Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

sidewalk secret

You are correct about requiring sidewalks now in the township but only if the developement is built under a PUD ( Planned Unit Development) zoning classification, which most now are... but not all.

The dirty little sidewalk secret is that they only require the sidewalks IN FRONT of the homes....look at Spring Creek right on Refugee Road near the new High School, which is being developed as a PUD, there is no sidewalk along Refugee Rd or Milnor Road because the the homes BACK UP to Refugee and Milnor....so no sidewalk is required by the zoning even though one is sorely needed because of the New High School. The kids routinely walk through the mud right along Refugee Road (which has no shoulder area) to Spring Creek, as it is in walking distance to the new facilities.

A change is needed when these areas are zoned requiring sidewalks on the main roads too,even if it is the backyard of the homes. This change should be implemented regardless of how bad the crystal ball is in determining what the developemnt will be like nearby. A provision for shoveling these walks must be included.

Sounds good

Who's gonna sign up to shovel Refugee Road - concerned Pickerington Citizens?

I doubt it. Dominion Homes? Doubt it again.

Bigger government - cha-ching.

By Too good to be true

civic association

Since the sidewalks would be located in a common area typically maintained by the civic associations of these subdivisions in Violet, the contract to clear the walkways should be the responsiblility of the association, just like mowing the grass of any park area or open space included in the development. Typically civic dues in these subdivisions is 100 to 150 dollars per home annually. With 500 homes, they could afford it.

Bigger government is not the answer to everything...maybe in Pickerington...

Couple of things

First, parents will not allow their children to cross the tracks to walk to school. Even if you put up crossing gates for sidewalks, the chances are slim the parents will consent.

Second, what ever happened to crossing guards? Where I come from, students in middle or junior high (grade configuration is relative to where you live) acted as crossing guards or citizen volunteers or seniors. Why doesn't Pickerington have crossing guards. Many kids aren't walking that should simply because their parents won't let them cross a street out of sight of the house.

Third, this just adds credence to the value of the Diley Road project. There will be sidewalks the length of the project. Also there will be signals at Wright and Long which will have pedestrian signals. This project alone aids Pickerington Elementary and Diley Middle. And don't forget the future, the is a central and north, don't you think there will be a south someday?

The Diley project also logically leads to other improvements. Isn't it safe to assume that with that project complete or still under way, that Wright and Long roads will also be improved? More sidewalks, more kids walking. More money saved.