Orrville council advances Wayne Street sidewalk policy and a Lane Street necessity resolution

The Orrville City Council on March 2 placed two sidewalk measures on first reading: Resolution 5-26, which would establish the city's policy and financial-assistance approach for installing sidewalks on Wayne Street, and Resolution 6-26, which declares the necessity to construct sidewalks on the west side of Lane Street from Homestead Point Drive to Oak Street.

Planning staff said the Wayne Street policy mirrors rules used in prior sidewalk phases and would permit a handful of impacted lots to defer payment by adding assessments to the tax duplicate in limited circumstances. "These are the same policies," the planner said, adding that only a handful of lots would be impacted and that plans and specifications are now on file in the Safety Service Department.

On the Lane Street measure, staff described Resolution 6-26 as the legislative action that "wraps that altogether" after plans and specifications were completed and estimates prepared. Council placed both items on first reading and approved the motions to do so on recorded votes.

The measures follow a resident petition urging sidewalk construction in a neighborhood built without pedestrian access to town. Staff said petitioners have been notified and that engineering plans are available for affected property owners to review.

Next steps: Both resolutions will return for further readings; property owners affected by any assessment would receive notice and the city will present cost estimates as the project moves forward.