Sidewalk-ing your way through the Christiansburg Town Charter and Code

Sidewalk-ing your way through the Christiansburg Town Charter and Code

All you have to do to see how unimportant sidewalks are to the Town of Christiansburg is to take a quick look at the Town Charter & Code. The Charter clearly gives the Town the right to mandate sidewalks in subdivisions but the Town Code totally ignores all residential applications of sidewalks except for the Mixed Use: Residential - Limited Business District MU-1 disignated areas. All other areas where the Town APPEARS to exert any control over sidewalsk is in business districts. However, the Town does retain the right to accept money in lieu of those sidewalks in business districts in certain conditions and that money WOULD be DESIGNATED FOR THE USE OF SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS AND OR REPARIS IN OTHER LOCATIONS (THE CODE DOES NOT SPECIFY THAT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE IN BUSINESS SECTIONS). I wonder just how many of the businesses in town have managed to get a waiver on having sidewalks installed, and, if any, what money the Town Manager/Zoning Administrator designated to be set aside in the 'special fund'. The next logical question would be: "If that money was collected, where and how was it spent?"

From Chapter 4 Section 4.01 of the Christiansburg Town Charter:

"The town council shall have the authority to require real estate subdividers within the corporate limits of the town to construct, at the subdividers' expense, water mains, sewer mains, streets, drainage, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Such construction to be as prescribed by and under the direction of the town council.

The town council shall have the authority to negotiate with subdividers without the corporate limits as to the construction of water mains, sewer mains, and as to water and sewer service. (1954, c. 240)"

Atricle I. In General. Section 503. Fowl straying on streets or sidewlaks.

"It shall be unlawful for any person in the Town to permit fowl kept by him or under his control to stray on the streets or sidewalks of the Town.

(Code 1972, 5 4-3)" (sorry, I couldn't resist adding this one)

Chapter 26 Subdivisions:

Sec. 26-1. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish certain subdivision standards and procedures for the Town and such of its environs as come under the jurisdiction of the governing body as provided for by the Code of Virginia, as amended, and Section 4.01 of the Town Charter. These are part of a long range plan to guide and facilitate the orderly beneficial growth of the community and to promote the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare. More specifically to provide for the harmonious and economic development of the Town, in conformity with the Zoning Ordinance of the Town; for coordination of streets, alleys, and parkways and other public areas within the subdivision with other existing and planned streets, alleys and public areas within the Town; for adequate open spaces for traffic, recreation, light and air, [and] the width, grading, elevation, drainage and paving of such areas; the planting of trees and shrubs; the construction of sidewalks, curbs and gutters; the provision for laying and maintaining gas, sewer, water, electric and telephone lines, works, pipes and easements and for a distribution of the population and traffic which will tend to create conditions favorable to health, safety, convenience, prosperity and the general welfare of the citizenry of the Town.

Chapter 30 Zoning

From Sec. 30-71 (Mixed Use: Residential - Limited Business District MU-1): Sidewalks shall be required for all new non-residential development. The Zoning Administrator/Town Manager may waive this requirement in circumstances that sidewalks do not provide desired connectivity andor are not physically practical due to site limitations provided the owner/developer makes a contribution in an amount approximate to the sidewalk installation cost to the Town of Christiansburg to be utilized for sidewalk improvements and or repairs in other locations. The Zoning Adrninistrator/Town Manager may refer the decision regarding the connectivity andor practicality to the Planning Commission should there be any doubts. The Town Manager/Town Engineer shall make the determination of the approximate sidewalk installation cost.

From Sec. 30-92 Yards (Limited Business District B-1): (e) Sidewalks shall be required for all new development. The Zoning Administrator/Town Manager may waive this requirement in circumstances that sidewalks do not provide desired connectivity and/or are not physically practical due to site limitations provided the owner/developer makes a contribution in an amount approximate to the sidewalk installation cost to the Town of Christiansburg to be utilized for sidewalk improvements and/or repairs in other locations. The Zoning Administrator/Town Manager may refer the decision regarding the connectivity and/or practicality to the Planning Commission should there be any doubts. The Town ManagerITown Engineer shall make the determination of the approximate sidewalk installation cost.

From Sec. 30-98 (Central Business District B-2) Frontage:S idewalks shall be required for all new development. The Zoning AdministratorITown Manager may waive this requirement in circumstances that sidewalks do not provide desired connectivity andor are not physically practical due to site limitations provided the ownerldeveloper makes a contribution in an amount approximate to the sidewalk installation cost to the Town of Christiansburg to be utilized for sidewalk improvements and or repairs in other locations. The Zoning Administrator/Town Manager may refer the decision regarding the connectivity andor practicality to the Planning Commission should there be any doubts. The Town ManagerITown Engineer shall make the determination of the approximate sidewalk installation cost.

Sec. 30-103 (General Business District B-3) Frontage and yards:( f) Sidewalks shall be required for all new development. The Zoning Administrator/Town Manager may waive this requirement in circumstances that sidewalks do not provide desired connectivity and/or are not physically practical due to site limitations provided the ownerldeveloper makes a contribution in an amount approximate to the sidewalk installation cost to the Town of Christiansburg to be utilized for sidewalk improvements and/or repairs in other locations. The Zoning AdministratorlTown Manager may refer the decision regarding the connectivity and/or practicality to the Planning Commission should there be any doubts. The Town ManagerITown Engineer shall make the determination of the approximate sidewalk installation cost.