Residents of the Westbrook neighborhood told Troy city and Hobart Institute of Welding Technology officials they don’t oppose a welding school expansion, but are concerned about existing, and possible growing, issues with traffic in the area.

Around 30 people attended a Jan. 20 meeting at the institute, which is working through obtaining city approvals for a rezoning needed for a parking lot expansion and later a site plan for an institute expansion project. Area residents who contacted their councilmember, William Twiss, called for the meeting.

Scott Mazzulla, Hobart welding institute president, said the expansion involves a 15,888 square foot freestanding building to house the “professional” students from business/industry attending the institute for shorter programs. The building will house 130 people – 122 students and eight staff.

The new building will be across a driveway from the institute entrance on the east end of the parking lot. The building will mean the parking lot will be pushed to north.

The months-long programs for welding students, usually younger, will remain in the main institute building.

The residents repeatedly talked about safety concerns caused by speeding, other reckless driving and failing to stop at stop signs in the area that includes Hook Elementary School.

“I understand what you do here. My concern is the traffic,” said resident Louise Vore.

Another nearby neighbor, Billie Williams, said she has lived there for decades. She is concerned by speeding and noise from vehicles leaving the institute parking area. The school operates two shifts.

Williams expressed particular concern for children in the area of Hook school.

“We want to keep the neighborhood a neighborhood,” she said.

A resident who lives at North Road and Trade Square said she is concerned that a vehicle could come crashing into her home. She has lived in the location 35 years and has seen the problems grow worse in the past five years, she said.

“We will continue working with the residents and city. We don’t want anyone hurt,” Mazzulla said.

Twiss, whose ward includes the welding institute, urged residents to contact him and institute officials about specific concerns.

Tim Davis of the city staff said the city project approval process involves multiple steps starting with the pending rezoning and followed by a project site plan.

Traffic options can be explored more closely with the site plan, he said.

The rezoning request asks for rezoning one parcel from dual zoning of M-2 light industrial and R-4 single family and a second parcel zoned R-4 single family to M-2 light industrial. The planning commission recommended the rezoning earlier this month to council.

The residents were asked to address other concerns raised such as loud parties by students living in apartments in the neighborhood by calling police when incidents are occurring.

Representatives of the police department and Ferguson Construction, project contractor, also participated in the meeting.

Ptlm. Brandon Fellers said police continue to work with the institute on issues. When officers check traffic near the institute they “often” find the drivers involved in speeding are not institute students but people living in the area, he said.