Sidewalk decision on cul-de-sac deferred
St. Catharines council has yet to decide if sidewalks will be provided along Olde School Court.
A city staff report discussed Monday recommended installing the sidewalks on the cul-de-sac. Port Dalhousie Coun. Carlos Garcia introduced a motion to support the wishes of residents opposed to sidewalks.
After several councillors spoke in favour of building the sidewalks despite opposition from residents, Garcia’s fellow Port Dalhousie Coun. Bruce Williamson successfully had the decision deferred.
“The issue seems to be around having unanimity among the homeowners,” Williamson said, adding he hoped to defer the decision until “all the houses are built out and then we can get a good flavour of what the community wants.”
Garcia said each of the residents currently living on the street have at least two vehicles parked in their driveways.
“If we put in a sidewalk … it means that the second car or third car would not be able to be parked on the driveway,” Garcia said.
“You would have cars parked everywhere on the street, which would make something that would be dangerous for the children,” he said.
Despite Garcia’s concerns about safety, other councillors argued it would be far safer to have the sidewalks.
Grantham Coun. Bill Phillips said he initially agreed with Garcia, but after reviewing information he changed his mind.
He said people walking to access a nearby park could create “a significantly dangerous situation.”
“It is definitely a safety issue,” Phillips added.
St. Patrick's Coun. Mat Siscoe said a city staff report on the issue “debunks every single argument that was put forward” against the sidewalks.
“Sometimes you’re not just working on behalf of the very small number of people who have currently moved into the neighbourhood, you’re working on behalf of future residents, you’re working on behalf of future generations who may want to be able to walk in their community,” he said.
Siscoe said arguments about safety “are so nonsensical I don’t even know if they bear repeating because it’s been proven time and again that sidewalks increase safety.”
St. Patrick's Coun. Mark Elliott said the sidewalk issue is “not about the people on the street, it’s about the people in our community and providing accessible neighbourhoods and accessible routes through our community.”
Although Garcia’s motion also asked that funds to build the sidewalks be used for sidewalks in other areas, planning and building services director Jim Riddell said the developer provides the city with funds for the construction of the sidewalks.
“If the sidewalks aren’t constructed, the money is given back to the developer,” Riddell said.
He added that the city’s accessibility advisory committee directed staff “to provide sidewalks everywhere in the city. That’s why it’s in the official plan.”