Washington’s City Council, during its April 9 meeting, unanimously voted to not close the section of Berry Avenue between West Fifth and Harrington streets. The city’s Planning Board recommended closing that section.

Brad Horton, owner of Athletic Edge Sports and Fitness, sought the closure so he could expand Athletic Edge to better serve its 700 members.

Jim Gardiner, general manager of Compmillennia, which builds highly technical advanced composition vessels, objected to closing Berry Avenue, saying that closing the unpaved street would hinder his plans to expand the boat-building facility. The northern-most section of Berry Avenue is at the rear of the Compmillennia complex at the intersection of Hackney Avenue and Harrington Street.

Horton told the council his expansion plans were immediate, adding that Gardiner’s expansion plans were not immediate. Horton said he was ready to “do something now.” Horton said his desire to expand Athletic Edge was just as important as Gardiner’s aspiration to expand Compmeillennia.

Gardiner said closing that section of Berry Avenue would benefit Horton alone and cause hardship for area residents who use Berry Avenue to access Fifth Street. Gardiner said closing the street likely would result in truck traffic leaving Compmillennia having to travel through a residential area to access Fifth Street.

There are no residences on Berry Avenue from Fifth Street to Harrington Street. Gardiner presented a petition of neighboring property owners who objected to closing the street section.

Thomp Litchfield said Gardiner needs all of Berry Avenue open so Compmillennia can expand without company officials worrying about how big trucks can enter and leave the boat-building compound.

Mayor Mac Hodges suggested Horton and Gardiner try to work out a solution so their respective businesses could expand. That suggestion got little traction during discussion of the matter.