The effort to update the city of Starkville”s sidewalk ordinance has lasted several months, resulted in multiple public hearings and left its citizen-led transportation committee scratching their heads as they have tried in vain to compose a variance process suitable to builders, landowners and the Starkville Board of Aldermen.
The committee became even more frustrated Tuesday night when the Board of Aldermen agreed to hold two public hearings to discuss possible amendments to the sidewalk ordinance which would exempt four city streets from sidewalk construction requirements. With a 4-3 vote, the board called for the first public hearing to be held Dec. 21 during its regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. After a second public hearing, which would be held Jan. 4, the board could vote on amendments which would exempt Miley Road, Pollard Road and portions of Industrial Park and Airport roads from the sidewalk ordinance. Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver brought the proposal before the board.
Mayor Parker Wiseman, however, vowed to veto the ordinance amendments if aldermen approve the street exemptions. He cited the ongoing work of the transportation committee, which was appointed by the Board of Aldermen and given the task of devising a variance process. He also said the proposed street exemptions followed no “uniform process” and would leave the city open to other businesses which don”t want to abide by sidewalk construction requirements. Additionally, he cited citizen input from previous public hearings, during which residents spoke for and against variances and exemptions.
To pass an amendment with exemptions for four streets while the transportation committee is busy working on a variance process for topographical obstacles and financial hardships “is both disrespectful to the transportation committee and to the general public, which has been a part of this process,” Wiseman said.
Several members of the transportation committee spoke out against the proposed street exemptions Tuesday night, including Jim Gafford, who said Carver”s proposal “will short-circuit the process” set forth by the Board of Aldermen for the transportation committee. Fellow committee member Joe Fratesi also spoke out against the proposal.
“The current proposal is essentially a slap in the face to the transportation committee,” Fratesi said. “It says you do not appreciate the time and effort we are putting in to this process. And what I wish, honestly, is that there would be an honest conversation about what you want. If the board wants a variance process, that”s what we”re working on, but if what the board wants is a variance that would allow certain individuals not to have to build sidewalks, then that”s what needs to be said … so we don”t continue wasting our time on something y”all don”t want.”
Several committee members cited Golden Triangle Planning and Development District Executive Director Rudy Johnson and his threat to move the GTPDD out of Starkville if it has to pay to build a sidewalk adjacent to a new senior center planned off Miley and C.C. Clark roads. Johnson is opposed to installing a $25,000 sidewalk along the edge of the property to construct the senior center, as would be required by the ordinance, because he says there is little foot traffic in the area and no need for a walkway. Plus, the sidewalk would end at adjacent property lines, where no sidewalks are present, he has argued.
Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas said he hopes the board does not allow Johnson”s “bullying tactics” — more than 200 jobs would leave Starkville if the GTPDD moves, Johnson says — to sway its position on sidewalk construction in the city. The city should continue to enforce the sidewalk ordinance and the transportation committee should continue to work on the variance process, he said.
Carver said he appreciates the transportation committee and didn”t propose the exemptions to pander to Johnson. He wants to exempt the four streets so the city can form an “industrial quadrant,” where sidewalks would not be required as they are in other parts of Starkville.
Carver had the support of Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker, Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn Sr. Dumas voted against the motion to hold public hearings on the exemptions, along with Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk and Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey.
The vote could become a moot point, however, if the board approves the ordinance amendments and Wiseman fulfills his promise to issue a veto.
In other business Tuesday, aldermen approved a conditional use request by West Group Corporation to allow a funeral home in a B-1 buffer zone at 120 W. Garrard Road. West Funeral Home, at 103 Jefferson Street, would relocate to a new 10,000-square-foot building planned at the West Garrard Road site. Plans for the building have not yet been finalized.
Aldermen Tuesday also approved a final condominium plat for Starkville Station RV Park, located at Lincoln Green and Spring Street, south of Highway 12. Construction on the 5-acre, 44-lot site already is underway.
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