Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Planning and Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Districts
Establishment of a Sidewalk Fund for the Acceptance Private Donations/Proceeds.
Body
Information Contact: Andrew Baker, AICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability
Phone Number: 404-687-7154
PURPOSE:
To establish a sidewalk fund in order to accept private donations/proceeds and to appropriate those funds into a Capital Improvement (CIP) account to be established for the purpose of addressing the unfinished sidewalks in subdivisions where infill housing development is occurring.
NEED/IMPACT:
The Planning Department would like to appropriate donated sidewalk funds into a CIP account. The sidewalk CIP account will be established for the purpose of addressing the unfinished sidewalks in established subdivisions. Historically, numerous older subdivisions were issued certificates of completeness without sidewalks. Sidewalks and connectivity are vital to exercise, social interaction, and quality of life. Currently sidewalks are required for every newly constructed subdivision.
However, within existing subdivision, with the Planning director’s approval, individual infill residential developers may wish to dedicate the dollars into a fund to allow the County to construct a sidewalk for the entire block rather than building a “piece” of the sidewalk that serves no function for connectivity. The sidewalk construction within specific subdivisions will require all work necessary to pave/repair and repair//replace any other infrastructure items including landscape strip, drainage, curb and gutter which have not been fully completed by the original platting/developer. As the funds collected are not sufficient to address all of the work that is required to bring the entire street block up to acceptable standards, it will be necessary for the County to address the shortfall in each instance and may be supplemented by the SPLOST, CDBG, Safe Routes to Schools, or other funding sources.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No cost to the County.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve establishing a sidewalk fund to accept private donations/proceeds and to appropriate those funds into a CIP account to be established for the purpose of addressing the unfinished sidewalks in subdivisions where infill housing development is occurring. To approve the resolution and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents.