By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Detailed plans for miles of new sidewalks will be laid out at a workshop on July 27 at the Community Memorial Building.
Town officials hope the session from 6 to 8 p.m. will provide answers and allay concerns of residents who fear the impact of new sidewalks on their property.
Plans to use federal money to put sidewalks on streets that don’t have them has sparked controversy over the last few months.
The town is set to receive more than $600,000 later this year from federal funds aimed at increasing walking, reducing driving and improving air quality.
The town has received petitions and heard from dozens of residents who don’t want sidewalks on their streets.
Speakers at board meetings have repeatedly urged the board to install sidewalks in areas where people walk ó North Main Street near the middle school and Porky’s, and Church Street from Main Street to U.S. 29 at Hardee’s.
Town Manager Bill Pless said maps will be available that will show exactly where the sidewalks will go and the potential impact.
“We are trying to impact the least amount of private property,” Pless said. He noted several of the sidewalks will be entirely on town property and not impact private property.
Referring to the controversy and the wave of opposition, Pless suggested a lot was due to misinformation. “Some people made up their mind without knowing.”
Alderman Lee Withers asked if the town drops a street from the project, could the money be used to do a sidewalk at another locations.
Pless said the town will lose the money ó it will revert to the state and be redistributed to other towns.
Streets that will be included, along with the total linear feet of sidewalks planned for each section, are:
– Section A ó Centerview, Chapel, Blackwelder and Keller, 3,830 feet;
– Section B ó Park, Elizabeth and Clinton 5,100 feet;
– Section C ó Bostian, 5,500 feet;
– Section D ó Stokes and Highland Ridge, 5,200 feet;
– Section E ó West Vance, Mitchell, Wilson and Laurel, 6,500 feet;
– Section F ó Kirk, 3,300 feet;
– Section G ó Washington, Klondale and East Liberty, 2,750 feet.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.