Getting Heard, Step by Step

Laszlo Papp, Chairman of Planning and Zoning, and Mark DeWaele, Chairman of Town Council are to be commended.  Although a public hearing on the sidewalk plan was not on the agenda for the May meeting, Mr. Papp allowed several residents of lower Main Street to speak out about their initial concerns, in particular the worry about the responsibility of abutting property owners for ongoing maintenance and the potential liability associated with the sidewalks. Three residents expressed concerns, and one (a resident of the east side of Main Street) said he was in favor of the sidewalks.

Dr. DeWaele invited Tiger Mann, Senior Engineer with the Town’s Public Works Department, to present the plan for the sidewalks at the Council’s June meeting and opened the floor for residents to voice their concerns.  Town Council members agreed to review the relevant sections of the Town Code (chapter 54-III) about the responsibility and liability for sidewalks, and a meeting of the Ordinance Committee has been scheduled for 4 pm on Wednesday, July 2 in the Board Room at Town Hall.

Residents of the west side of lower Main Street expressed a variety of additional concerns about the wisdom and safety of the proposed project. One gentleman observed that he had initially been in favor of the sidewalks, but after listening to his neighbors, he now opposed the project.  A property owner abutting the proposed South Avenue sidewalk extension also had questions.

Residents also wondered about the possibility that a future Town Council might reinstate maintenance responsibilities.

New Sidewalks Planned from Oak Street to Farm Road

The Town of New Canaan is proposing to build new sidewalks:

• along the West side of Main Street from Oak Street to Farm Road,
• along the East side of South Avenue from Surrey Road to Farm Road, and
• along the West side of Weed Street from Elm Street to Irwin Park.

Several owners of properties abutting these new sidewalk routes first became aware of this plan when the agenda was published for the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on May 20, 2008.  The sidewalks are included in a $5 million appropriation and bond issuance enabling the Public Works Department to repave lower Main Street and other roads in town as Phase III of the Town’s road renovation project. (Phase I was completed in 2004 and 2005; Phase II was completed in 2006 and 2007).

The $5 million appropriation and bond issuance were approved by the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting on March 4, 2008, by the Board of Finance at a subsequent meeting, and by the Town Council at a special meeting on March 10, 2008. Published minutes of the Board of Selectmen meeting indicate that “Residents of lower Main Street expressed their pleasure over the prospect of a freshly repaved road and new sidewalks.” The published agenda for that meeting did not indicate that the construction of new sidewalks would be included in the appropriation or that sidewalks would be discussed. Media coverage of these meetings did not mention the plan to construct new sidewalks.

At the P&Z meeting on May 20, the chairman was careful to point out that the commission’s role was to make sure that the proposal fit in with the Town Plan. The commission approved the project with one dissent.

The sidewalk project, as presented by Public Works Senior Engineer Tiger Mann, would include a 5-foot-wide concrete walk with granite curbs. The width would be achieved by a combination of

• narrowing portions of the roadway on Main Street and
• excavating portions of land abutting the road.

Trees would be removed, as needed.

No retaining walls are planned.

P&Z members inquired about the possibility of burying electric lines along the route and were advised that the cost was high. Building officials agreed to look into the cost. P&Z members also inquired about brick or other aethetic improvements.

Several property owners present at the meeting were permitted to speak.  Those with properties abutting the proposed sidewalk expressed varying concerns, including concerns about the number of embankments that will be excavated, safety, responsibility for maintenance, upkeep and repairs, and possible risk exposure and liability.