City approves sidewalk exemption on First Street, requires sidewalk along Eleventh adjacent to neighborhood

Casa Grande — The City Council voted to approve a sidewalk exception for property at the southeast corner of West Eleventh Street and West First Street that allows omission of sidewalk along the First Street industrial frontage but requires a five-foot sidewalk along Eleventh Street adjacent to nearby homes.

The council adopted Resolution No. 5770 after staff recommended a compromise: require sidewalk along the north side of the parcel where it abuts residential lots and allow an exemption along the south side that fronts industrial uses. Planning staff told the council the code generally requires a five-foot sidewalk adjacent to public roads, but council may modify that requirement in particular cases.

Jacqueline, a planning staff presenter, told council that “staff is the planning department is a proponent of providing sidewalks in all areas of the city,” but that site constraints and the industrial character on First Street made a partial exemption reasonable. The applicant, civil engineer Nick Maxwell, told council, “We would happily accept that,” indicating agreement with staff’s recommended split approach.

Council members asked about connectivity and where the sidewalk would end; staff explained the sidewalk would terminate at the parcel boundary and be tied to ADA ramps and future sidewalk connections where redevelopment occurs. The applicant said the property is planned as a contractor storage yard and that a major site plan is pending.

On roll-call, council approved Resolution No. 5770. The vote was recorded as: Council member Grama — yes; Council member Dugan — yes; Council member Edwards — no; Council member Holston — no; Mayor Pro Tem Herrmann — yes; Mayor Lisa Fitzgibbons — yes.

The action leaves open future sidewalk extensions as adjacent parcels redevelop.