The evolution of Starkville”s sidewalk ordinance was revealed Tuesday, but the debate will go on.
During a public hearing during the Starkville Board of Aldermen”s first March meeting, Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas laid out a number of proposed changes and variance contingencies which would excuse developers from installing sidewalks in front of new buildings. The board took no action on the proposed changes and another public hearing will be held once the document is finalized and the language approved by City Attorney Chris Lattimer.
Grounds for variances include “negative impact to the historical, archeological or architectural value of a site” and the possibility a sidewalk would “require the removal of endangered plant species.” But Section 10.3 of the ordinance would grant a variance if installation of a sidewalk would cause “undue hardship … based solely on the cost per linear foot to install.”
In an attempt to keep tabs on what amount constitutes an undue hardship, the Transportation Committee will be tasked with meeting quarterly to “review and document the average unit price for sidewalk construction for the purposes of establishing a standard metric against which to measure the proposed construction costs.”
Information from the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Starkville”s city engineer will be considered when establishing this figure. The Board of Adjustments and Appeals, which will hear all variance requests, is instructed to grant a hardship variance only “if the estimated cost of sidewalk construction, per linear foot, is more than two times the average rate as documented by the Transportation Committee.”
Public reaction to the proposed changes was brief and positive, although some citizens asked for additional variances.
“Cost should be only one part of the consideration for granting a variance,” said Georgia Murphy. “If the city would show a good faith effort by funding and constructing sidewalks in areas of most critical need it would likely make citizens see a systematic plan was being followed. If you insist on requiring the construction of new sidewalks than the they should connect to existing sidewalks.”
Starkville In Motion President Mark Duncan expressed his organization”s support for the amendments to the sidewalk ordinance and pointed to new sidewalks on Reed Road as an example of a good faith effort on behalf of the city.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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