Impact
WARD: Citywide
COMMITTEE: Community Development
$ IMPACT: N/A
Title
Approval of Ordinance 2019-23 for proposed code amendments to the City of Smyrna's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 90, Sections 90-60 and 90-61 for the establishment of a Sidewalk Bank for alternative compliance to the City's sidewalk requirements.
Body
ISSUE: The Mayor and City Council recently asked the Community Development Department to study the feasibility of setting up a sidewalk bank to allow developers to pay a fee in lieu of installing required sidewalks where there is a lack of connectivity to existing sidewalks or the construction of the sidewalk is prohibitive due to site conditions. The City Council expressed support in establishing Sidewalk Bank for a means of alternative compliance for developers, as well as, a way to allocate resources to prioritized sidewalk projects.
BACKGROUND: The Planning and Zoning Board heard the proposed text amendments at the October 14, 2019 meeting and recommended denial of the proposed amendment by a vote of 5-0.
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: Community Development has reviewed the City’s Code of Ordinance with respect to sidewalks and is proposing a code amendment to create a Sidewalk Bank for alternative compliance to the City’s sidewalk requirements. The proposed amendments include:
1) Creation of the Sidewalk Bank;
2) Establishment of fund administration; and
3) Establishment of the fee amount.
Community Development recommends approval of the attached code amendments to Chapter 90 of the City’s Code of Ordinances and the Fee Schedule.