Nick in East Memphis.

Ho, ho, whoa: Saint Nick seeks to block traffic from Poplar

Saint Nick runs north from Poplar, connecting to Cole to the north.

Residents Christian Turner, Cory and Margaret Prewitt, and Michael and Kesha James request approval of installation of a gate -- 200 feet north of Poplar — to block motorized traffic from entering Saint Nick’s residential section. The gate would be at the point where the back of businesses on Poplar abut residential properties on Saint Nick.

The application requests a 900-square-foot section of the residential street be converted into a turn-around.

The gate would allow only emergency vehicles and pedestrians to enter Saint Nick from Poplar.

“The stated purpose of this proposal is to reduce traffic accidents, on-street parking associated with nearby businesses, and crime,” the planning staff report states.

“… This closure would decrease the connectivity of the street network, increase traffic volume on nearby parallel and perpendicular streets, and create nonconforming turn-arounds,” the staff report states.

A gated Saint Nick would create more than a 2,000-foot-long gap of north-south routes north of Poplar, from Mendenhall on the east to Colonial on the west.

The application drew 47 letters of opposition from residents on 14 different streets, and six letters of support.