Bellevue Council approves temporary sidewalk waiver for Bellevue University despite accessibility concerns

The Bellevue City Council on May 6, 2025, approved a temporary waiver allowing Bellevue University’s internal winding sidewalk to substitute for a street-front sidewalk along Harbell/Galvin Road near the library site.

Councilwoman Collins moved to approve Item 16n (temporary waiver of sidewalk construction with Bellevue University); the motion was seconded by Councilman Burns and carried unanimously. The waiver is temporary under the city’s ordinance, meaning the city can later require construction of a street-front sidewalk if circumstances change.

Councilman Preister pressed staff and expressed concern that repeated waivers could leave the public library and pedestrians without adequate access: “I would sure like to help Bellevue University, but I don't want to do it at the expense of our library across the street or the other pedestrians trying to get through that area,” he said. Preister said he would be unwilling to support another waiver unless the council had a clear plan for connecting sidewalks.

City staff and Bellevue University representatives described the university’s winding path as an ADA-compliant, lit route that places pedestrians further from traffic than a narrow street-front sidewalk would. A city staff member explained that “temporary” waivers are tied to building permits: if the city later requires a sidewalk, the waiver is no longer valid and the property owner would need to build it.

Mary Hawkins, who spoke from the podium and identified herself with a Bellevue address, said the university’s path was designed with ADA needs in mind and was fully lit: “We were really attentive to the fact that that walking that hill, especially in the winter…is just detrimental,” she said, describing the serpentine path and lighting that lead to an existing crosswalk on Herman Drive.

Staff said the city plans to install a sidewalk on the north side of Harvill (the library side) as part of a budgeted project tied to CDBG funding, likely next year, which staff said will connect down toward Fort Crook and Cornhusker. Councilman Casey said the waiver appeared to be an acceptable exception because the university’s design provided a safer route for pedestrians.

The motion passed with all council members voting yes. Councilman Preister later said he had been “convinced” by the explanations given during the discussion. The council did not attach additional monitoring requirements to the waiver during the meeting.