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Council approves waiver for sidewalk at 2004 69th Street; owner relieved of immediate shovel obligation
Summary
Windsor Heights council granted a waiver allowing the owner of a new home at 2004 69th Street to defer construction of an isolated sidewalk that would not connect with an existing network; staff may later special-assess or require construction when the street is reconstructed.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Windsor Heights City Council approved a waiver request from the owner of a newly constructed house at 2004 69th Street to defer construction of a sidewalk that would not connect to an existing network.
AJ, a city staff member, explained that city code generally requires pedestrian connectivity for new single-family construction but that this lot is a unique case: the new sidewalk would not serve to connect to the next intersection and could leave the homeowner with years of shoveling an isolated stretch. The staff report noted the city’s policy is typically to install sidewalks when the road is reconstructed, and one option is a petition and waiver that could be used later to special-assess or require the sidewalk.
The applicant, who identified herself as Jody and said she is building the house, told council: “I’m just asking that I not be required to build the sidewalk until there’s something to connect to.” She said she did not want to shovel a sidewalk for years when it would not link to other sidewalks.
Council moved to approve the waiver with the possibility that the sidewalk could be required and constructed in the future; a roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval.
Next steps: staff will retain the waiver with construction potential and may use a petition-and-waiver mechanism or require installation at the time of future reconstruction if council so directs.
