HAMILTON — The legal battle between the city and a citizens group trying to stop the extension of Washington Boulevard through Millikin Woods has ended.

        The Millikin Woods Preservation Association recently agreed to drop its federal lawsuit against Hamilton. In return, Hamilton promised not to start building the road until it acquires the necessary permits from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

        This settlement followed an Ohio Supreme Court decision to dismiss the group's lawsuit seeking to have the issue placed on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

        The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, accused Hamilton City Council of violating the U.S. Constitution by approving the road project last year.

        Christopher Pagan, attorney for the Millikin Woods group, said the settlement ensures that Hamilton will go through all the steps required by the city's federal grant for this project before starting construction.

        “My concern was that they were steaming ahead without getting permits from the Department of the Interior,” Mr. Pagan said.

        But Hillary Miller, Hamilton law director, disputed this point and said the city had planned all along to apply for the necessary federal permits before starting to build the road.

        “Mr. Pagan's very mistaken,” she said. “I don't know why he would say that.”

        The Millikin Woods group objects to the quarter-mile road project, saying it will destroy too many trees, create safety problems and harm wildlife.

        City officials say the project would cause no problems and would provide more people with access to the park.

        Maureen Gallardo, president of the Millikin Woods group, said that she and other opponents of the road extension will write letters urging the Department of the Interior to reject this project.

        “It's not over yet,” she said. “It won't be over until we exhaust all of our options.”

        Construction could begin within a month, said Ralph Reigelsperger, Hamilton's public works director.

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