The Planning Commission denied a sidewalk-waiver request from Cookout for a redevelopment at 775 Schillinger Road South on Dec. 18.

Michael Hicks, representing Cookout, asked the commission to waive sidewalk construction because the site’s frontage contains storm-drain structures, a topographic bowl, traffic-signal poles and other utilities that complicate constructing a contiguous sidewalk connection. Hicks said entrances to the restaurant are on the opposite side of the lot (toward the Home Depot side) and that adding a new sidewalk could raise safety concerns by creating new pedestrian crossings through drive-through lanes.

Commissioners weighed those practical constraints against the city’s sidewalk policy and broader walkability goals. One commissioner (who said the corridor was recently annexed and is a priority for future capital-improvement dollars) said the commission should not waive the requirement because Schillinger is a commercial corridor where sidewalks advance safe walking connections. The commission moved and seconded a motion to deny the waiver; the motion carried by voice vote.

What this means: Cookout will need to design its redevelopment to meet sidewalk requirements or seek an alternate waiver in the future; staff noted the 2011 policy encourages sidewalks and subdivision regulations (section 7.c.4) require sidewalks along street frontages within subdivisions unless a waiver is approved.

Quoted in hearing: "I applied for it in unison with our site plan review... there’s no contiguous sidewalks that are at the property," (Michael Hicks, representing Cookout).