Coeur d'Alene council considers step that would lead to more sidewalks

The Coeur d'Alene City Council on Tuesday will consider amending Municipal Code so more sidewalks will be constructed in the city.

As it stands, Coeur d’Alene does not have sidewalks in 30% of neighborhoods due to older areas being built before sidewalks were required, according to a staff report.

The need for sidewalks in "Priority Corridors" was discussed by City Council in October. The council directed staff to prepare an ordinance amending sections of Municipal Code to remove the exceptions for sidewalk construction in designated Priority Corridors.

Municipal Code §§ 12.28.210 through 240 provides for exemptions to sidewalk construction due to hardship, geographical constraints and distance.

For example, if the nearest sidewalk is 450 feet or more from the property being improved, the property owner is not required to build a sidewalk, the report said. 

"This means sidewalks may never get built in many older areas of the City," it said.

The amendments will remove the exceptions and will require developers/owners to construct sidewalks in the identified Priority Corridors "regardless of the distance to the nearest sidewalk or any other exemption."

"Requiring the construction of sidewalks in conjunction with development in Priority Pedestrian Corridors will help the City create a safer, more walkable community," the report said.

The Pedestrian/Bike Committee identified 12 priority areas that should be removed from the exemption. These areas are primarily routes to schools from neighborhoods, including streets around Coeur d’Alene High School, Fernan and Winton elementary schools.

Councilman Dan Gookin, in October, voted against amending the code.

While agreeing it was for a good purpose, he said it would be “ridiculous” to require a developer to put in a sidewalk that “goes nowhere” as the properties on both sides probably wouldn’t have them. 

He said such sidewalks are around town and are an “undue burden” on a homeowner.

Gookin said having no sidewalks is part of the character of many neighborhoods. In those areas, such as Sanders Beach, people walk in the streets and don’t have any problems. 

“It seems to me, this is Idaho. This isn’t a big city. There's lots of places in the city where there’s no sidewalks and people buy homes there. They like that. They like that lifestyle," he said in a previous Press story.

There would be no direct financial impact on the city with the change. Sidewalks in the priority areas will be built by property developers/owners, the report said. 

"However, the City may, in the future, receive grant money for sidewalks or conduct sidewalk projects, in which case the City will construct the sidewalks," it said.

The City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Community Room.