New sidewalks in Jefferson will be a foot wider with changes to the city’s sidewalk policy approved by the city council Oct. 24.
The policy specifies that new sidewalk construction or replacement sidewalks must be 5 – not 4 – feet wide.
The definition of a defective sidewalk isn’t changed. A defective sidewalk is one in which there are vertical or horizontal separations of 3/4-inch or more; spalling (chipping) with one or more depression 1/2-inch or deeper over 50 percent of the square; a single square or panel cracked so that no piece is larger than 1 square foot or cracked in such as way that it constitutes a danger or potential danger to the public; a sidewalk with any part missing to the full depth; or a deviation of the staked and constructed grade at 3/4-inch or more.
If half or more of the panels spanning with property are defective, the entire sidewalk must be replaced with 5-foot sidewalk.
Property owners may replace individual panels with 4-ft panels, but they won’t be eligible for the city’s cost-share program.
The cost-share program will reimburse a property owner $5 per square foot. To be eligible for the program, property owners must get prior authorization from the city. The city building official will inspect the sidewalk to determine how many square feet qualify for the program.
A limited budget is available each year for the cost-share program. The funding is distributed on a first come, first served basis. Owners of single family homes, duplexes and tri-plexes, commercial properties and churches are eligible. Property owners replacing sidewalks that have not been determined defective and those installing new sidewalks where none previously existed are eligible for the cost share.
