KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Keene City Council’s Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to recommend keeping the small city-owned lot at 100 Church Street, ending months of debate over whether to sell or preserve the East Keene property.

The quarter-acre parcel, located near the former Antioch University campus, has been at the center of community discussion for months. Neighbors and landlords have cited ongoing safety issues — including loitering, drug use, and public urination — while other residents urged the city to protect the open space and allow volunteers to maintain it.

Committee Chair Mitch Greenwald, who previewed the discussion earlier in the day on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell, said the issue had grown “a little more emotional probably than necessary,” but that the committee needed to make a decision.

Public Works Director Donald Lussier presented possible next steps, including adding fencing, lighting, and signage or transferring the property to the Parks and Recreation Department for management. Some residents have proposed designating the site as a small city park or community gathering space.

The committee’s recommendation will go before the full City Council for a final vote on Nov. 6.

In other business, the committee also reviewed a draft ordinance outlining the use of bicycles — including electric bikes — in downtown Keene. Members discussed enforcement challenges, especially distinguishing between e-bikes and mobility devices, and emphasized the need for clear rules and public education.

Several councilors supported allowing e-bikes in downtown bike lanes but noted the importance of balancing safety and accessibility for all users. The ordinance will return to the committee for further refinement before moving forward to the full council.

City staff also provided updates on the ongoing downtown infrastructure project, which includes storm drainage improvements, utility connections, and accessibility upgrades along several downtown streets.

The committee discussed coordination with local businesses to minimize disruptions and reviewed plans to install new catenary-style lighting on Church Street, Lampson Street, and Railroad Square. The City Manager was authorized to negotiate revocable license agreements with property owners to allow the city to attach lighting and related infrastructure to private buildings at no cost to the owners.

Officials also confirmed the involvement of arborists in the design process to preserve existing trees where possible.

Bidding for Keene’s downtown infrastructure overhaul is on hold for at least a month after what Public Works Director Don Lussier described as a mix-up between the city’s engineering consultant, Stantec, and the N.H. Department of Environmental Services (DES).

Lussier said Wednesday that the city can’t advertise the project until early 2026 because a required environmental review, part of a federally funded state program, was never completed. Bidding had been set to begin Thursday.

According to Lussier, DES halted the review in April without notifying the city or Stantec, which mistakenly believed the process was finished after seeing it marked “closed” in an online portal. He told councilors the review was “inadvertently terminated” after DES staff apparently thought the project was being revised.

The error only came to light after an email exchange with a DES employee, Lussier said. Stantec has since explained its side of the confusion, and DES is now working to fast-track the approval process.