Homeowner told to get permit, restoration plan to remove sidewalk at 900 B Street

Mayor Jacob Pomol opened discussion of an old-business sidewalk request at 900 B Street after a homeowner, identified in the meeting as Chad, asked to remove an unused section of sidewalk and alter curb and driveway lines to level the yard and build a new garage.

Chad told the board he would remove the sidewalk himself and hire a contractor to restore the area. "I will tear it out myself," he said, adding that the sidewalk "gets used by nobody" and that maintaining the curb was costly. He described a long-running drainage issue tied to past utility breaks that left the yard unlevel and said replacement sidewalk would be an unnecessary expense for him.

Board members acknowledged the homeowner’s concerns but repeatedly warned that removing public infrastructure without a restoration plan risks creating drainage and maintenance problems. "I object because normally you don't take away infrastructure without replacing it," a board member said, and the board emphasized the need to preserve the catch basin near a fire hydrant so heavy rain has an outlet.

The board did not deny the request outright. Instead, members said they would permit the homeowner to proceed if he presents a curb-cut permit and a professional plan for restoring the right-of-way so the city is not left with erosion or an unmaintainable slope. "Whoever does the work will probably have to get a curb cut permit," a board member said, and the mayor asked that the contractor or agent coordinate with the street department on restoration standards.

The board’s direction was procedural rather than a formal ordinance or vote to remove the sidewalk: members agreed that the proper permit be filed and approved and that restoration expectations be specified before final authorization. The homeowner said he would obtain a permit and have the contractor work with the street department on restoration details.

Next steps: the owner is to submit a curb-cut/permit application that documents the contractor and a restoration plan that preserves drainage (including the catch basin). The board indicated it will act on the permit when that application appears on a future agenda.