The city of Starkville’s Board of Alderman passed a new sidewalk ordinance with a vote of 4-3 Tuesday night after much discussion to determine the best course of action.
Jeremiah Dumas, alderman, liaison between the Transportation Committee and Board of Alderman, said the original version of the ordinance was passed in 2009 under the previous administration but lacked a variance process. Under this decree, citizens can appeal this mandate as an undue hardship, which means the cost of putting in a sidewalk would exceed the average rate per linear foot of installation by more than two times that amount. This can be due to topographical reasons, for example.
This is determined by the Transportation Committee of Starkville. The committee meets quarterly to assess and determine average costs.
“We wanted an objective ordinance so that it was [possible to determine] what could and couldn’t happen, but in the event there was a financial hardship, we would allow variance to happen,” Dumas said.
Under the sidewalk ordinance, commercial lot owners who wish to develop their land must include a sidewalk in their plans. Also, any existing development that needs renovation equal to or greater than $100,000 must add a sidewalk along with its other changes to be made, as long as the cost of the installation does not exceed 10 percent of the total construction cost, Ben Carver, alderman, said.
This is not something that will deter business owners because it will ultimately improve people’s quality of life, Dumas said.
This same principle applies to residents who want to make changes to their homes. If homeowners choose to renovate their homes with a construction cost equal or greater than $100,000, the owner of the home would be required to pay for a sidewalk to be installed on his or her property, Carver said.
Carver, who voted against the new ordinance, said he disagrees with this policy.