CHAMBERSBURG TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTS CURB AND SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN/MAP
In what turned out to be one of their longer meetings, Chambersburg
Town Council deliberated upon and approved several resolutions, which
when combined make a Curb and Sidewalk Master Plan/Map for the entire
Borough.
The planning process, which began in 2017, including dozens of maps,
going block by block through the community, attempting to articulate a
comprehensive vision for pedestrian connectivity going forward. An
animated crowd of approximately 75 citizens joined with Council,
adding commentary, feedback, input, and the occasional exclamation as
Council discussed the various streets where a citizen committee had
identified issues that required resolution.
The Town Council meeting on Monday, December 9, 2019, lasted over four
hours and required two five-minute breaks as the deliberations
continued.
As explained in January 2018 by Deputy Borough Manager Phil Wolgemuth,
“once the new plan is adopted, instead of deciding on a case by case
(block by block) basis, the Borough will decide where to build
sidewalks by a Borough-wide adopted sidewalk plan. The plan depicts
each street frontage for each tax parcel (each lot) on an official
sidewalk plan map, where either the sidewalk network already exists or
is recommended by Council to be extended; based upon when certain
events or conditions occur.”
The action by Council resulted in one key change, which led to most of
Monday’s discussions. This plan permitted Council the opportunity to
exempt certain areas and neighborhoods where they felt there was no
compelling need for property owners to install future curbs and/or
sidewalks. On Monday night, Council adopted a new policy along with
the maps. The old policy did not allow exceptions to the installation
of sidewalks. In both policies, a number of triggers, most commonly
the paving of streets, automatically begins the process of compelling
the installation or repair of sidewalks. However, now process will
follow the Council’s sidewalk plan rather than everywhere.
“The one-size fits all policy of the Borough ended with this action,”
explained Borough Manager Jeffrey Stonehill. “Now, Council has set a
holistic plan for the entire municipality, staff will follow this
plan, and as streets are paved, reconstructed, or new streets added,
the plan will inform us whether or not curbs and/or sidewalks will be
required.”
However, according to Borough Manager Jeffrey Stonehill, “this new
system of deciding where and when sidewalks will be ordered does not
diminish the authority of any future Council to order the installation
of sidewalks; and make the adjacent property owners pay the cost, as
long as the installation is determined by Council to be in the best
interest of the entire community. That is state law.” Future Councils
may update the plan and maps, as they feel necessary.
A citizen led Curb and Sidewalk Policy Compliance Committee spent over
a year poring over the maps and making recommendations for Council to
consider. They held five public meetings over the last year. Council
President Heath Talhelm thanked the volunteers for their efforts and
their service. Many of the members were in attendance at the meeting.
According to President Talhelm, who chaired the long meeting, “Council
accepted the recommendation of the Committee with respect to Wards
One, Two, Four and Five. When it came to Ward Three, the Council
modified the proposed plan, but eventually settled on an adopted plan
for that neighborhood as well.”
Some of the discussion centered upon the newly reconstituted
Committee, which will transition from making map recommendations, to
becoming an appeals board, hearing appeals from property owners, who
wish the Borough to reconsider curb and sidewalk decisions. Some on
Council thought it best that the appeals board be comprised of three
citizens where others, including staff, had recommended that they be
comprised of three members of Council. Mr. Stonehill pointed out
“Council has the authority under State Law to compel the installation
of curbs and sidewalks where in the best interest of the community.
Therefore, it was the opinion of staff that an appeal of the decisions
articulated in the Master Plan/Map be heard by a subsection of
Council.” In the end, Council approved the staff recommendation, but
some noted they might revisit this issue in 2020.
If you have any questions about the Curb and Sidewalk Master Plan/Map,
or whether your property may someday be required to build curbs and/or
sidewalks, please contact Phil Wolgemuth, Deputy Borough Manager, at
717-251-2436 or
pwolgemuth@chambersburgpa.gov.
Policy and Maps