Background
The built environment of all cities evolves over time. The Baker City of tomorrow will be a very different place than the Baker City of today. How a city develops its new neighborhoods and redevelops its older sectors has a significant impact on the quality-of-life and economic wellbeing of its current and future residents. This process of change may seem slow, almost unnoticeable, but it does eventually result in the transformation of a city.
Baker City as a matter of public policy reflected in our adopted comprehensive plans, ordinances, and administrative practice, is committed to the advancement of a safe pedestrian and bike friendly community. It is also committed to the creation of an attractive streetscape through street trees. There are substantial benefits associated with these objectives. In the case of street trees Baker City has won the designation of a "Tree City USA" since 1985 from the Arbor Day Foundation and Oregon Department of Forestry. Mature street trees significantly enhance property values. Market research has shown that your house value is as much as $20,000 higher if located on a street with mature trees. Street trees can significantly reduce heat in the City during the summer, and they have the psychological effect of slowing drivers on residential streets – a major safety benefit. The trees also add to the overall character and appearance of the community as a benefit to us all.
The City's program to complete a pedestrian-way system and to enhance bicycle options also will have substantial benefits in the future. The program, which includes sidewalks requirements for new development, is designed to:
- Improve pedestrian and biking safety for all groups, but particularly children;
- Reduce the need for expensive school transportation fleets by allowing "walker/biker" schools;
- Encourage better community health by providing pleasant places for people to walk or bike;
- Reduce the need to drive for short trips during these times of high gas prices; and
- Provide a stronger sense of community by providing environments where we as neighbors routinely see and talk to each other. This is an important quality-of-life factor for everyone, but particularly for our older citizens who no longer have the social contact of working or may no longer drive.
How is the Community Advancing the Objectives ?
By ordinance, Baker City requires that sidewalks be provided at the expense of the owner/developer when any residential or commercial parcel of land is developed. They must be built to City standards and they must meet the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). These improvements must be completed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a new building. In some circumstances, existing sidewalks along a parcel under development may be in such a state of disrepair that they must be replaced by the applicant.
Why is the construction and maintenance of sidewalks the responsibility of landowners and not the City? In cities across America sidewalks have historically always been the responsibility of the property owner. Just as we as communities require developers and ultimately those individuals who buy new homes and businesses within a new development to pay for the new roads, water and sewer lines, we also require sidewalk construction at the time of development. This is standard practice in nearly all cities.
How the Program Works
The equitable administration of sidewalk requirements where all landowners are treated equally is one of the important principles for the City. It is impossible to adopt detailed ordinance language that anticipates every circumstance that is encountered in the field when implementing the City's uniform requirement for sidewalks. In highly limited circumstances, sidewalk improvements may be impracticable or ill-advised due to the presence of an unimproved street, physical constraints, or other conditions where a sidewalk grid is unlikely to ever be developed. To maintain equitable treatment between all members of the public and to further the public objective of streetscape improvements, the City may offer the applicant, at the City's discretion, a variety of alternatives in lieu of construction of the required sidewalk if unusual circumstances exist.
You have four options in such circumstances. The first step is that a determination of the linear road frontage that would require sidewalks along your lot frontage will be made. An average construction cost of $20 per lineal foot for a 5' wide sidewalk (2008 cost) will be utilized to calculate your obligation in residential areas. In no case shall your obligation exceed $3,500 if you are a single residential lot owner preparing to build one residential structure. If you are engaged in a commercial project or a larger development your obligation may exceed the $3,500 cap. You will then be offered one of the following three options:
- You may contribute the determined amount to the City's sidewalk fund, in which case the funds will be specifically utilized to improve the pedestrian system in high-priority areas.
- You may contribute the funds to the City's Tree Board whereupon the Tree Board or its staff will work with you to develop and implement tree plantings in the public right-of-way planting area along your immediate street frontage and the adjacent street frontages to the full dollar amount of your required contribution.
- You may choose to develop missing sidewalk linkages in your immediate area to the full amount of your required contribution. This option must be developed in conjunction with and the approved by the City.
- The last option is that you may choose to contribute the funds to the Leo Adler Memorial Parkway fund in which case the funds will be utilized to complete the multipurpose pathway system.
For further information please contact either the Baker City Planning Department or Baker City Public Works Department both located in City Hall.