Sidewalks have been a topic of discussion in Hudson for years. In all discussions of sidewalks, many of which are admittedly in bad shape and unsafe, not just safety but also uniformity have been put forward as goals to be achieved. Back in September 2018, Rob Perry, Superintendent of Public Works, pointed out a problem with the quest for uniformity. At a meeting of the then Public Works and Parks Committee, he showed pictures of some of the most handsome sidewalks in Hudson--sidewalks that had one thing in common: they are not in compliance with city code.
At the meeting of the Common Council Code and Infrastructure Committee this week, Perry brought up another issue that makes uniformity problematic. The city code is inconsistent when it comes to the required width of the sidewalks. In one place, the code indicates sidewalks must be 4 feet wide; in other, it specifies 5 feet. The committee seemed interested in eliminating the inconsistency, but how might they do that?
In the oldest parts of the city, the position of the houses in relation to the street would make a 5-foot width requirement challenging, and it would eliminate altogether creating wells for street trees on these blocks.
UPDATE: After this post was published, Public Works Superintendent Rob Perry contacted Gossips to explain that, after the committee meeting in September 2018, Jeff Baker, who was the city attorney at the time, recommended that the Council amend the code to allow for sidewalks of nonstandard materials. Subsequently, the clause "unless permission in writing is granted by the Commissioner of Public Works" was added to Chapter 266-2 C (3) of the city code:
No material other than the mix above specified shall hereafter be used for the construction or reconstruction or repair of sidewalks in the City of Hudson, unless permission in writing is granted by the Commissioner of Public Works.One hopes the current Commissioner of Public Works, Tyler Kritzman, who sits on the Public Works Board, as well as our new Code Enforcement Officer Nick Fox are aware of this clause.
At a recent Historic Preservation Commission meeting, Matt McGhee brought up the historic brick sidewalk on South First Street, running along the west side of the street from Union Street to Cherry Alley. The proposed demolition and replacement of the garage behind 30 Union Street is currently being reviewed by the HPC, and McGhee expressed concern that the sidewalk in front of the proposed new building be repaired and preserved.
Responding to McGhee's concerns, someone pointed out that the sidewalk was not in compliance with code, seemingly dismissing the notion that the sidewalk should or could be preserved. Actually, given the clause in the code, it does not seem the case that all nonconforming sidewalks need to be replaced so long as they are or can be restored to be ADA compliant.
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When government starts to nickle-and-dime its regulations, it starts to sink in to the swamp of "enforcement." It has a better chance of succeeding by stating the general rules and then letting citizens sue for enforcement.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t there a saying about uniformity being the bugbear of small minds? There can’t be 25 miles of sidewalk in Hudson. It isn’t hard to see the council’s clear path to adopt code changes that reflect both the different widths viable in various districts as well as how to preserve existing, legacy materials and designs. Work? Yes. Hard? No. Valuable? Yes, very.
ReplyDeleteTwo more reasons to change the sidewalk regulations:
ReplyDelete1. A brick or paver sidewalk laid on the proper bedding ( not concrete) is permeable and can help reduce the amount of run-off that ends up at the treatment plant.
2. Such a sidewalk can be maintained and repaired easily over time. When a concrete sidewalk deteriorates all you can do is do is dig it up , take it to a landfill and pour another concrete sidewalk.
Concrete has about the worst carbon foot print imaginable because of the energy required to mine and refine the cement. Brick and stone are often recycled and can therefore have a near zero footprint.
As John says there is very little work required to change the code; but choosing the right specifications ( bedding in sand over a gravel base vs. laid on a concrete base) is critical .
Yes Yes @Walter Chatham!
ReplyDeleteBrick and pavers are not ever smooth or safe, not from day one after installation. (Go to 2nd & Warren!) Bluestone sidewalks are incredibly slippery with even a thin film of snow or slush. They are dangerous as hell, unlike concrete.
ReplyDeleteBoth of those materials should be prohibited and all that are here should be removed.
Here is a question that no one seems to have considered prior to or after the DRI project was completed last year: When Luizzi's sidewalk pavers (all decorative) begin to come loose and disappear (which they eventually will), who will be responsible for fixing them and replacing them?
DPW does not do sidewalks. Period. Are property owners really responsible for the pavers in front of their properties that they didn't ask for, didn't install and shouldn't be responsible for? Who is going to make a property owner replace or fix one of Luizzi's loose pavers at 2nd & Warren and elsewhere? The code department? The Public Works Board? Rob Perry?
If DPW isn't ever responsible for sidewalks outside of those found along city property, why was Rob Perry even commenting on sidewalks during his report? Why would he ever have anything to say about one inch of sidewalk in front of private property or what material private property sidewalks are made of? It's not part of his purview. At this point, the only people who should be talking about sidewalks (and boy do they talk!) are the members of the Public Works Board, which does not include Rob Perry. I hear his name mentioned at their meetings occasionally, but he is not a member. And for good reason!
What's not slippery with a thin film of snow or slush? And based on your own comment, you should not be commenting (and boy do you comment) the sidewalks as you are not on the Public Works Board.
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