Title
Public Comment on Charlotte WALKS: Sidewalk Construction Ordinance Revisions
Action
Action:
Receive public comment on proposed amendments to the sidewalk construction requirements in Chapter 19 of the City Code.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Liz Babson, Transportation
Scott Curry, Transportation
Explanation
* Charlotte WALKS, Charlotte's first comprehensive pedestrian plan, was unanimously adopted by City Council on February 27, 2017.
* City staff conducted extensive public outreach (30 public input events attended by over 1,000 people) to support the development of that plan.
* Community input revealed that gaps in the sidewalk network and back-of-curb sidewalks (i.e. lacking a buffer between pedestrians and moving cars) are primary concerns of Charlotte's citizens. These issues are most problematic on thoroughfares which have higher volumes and speeds of traffic.
* The Charlotte WALKS plan directs the City to develop amendments to the sidewalk construction requirements in Chapter 19 of the City Code in order to address these two key issues.
* These proposed ordinance revisions were developed in coordination with the City's Development Services Technical Advisory Committee (DSTAC) and the Unified Development Ordinance Advisory Committee. These committees are a resource and a liaison between City and County staff, the development community, and neighborhood and advocacy groups.
* The revisions focus specifically on new development activity along thoroughfares, as these are the locations where the current sidewalk infrastructure presents the greatest challenge for pedestrian safety and comfort.
Ordinance Revisions
Revisions to the current sidewalk construction requirements include:
* Implementing new triggers for when substandard/back-of-curb sidewalk on thoroughfares will be required to be upgraded to current standards. Those triggers are tailored to:
* The scale of new development activity, and
* The width of the existing sidewalk and planting strip....
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