AGENDA # 4b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Response to Petition for Sidewalk Along East Rosemary Street

 

DATE:             March 6, 2000

 

 

This memorandum responds to a petition submitted to the Town Council at its January 10, 2000 meeting.  The Council referred this item to the Manager for comment.  The attached resolution would direct that construction of sidewalk along East Rosemary Street be considered as part of the annual sidewalk/bikeway construction plan

 

BACKGROUND

 

The petition (Attachment 1) requests that the Town construct sidewalk to fill gaps in existing sidewalk between Henderson and Pickard Streets on the south side of East Rosemary Street.  Filling of these gaps would facilitate the use of the sidewalk by churchgoers traveling from the town parking deck on Rosemary Street to the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at the corner of Pickard and E. Rosemary Streets.

 

This section of sidewalk lies within the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Council last considered the list of Sidewalk Priorities in July 1999 as part of its annual review of possible sidewalk/bikeway construction projects.  (Please see Attachment 2.)  The sidewalk gaps referred to in this petition were included as part of a project ranked #15, which was for 1500 feet of sidewalk along East Rosemary Street between Henderson and Boundary Street. 

 

If approved by the Council, this sidewalk construction project would require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission as well.

 

While the Town of Chapel Hill currently does not assess properties for sidewalk improvements which it constructs under its capital improvements program, N.C. General Statutes Sec. 160A-217 does authorize cities to levy special assessments for sidewalk improvements.  These special assessments could be levied only if the Town receives a petition for the improvements signed by at least a majority of owners of property to be assessed.  These owners must represent at least a majority of the lineal feet or frontage of lands abutting on the street or portion thereof to be improved.  Unless the petition specifies another percentage, the Town cannot assess more than 50% of the cost of the improvements.  The petition and assessment process is initiated by the property owners.  Forms for such petitions are available from the Town’s Engineering Department.

 

We expect to return to the Council later this spring with a preliminary sidewalk/bicycle construction report for fiscal year 2000-2001.  We expect that the Council will refer this preliminary report to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board for review and input.  We plan to return to the Council in June 2000 with a final report.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Manager's Recommendation:  Include consideration of construction of sidewalk to fill gaps on the south side of East Rosemary Street between Henderson and Pickard Streets in the preliminary staff report regarding possible sidewalk/bikeway construction projects for the Council's consideration later this spring.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      Petition from Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, December 15, 1999 (p. 5).

2.      Sidewalk Priority Rankings, June 1999 (p. 6).

 

 

 

A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THAT CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK ALONG EAST ROSEMARY STREET BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK/BIKEWAY CONSTRUCTION PLAN (2000-03-06/R-3)

 

WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill will propose funds in the Capital Improvements Program for pedestrian projects in the 2000-2001 fiscal year; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council will have funds available from the first half of the second allocation of 1996 Bond funds to be used for sidewalk and bicycle projects during the next fiscal year; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council will receive a preliminary report in Spring 2000 regarding sidewalk and bicycle projects to be constructed in the 2000-2001 fiscal year

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that construction of sidewalk to fill gaps on the south side of  East Rosemary Street between Henderson and Pickard Streets be considered as part of the annual sidewalk/bikeway construction plan.

 

 

This the 6th day of March, 2000.