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Council weighs sidewalk requirement versus landscaping to reduce development costs
Summary
A developer asked for a waiver of curb-and-sidewalk requirements on a 600 North duplex project to reduce costs and prioritize landscaping; council discussed precedent, drainage and the city's general plan preference for sidewalks before approving limited flexibility tied to agreements.
Developers of a four-unit duplex project on 600 North asked the Milford City Council for a waiver of the usual curb-and-sidewalk requirement on part of the property, proposing to use the available budget to improve landscaping instead.
The presenter said substituting landscaping for sidewalk would lower project costs and help make units affordable. City staff cautioned that the city's general plan survey showed residents consistently favor curb, gutter and sidewalk; the staff member noted the plan’s survey results and advised caution about setting a broad precedent. Council members weighed long-term drainage and maintenance concerns, with one council member recounting that failing to require curved gutters in other jurisdictions led to drainage problems.
Council discussed compromise options including aligning a new sidewalk with adjacent property owners (Cammy and Greg Thomas were mentioned as alignment references), deed transfers of small parcels to enable a cleaner sidewalk alignment, and whether the city would patch asphalt between road and sidewalk if the developer installed curb to the property line. The council asked staff to return with a drafted agreement and, in the sewer-lateral motion, included expectations for curb and sidewalk construction or a one-year timeline to complete required work when appropriate.
