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Council asks staff to study requiring five-foot sidewalks on commercial sites to improve accessibility
Summary
Councilors directed planning staff to investigate a code amendment to require five-foot sidewalks on private commercial properties to improve accessibility and walkability, while staff warned of review complexity and the distinction between city standards and federal ADA requirements.
During council comments, multiple council members expressed support for exploring a code change to require five-foot sidewalks on commercial properties to make pedestrian routes more accessible for wheelchairs, strollers and bikes.
One council member said she wanted "to make sure people can get around in a wheelchair, on a stroller, on a bike" and asked staff to look into code adjustments that would require five-foot sidewalks where people are likely to walk. Staff cautioned that federal ADA requirements and city engineering standards differ, that on-site requirements are part of the land development code and that strict ADA compliance is complex to verify at plan acceptance. Council gave direction to planning staff to review the issue further and report back if a code amendment is feasible and how it might be implemented without imposing undue burdens on businesses.
Councilors noted concerns about adding requirements beyond national accessibility standards that could increase development costs, and several members signaled support for studying potential changes before taking legislative steps.
