HomeMy WebLinkAboutI - 12 Sidewalks in the Town - Chris Newell & Ann HotchkinMEMOTO: Supervisor Tom Williams, the Cortlandville Town Board and Members of the Town Planning BoardFROM: Chris Newell,
Chair Ann Hotchkin, MemberCortlandville Town Planning BoardDATE: December 2, 2021SUBJECT: Town Sidewalks_____________________________________________________________________________At
the November 2021 Town Planning Board meeting, we continued the review of the Cayuga Medproject slated for Tompkins Street. The Board had a lengthy discussion as to whether we shouldrequire
the applicant to install a sidewalk in the public right-of-way. Some mentioned this might be a good first start in filling in some of the sidewalks gaps. Others felt that since there
were no sidewalks on either side of the project that this action would result in sidewalks that led to nowhereand perhaps be cost prohibitive since curbs would be needed. In the end,
the Planning Board decidedto forego the sidewalkfor this project but to pursue other avenues.On November 29, 2021, a meeting was held in the Town which was attended by Supervisor TomWilliams,
Planning Board members Newell and Hotchkin, Highway Superintendent Larry Drach, andKaren Missell from the NYS DOT Syracuse Office. Ms. Missell has extensive experience with sidewalksin
the region. We indicated to Ms. Missellthat while there may be opportunities to install sidewalksat various other locations in the Town, the general area of Tompkins Street/Route 13
and Route 281 are high priorities at this time.Below is a summary of that meeting:If the project for Regan Development goes through, the Town should let the DOT know that an enhanced
crosswalk should be developed at the traffic light between the project/JMMurray and Walmart since Regan is a large residential project.In order to position itself for State funding,
the Town should develop a satellitemap of the area to indicate where sidewalks are missing, where pedestrian “generators” exist,where newdevelopment is proposed, and any other pertinent
information that the State may need.Board member Hotchkin did a windshield drive with Ms. Missell to give her an idea of where we havesidewalk gaps. Ms. Missell was shown some areas
where we might want to limit “right onred” such as FootiesFreez, a place where there is a conflict with the walk signal and the ability for a vehicle to turn while a pedestrian is using
the crosswalk, and at Lowe’s where there is a similar situation.Supervisor Williams agreed that the Code Office will be informed of the continued need to have property owners shovel
theirsidewalks during the winter.At our November 30, 2021 Planning Board meeting, we discussed the DOT meeting. We also acknowledgedthat the Town needs to establish better guidelines
as to when we are going to require sidewalksfor new projects that come before us and for areas where sidewalks are currently needed. We willcontinue to work on this.If the Town Board
is agreeable to prioritizing the activities discussed at the DOT meeting, the Planning Board would have County Planning develop a satellite map of the area. InterestedTown and Planning
Board members would then have the opportunity to circle and number areaswith the greatest need for sidewalks. A short plan would be developed and sent to the DOT forpotential funding.
We would also generate a letter regarding the crosswalk for Regan Development, and write another letter regarding the unsafe situation at Lowe’s and FootiesFreez and any other areas
that the Town Board may want to include.