Council introduces sidewalk-waiver ordinance for Pratt's Run subdivision; staff, HOA raise concerns

Leslie Tate, Waynesboro's director of community development, briefed council on a request to waive subdivision ordinance requirements for five-foot sidewalks and three-foot buffers along both sides of new streets in the remaining Pratt's Run phases (0 Ludewitt Boulevard, tax map 40-3-114D). Tate said the applicant seeks to provide sidewalks on only one side of several proposed street extensions to match existing development patterns in parts of Pratt's Run and nearby Augusta County communities.

Tate told council the subdivision code (section 74-71) requires sidewalks on both sides for new subdivision streets but allows council to grant a waiver when it best serves the ordinance's purpose or when strict compliance would create substantial injustice or hardship. Staff noted sidewalk waivers were common early after the ordinance revision in 2000 but that the city had not granted a waiver after about 2005 and that recent residential development typically provided sidewalks on both sides.

Council moved to introduce an ordinance granting a waiver as discussed; it will receive final consideration at the September meeting. During citizen comment later in the meeting Doug Noland, president of the Pratt's Run Owners Association, urged council to require sidewalks on both sides and raised lighting and maintenance concerns for adjacent parcels, asking staff to follow up on a grass-cutting/maintenance issue reported to the developer.