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Commission grants sidewalk waiver at Saint Paul's, applicant argues waiver improves student safety
Summary
The commission approved a request from Saint Paul's Episcopal School to waive sidewalks along portions of Provident Lane and Loyola Lane, with the applicant and school safety director saying a west-side sidewalk would create split pedestrian flows and reduce visibility during carpool times.
The Mobile City Planning Commission on Aug. 21 approved a sidewalk-waiver request from Saint Paul's Episcopal School to omit sidewalks along the west side of Provident Lane and a 315-foot portion of the north side of Loyola Lane.
Sean Estes of Macquarie and Williams presented the application and read an emailed statement from Alex Lott, the Mobile County sheriff's deputy who serves as director of safety and security for Saint Paul's. In his message Lott said: "Provident Lane is primary thoroughfare for student foot and bike traffic. During the times of morning and afternoon carpool ... that sidewalk guides students to the next crossing guard on campus ... If another sidewalk is placed on the west side of Provident Lane, this would cause students, parents, and other bystanders to come in close proximity to those vehicles turning with poor visibility." The written statement emphasized that adding a sidewalk on the west side could require the crossing guard to manage traffic on two walking routes rather than one.
Estes also told commissioners the school has discussed potential future widening of Provident Lane and a request to vacate right-of-way with the city; if the city later widens the street, any newly constructed sidewalk could be removed and replaced as part of that future work.
Commissioners asked about history of similar waivers; one commissioner noted a prior decision that had required a sidewalk in a different context, then said Saint Paul's concerns were "completely reasonable." No members of the public spoke in opposition. The commission voted to approve the waiver.
Why it matters: The decision balances pedestrian infrastructure policy against a specific school-safety argument. The school's safety director and applicant argued the existing single-side sidewalk and traffic-control pattern best manage student movements during crowded arrival and dismissal periods.
What's next: The waiver removes the city requirement for new sidewalks at the specified locations; if the city later chooses to widen Provident Lane or vacate right-of-way, the sidewalk configuration could change as part of future public works.
