Council to consider sidewalk waiver request for 4744 Guthrie Cemetery Road; staff to place item on Oct. 2 council agenda

Walnut Grove — Council discussed a waiver request from a property owner at 4744 Guthrie Cemetery Road seeking relief from the city’s sidewalk requirement under the land development ordinance. Staff explained the requirement derives from the city’s land-development ordinance (section 904/408 references cited in the packet) and that a waiver or modification is granted by council.

The applicant requested a waiver because the site’s proximity to the high school and the industrial nature of surrounding businesses make pedestrian traffic less likely. Staff and council members discussed alternative compliance, such as providing sidewalk connections from the parking lot toward Park Street or adding signage and other pedestrian treatments rather than a full sidewalk along Guthrie Cemetery Road.

Council members also noted the need to coordinate with the school district and referenced prior crosswalk and roundabout installations, and one councilmember suggested partnering with the school and PPI (an entity referenced by staff) to identify engineering solutions. Staff noted preliminary cost estimates exist from prior work and that any sidewalk or pedestrian project would likely be a capital item for the next budget year.

Council agreed to place the sidewalk-waiver request on the Oct. 2 council meeting agenda and told staff and the property owner that staff should continue coordinating with the school, the city engineer and any potential partners. No final waiver decision was made at this meeting.