Plan commission waives sidewalk requirement for Scooters Addition frontage on U.S. 41

The Plan Commission on June 18 approved a waiver from the town's sidewalk requirement for Scooters Addition along the eastern frontage of U.S. 41 (Wicker Avenue).

Petitioner Grit and Grind LLC asked for relief from Article 21a-33(d)(1)-(2) of the subdivision control ordinance, which ordinarily requires concrete sidewalks on both sides of streets. The developer's representative told the commission the site comprises a very small portion of an approximately 1.6-mile segment of U.S. 41 that lacks sidewalks on the east side and that existing parking areas and inconsistent right-of-way lines make a compliant sidewalk impractical.

Planning staff displayed aerials showing limited adjacent sidewalk connectivity and noted only two pedestrian crossings in the roadway segment (Lake Central Drive and 80 Fifth Avenue). Commissioner discussion emphasized that installing a sidewalk on a short frontage that does not connect to a broader pedestrian network could create a false sense of safety.

Commissioner John Gill moved to grant the waiver and the commission approved it by roll call; all voting commissioners voted yes.

The waiver applies only to the sidewalks on the project's U.S. 41 frontage; other standard subdivision improvements remain subject to town code.