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Lancaster planning board recommends sidewalks on William Street, urges county to extend work to school
Summary
Citing pedestrian safety and code, the planning board voted to recommend that the town request sidewalks be built on William Street from Transit Road at least to the William Street School (with a goal of reaching Bowen), after discussing resident opposition, eminent-domain takings and maintenance concerns.
The Lancaster Planning Board voted to recommend that the town request the county include sidewalks on the south side of William Street as part of a county roadway-improvement project, with a minimum extension to the William Street School and an aspiration to continue to Bowen.
Board members debated residents’ opposition, which centered on maintenance obligations and the visual/landscape impacts, and staff said the county’s design currently stops sidewalks at Seabird. One participant noted the county’s right-of-way work required more than "100 takings" of small property slivers, which has delayed the project.
A staff member read town code language requiring sidewalks along the entire street frontage of a lot that abuts an arterial or collector street when the lot is developed unless the town board expressly waives the requirement. The staff speaker said sidewalks were required in earlier town development decisions to ensure pedestrian safety and connectivity.
Several board members emphasized pedestrian safety, school access and connections between subdivisions and parks. "That public sidewalk will save a life," one member said while urging the board to weigh resident opposition against public-safety benefits.
A motion to recommend that the town board request sidewalks from Transit to Bowen, with a minimum extension to the William Street School, passed by voice vote. The planning board will forward its recommendation to the town board for the town’s formal response to the county project.
