A Sidewalk Mandate In Elmhurst? Officials Discuss It

ELMHURST, IL – Members of an Elmhurst City Council committee on Monday discussed a proposal to require sidewalks in front of newly built homes.

In December, aldermen Emily Bastedo, Brian Cahill, Jacob Hill and Chris Jensen asked the city to consider such a mandate. Over time, they said, that would help fill in gaps in Elmhurst's sidewalk network.

The aldermen cited city research showing that at least 15 homes were built in the last three years in areas without sidewalks.

The council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee took up the issue Monday.

Alderman Mark Mulliner argued against a one-size-fits-all mandate.

He said his daughter lives in a house with a sidewalk, but the newly built house next door lacks one. On the other side is a home with a sidewalk. In such situations, he said, a sidewalk should be required.

He also said the mandate should apply to a block where 51 percent or more has sidewalks.

"If one house on a block has (a sidewalk), I think it should be optional," Mulliner said.

Otherwise, he said, the city would be forcing a sidewalk on a neighborhood that may not want one.

One example was Riverside Drive in southwest Elmhurst, Mulliner said. He said if he told those residents they must have sidewalks, he would likely get run out of town.

Bastedo recognized some opposed sidewalks.

"People who don't want sidewalks have lived there a long time," she said. "They are not the ones who will have to put a sidewalk in."

A mandate for new homes, she said, would get the city closer to its goal. And she said schools agree that more sidewalks are needed.

When officials brought up situations where sidewalks would be difficult, Bastedo responded, "I don't think we should let these extreme cases keep us from moving forward."

The committee made no recommendations. That may happen later.