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Planning Commission endorses partial sidewalk escrow for North Elm property, waives remainder
Summary
Commissioners approved a staff-backed compromise to escrow rather than immediately build sidewalks for a private estate at 3226 North Elm Avenue, agreeing to escrow identified portions and forward the recommendation to city council.
The Planning Commission on Aug. 8 voted to accept a modified staff recommendation that escrows specified sidewalk segments for a private property at 3226 North Elm Avenue rather than require full immediate construction.
Staff explained the code requires sidewalks when property is developed and calculated an estimated escrow amount for full frontage; because the building permit had been issued for the larger parcel, staff recommended a partial approach: build a southern portion of sidewalk terminating 50 feet north of the driveway and escrow a 150-foot frontage on West Omaha, with the full escrow estimate for all frontage near $90,277 as a conceptual figure.
The property owner, Brad Parson, said the parcel is intended as a private estate and argued that constructing an isolated 300-foot sidewalk segment would be unsafe and would dead-end into undeveloped land. “It would just be entice people to cross Elm on the corner where it’s high speed,” Parson said, asking for an escrow or waiver instead of immediate construction.
After extended discussion about precedent, safety and cost, commissioners moved to escrow the portions staff had identified (the southern portion up to 50 feet north of the driveway and the 150 linear feet on West Omaha) rather than require construction. The roll-call vote recorded affirmative responses from Commissioners Mindy Payne, Jonathan Townsend, Kaylee Klimpa, Jason Cohen and Robert Goranson. The planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to city council, which reviews sidewalk waivers and escrow arrangements.
What happens next: staff will calculate the precise linear feet and escrow amount for the portions selected and prepare the recommendation packet for City Council consideration on Aug. 20, 2024.
