Creston City Council approved a plan for the installation of a “bumpout” sidewalk, or a curb extension, on the northwest corner of North Elm and West Montgomery streets during its regular scheduled meeting April 2 at the Creston Restored Depot.
Proposal
In February, Wayne Pantini, Union County Development Association executive director, provided a drawing of the proposed sidewalk improvement plan to the council detailing the footprint and description of the project, but he was asked to learn more about bumpouts or reassess its placement and impact in Uptown Creston before the council could make a decision.
According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, bumpouts are described as curb extensions that visually and physically narrow roadway width, create safer and shorter crossings for pedestrians and provide traffic calming on low-speed neighborhood streets and commercial corridors. The available space generated by curb extensions can be used for bioretention, plantings, street furniture and art installations, benches and street trees.
During an appointment with the council this past week, Pantini presented an updated sidewalk improvement plan, which included further information about the bumpout sidewalk, its benefits and some challenges.
At-large representative Steve Wintermute, who voted against the plan, asked what the benefits of a bumpout sidewalk are.
Pantini said bumpouts create a more walkable area and is more pedestrian friendly in terms of safety and improves the neighborhood’s aesthetics. Some of the UCDA plan included installing a bench, bike rack and trees along the street in front of its building.
Pantini said, whether the sidewalk is expanded into a bumpout or not, repairs need to happen either way because of cracks and damage. Additionally, the sidewalk needs to be heightened to redirect runoff rain water, which currently pools onto the sidewalk because of damage to the storm drain near the northwest corner of the intersection.
Not unanimous
The plan, which passed the council in a 5-to-2 vote, was moved by Ward 3 Representative Gabe Carroll and seconded by Terry Freeman.
Ron Higgins (Ward 1), Brenda Lyell-Keate (Ward 4) and Brian Davis (Ward 5) also voted in favor of the plan. Rich Madison, (Ward 2) and Wintermute, both voted in opposition.
“I have no problem with the beautification they are doing. I think it’s wonderful,” said Wintermute. “It’s just the simple fact that, that street is too narrow. That’s my only complaint.”
“”There were no plans. Everything we do as a city, there always has to be plans,” said Madison. “My main concern was drainage. I don’t have anything against trying to improve the uptown. I want to see that happen, but it has to be in a workable condition to do it.”
Sidewalk plan modified
After the council met, Pantini met with Trevor Paulus of Paulus Concrete, who studied the elevations of the current roadway and sidewalk and determined the bumpout plan would not work without a full reconstruction of the intersection, which would allow for improved drainage of rain water.
“We’re going to still have some areas to put some vegetation and trees, it just won’t have the bumpout in there,” said Pantini.
Pantini said the UCDA is covering the costs associated with installing the new sidewalk as it was part of the organization’s original plan when it acquired the property at 301 W. Montgomery St. However, Pantini said he wanted to discuss with city administrators a possibility of having the city remove the old sidewalk.