The graphic here is the concept drawing of changes to Bayne Park developed by the borough engineer prior to Bellevue’s application for state DCNR grant funds. According to assistant DAS Katie Hale, specific improvements will depend on the amount of grant funds obtained. The parking lot improvement plans are in blue at the center of the drawing. The skate plaza itself is pictured at the top. The drawing also includes plans for a boccie court and amphitheater at the far left of the park graphic.

Plans for construction of a skate plaza in Bayne Park will go no further for now, as concerns about the rising cost, loss of green space and lack of proper procedure prompted Bellevue officials Tuesday to again delay a decision.

The borough council was given plans a year ago that described the first of three phases for the project. Phase I included, at that time, construction of expanded parking and ADA compliant sidewalks. Officials also were told at that time that the borough’s matching share of the grant-funded project would be about $23,000, which would be offset by in-kind labor performed by the borough’s public works department.

Two weeks ago, council members were hit with a last minute plan to construct the expanded parking lot with borough funds -- at a cost of more than $21,000 -- separate from the grant-funded portion of the skate plaza project. Having seen no plans and noting that the price tag did not even include the cost of DPW labor for the lot work, council declined to approve motions that would have allowed the rental of a roller and the hiring of a paving contractor.

By the time of Tuesday’s regular meeting, council members had gotten a look at the area intended for the larger parking lot, and they and residents had concerns about the loss of green space in the park.

The plans call for the current driveway to be widened to accommodate two vehicles across, and the parking lot would be extended to allow for another traffic lane and another full row of parking spaces.

Two people who live near the park objected to the elimination of green space now used for pick-up games and events, especially in light of the fact, they said, that skateboarders account for a very small percentage of people who will use Bayne Park.

Council president Kathy Coder, however, said that the skate plaza will be for more than just skateboarders. She said that the plaza would be an area where people could sit and eat lunch among pieces of art. “It’ll just be skateable,” she said.

Director of administrative services (DAS) Doug Sample said that whether or not the skate plaza is built, more parking is needed for library patrons and those attending the many events held in the park.

Council member Mark Helbling said that expanding the current parking would use less green space than putting spaces elsewhere.

Mayor George Doscher, however, questioned the effect of the parking lot expansion in light of the fact that the plans had never even been reviewed by any committee of council.

"You’re eating up something that’s never going to come back,” he said.

Doscher said that the sudden introduction of the parking lot plans without committee review seemed to be part of a developing pattern in which officials were not doing their “due diligence” before making decisions.

“You can’t tell me we didn’t know six months ago we needed a parking lot and we had to pay for it,” Doscher said.

He pointed out that the borough’s cost for Phase I had doubled from what officials were told in the past, and that was without knowing exactly how much would be contributed in DPW labor, a figure that still had not been produced as of Tuesday’s meeting.

Who’s the tail and who’s the dog and who’s wagging who?” he asked. “We should have followed the process.

Council member Linda Woshner noted that the increased cost also did not figure in how much already had been spent on engineering, and that money was being taken away from road repairs and other capital improvements to fund the skate plaza.

“It’s like me building a pool in my backyard when I have wood falling off my house,” Woshner said.

Helbling, however, maintained that the skate plaza would be something that attracts people to Bellevue, and therefore was worth the price.

Council voted to send the parking lot plans to the public works committee for further review and a recommendation.