City Commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to submit a grant application that would go toward funding a lighted path connecting the University and downtown Lawrence areas. However, they also agreed that there were still details of the project that needed more consideration.

“I think it’s a great project but it’s a little bit unformed at this point,” said Robert Chestnut, Lawrence mayor.

Charles Soules, director of Public Works, described project plans to the commissioners at the weekly meeting and asked them to submit an application on behalf of the city for consideration of a Transportation Enhancement Grant. Then the commissioners opened the meeting up to public comment. Four members of the public offered their opinions, and three of them voiced concerns they said they hoped would be addressed.

One community member said she was concerned with the appearance of the lighting structures because she didn’t think they fit in with the look of the neighborhood. The proposed lights would be four feet tall and placed at 20-foot intervals. They would also be equipped with motion sensors to turn them on and off as people passed.

“I don’t know if this is the best use of these grants,” she said.

Commissioner Aron Cromwell later voiced similar concerns, saying that he thought it was a “great project” but that the aesthetics of the path, and specifically the type of lighting structures, needed to be discussed further.

Commissioner Lance Johnson also had questions about the appearance of the path, saying the motion sensor lights could become annoying as they were “turning off and on,” but he also added that he supported moving the project forward and thought these were details that could be worked out later on.

Another community member said he thought the city should be focused on other projects considering the current economic conditions.

“I think it is a good idea,” the community member said. “But not now.”

A third community member said he was worried that the people residing directly adjacent to the paths have not been heard from yet, and he added that bicyclists may pose safety concerns to pedestrians on the path.

Elise Higgins, Topeka senior and community affairs director for Student Senate, has been one of the community leaders who worked with city officials on the project and was in attendance for Tuesday’s meeting. She also gave public comment and said she thought the concerns brought up at the meeting were valid ones and that she would try to make sure they were considered.

However, she said it was important to not let these prevent the project from moving forward.

“Safety is an important social issue,” Higgins said.

Vice Mayor Mike Amyx agreed with Higgins on that point, saying he thought safety was an important issue to consider. He added that there should be enough time to work out the details of the project.

— Edited by Samantha Foster