After 12 times on the agenda and almost a year of discussion, Clarkston City Council still has not made a final vote on their much debated sidewalk ordinance. However, through an informal vote and discussion, they did make some headway on width.
Johnston, who wrote the ordinance, said five feet is the minimum recommended width by government agencies including United States Access Board, Federal Highway Administration, Safe Routes to schools, Michigan Department Of Transportation, and Michigan’s Elder Friendly Communities.
‘I just don’t see spending money to put in less than anyone recommends,? he said at the May 27 council meeting.
‘It’s not a town that I want people to drive through. I want them to walk there ? I think a wider sidewalk encourages that.?
However, the council voted 5-2 to amend the ordinance to require four-foot sidewalks. Johnston and and Councilman James Brueck voted ‘no.?
Mayor Sharron Catallo said wider sidewalks cause a safety concern by putting pedestrians closer to the road, cause ‘extensive? tree loss, and inceases cost.
‘We don’t need to replace the entire sidewalk system. We need to repair things and we need to do it quickly because it’s a necessity,? she said.
‘We aren’t going to have anybody walking if we don’t repair those sidewalks, so the width will really not matter.?
Kristy Ottman, councilmember, suggested making the south side of Holcomb Road from West Washington Street to Depot Road a designated, five-foot-wide ‘walking area.?
‘That would allow for the entrance coming up Waldon for those who wanted to go through town and come up Washington,? she said. ‘Those who are going south from the north end can traverse around by Deer Lake.?
Ottman voted in favor of four-foot sidewalks.
‘If we do a five-foot section, by the time we get to another big section of sidewalk to replace at five-feet in 15 years, we’re going to be replacing the one we just laid down,? she said. ‘It’s going to be a never ending cycle.?
Michael Gawronski, councilmember, said he appreciates the five-foot safety paths put in by Independence Township, but believes five-foot sidewalks would ‘change the character of the village.?
‘I don’t think people are going to be all that putout by losing a foot of sidewalk edge as they enter from the township because they’ll know they’re in Clarkston,” he said. “They’ll know they’re in the village as a part of the character of the village, and I don’t mind maintaining that character at the expense of one foot of sidewalk.?
Repairs will funded through Tri-Party funds, a cooperative funding mechanism between Oakland County, Road Commission for Oakland County and some Oakland County communities. They allow the city to designate improvement projects within RCOC rights-of-way.
Each of the three agencies provides one-third of the total improvement cost through the Tri-Party Program
Tri-party funds are can be used for replacing sidewalks around county roads ? in Clarkston, that means South Holcomb, Clarkston Road and M-15 between the horseshoe-shaped Middle Lake Road inlets.
The council also voted unanimously to put a special-assessment provision back into the ordinance, so if the city cannot pay for sidewalk repairs through general funds, than Clarkston homeowners could be assessed to help out with the cost.
‘We will try our best to not ever have to do it that way,? said Catallo.