City Exempts New Homes From Sidewalk Policy

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The Sandy Springs City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to make a change to its sidewalk policy that should be welcome news to residents.

The council voted to exempt sidewalk construction for new single family residential construction or renovations along streets that are not listed on the city’s sidewalk master plan.

The council in October approved requirements that all new development and redevelopment projects must build sidewalks along roads unless a unique hardship — such as topographical or drainage issues — was presented that would hinder that development on the property.

See also:

• Sandy Springs Looks to Revise Sidewalk Policy

However, since the city adopted the new policy, city staff stipulates a number of new sidewalks sections have been constructed, but there have been requests to waive the policy for reasons due to the lack of a sidewalk network or light traffic on roads or slow speeds along a particular street.

Assistant City Manager Jim Tolbert said this latest move will now allow the city to move forward with issuing certificates of occupancy to residents who were held up due to the requirement.

City leaders and staff will continue to work out other code changes to the ordinance, which will be presented in the future.

The Council also appointed residents David Centofanti, Steve Levetan, Todd Williams, Trish Thompson, Cody Partin, Chris Burnett, Richard Munger, Julian Thorne, Lisa Shunnarah, Donna Mahaffey, Clancy Jordan, Andy Porter, Susan Riley–Hayes, Craig Lesser, Sunny Park and Alan Andrew to an advisory committee for the Comprehensive Plan and Colin Lichtenstein to the Board of Appeals.

City leaders also gave the green light to use the condemnation process to acquire property at 175 Mt. Vernon Highway and 176 Hilderbrand Avenue, both of which are owned by The Evelyn S. Sauls Real Estate Trust and are needed for a parking lot in relation to the City Center project.

The city has been in negotiations with property owners and presented the trustees with an offer to purchase both parcles for $1.75 million.

City staff has been in negotiations with the property owners to acquire the properties and other required rights by purchase. However, city staff stipulates there are numerous tenants and condemnation may be required to obtain clear title. Staff will continue negotiations in an effort to reach a settlement with the property owners. 

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