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Sidewalks – where are they?
In some parts of our City there are no sidewalks anywhere. In other parts of
the City – most notably on Palm Drive between 8th Street and Mission Lakes
Blvd there are sidewalks in front of some houses but not others. Why? –
Inconsistent Council actions! Then, along the south side of Hacienda a
"temporary" walkway was put in years ago – largely due to the
efforts of Council woman Elizabeth Donnelly. That "temporary" walk is
very heavily used and is drastically in need of improvement for shoppers, school
kids and others. Northeast of Mountain View and Hacienda – forget about
sidewalks – the pot hole strewn paths that serve as streets are disgraceful.
Many voted for annexation to a sewer assessment district which came with the
promise that after the sewers were in there would be new streets to cover up the
pipe. The promoters of the sewers (the Mission Springs Water District) failed to
mention that the time table for the completion of the sewers within the
annexation boundaries would be 8 to 10 years – if not longer. The residents in
the area south of mission Lakes, north of 8th street and east of Palm Drive are
in a similar situation.
For many years the City has been collecting money from anyone who builds a
house that is put into a "sidewalk" fund. Here is the way the plan is
supposed to work. Since many of the earlier built homes had no sidewalks and
there was space – vacant lots – between homes, sidewalks were not required.
As time went on the City established a policy that all new homes must have a
sidewalk in the front. So for a number of years, as houses were built, there was
a sidewalk in front of the house. This led to a rather spotty situation where
you would have a house without a sidewalk next to two or three houses with
sidewalks. Then, in their infinite wisdom, the City Planners/Council decided
that instead of requiring a sidewalk in front of a new house the
builder/developer would put money into a "sidewalk fund" and at a
later date the whole block - or street - would be redone with sidewalks in front
of every house using these "sidewalk funds." But---the City has never
followed through with the plan. Why? Well, the answers vary. Some say the
"sidewalk funds" have been spent on other things (disappeared), but,
more importantly the money collected 10 years ago for a sidewalk will not pay
for a sidewalk today.
The new developments come to town and sidewalks – with a normal 6"
curb and gutter – are a big pain in the a** when building a large new housing
tract. First, they cost money, secondly, they make it inconvenient if fork
lifts, and other equipment want to move into a front yard during the
construction of a house. So…our City Council - both today and in years past -
has approved many developments without sidewalks. Most of these new developments
have only a "rolled" curb rather than the normal vertical curb and
gutter. This is wonderful for the home owner who wants to park his car/truck on
the front lawn or yard – but hardly beneficial for kids who want to play
safely out of the street in front of their house. And, heaven forbid that we
provide sidewalks for young people on their way to school or seniors who want to
walk for exercise or even the very busy parents who might want to take a stroll
out front just to relax. Well, our city council has kicked them all out into the
street!
There is a solution! Most of the area in the center of the town is in a
Redevelopment Area and there is money available to improve these neighborhoods.
Let’s start with streets, curbs and gutters, and SIDEWALKS. We have money
available – no more excuses.
Next, under no circumstances allow a development without sidewalks – period
– end of sentence – no waiver for meandering paths or garlanded archways or…
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