More than a dozen people who signed a petition demanding the removal of a sidewalk on Dunkirk Street in Cornwall got some bad news Monday night.
City council approved a recommendation from administrators that denied the request.
Part of the reason for the denial is that only the people on the east side of Dunkirk were polled for the petition, while the west-side residents were largely ignored.
"Sidewalks serve residents from the area where it lies, as well as residents from elsewhere that need the (sidewalk) to safely move from point A to B," says the city hall report. "Therefore, a survey involving only residents where the sidewalk lies is somewhat incomplete."
The main reason for the request by the petitioners is to provide more space for private parking on the driveway portion within the city boulevard, where currently the sidewalk lies.
Norm Levac, the city's municipal works manager, told councillors Cornwall has never cimply removed a sidewalk following a request from residents.
It has, however, removed sidewalks when that request was coupled with scheduled maintenance of the street adjacent to the sidewalk.
"If we see there is no desire for that sidewalk we'll takevit out during the reconstruction," said Levac.
Some lots on Dunkirk are only 40 feet wide which somewhat limits off-street private parking spaces. However, there are no on-street parking restrictions, so there is an on-street option for all but winter night time parking.
The city has indicated that in the future, when Dunkirk requires some repair or rebuilding, work on potentially removing the sidewalk will be considered. But since Dunkirk was resurfaced in 2004, it is not expected to require further rehabilitation in the next 10 years.
In the meantime, the city indicates it will maintain the sidewalks in a safe state of repair.
