PURPOSE
It has become well-known that walkable neighborhoods are a desirable attribute of cities for the younger generation of mobile workers. Smooth well-maintained, easily accessible and wide sidewalks add to the attractiveness, and enhance the property values of downtowns and residential neighborhoods. While it is a long-established requirement in the City of Chadron that property owners must have and maintain a sidewalk or, on some properties, sidewalks that are compliant with current standards of usability, sidewalks have frequently been treated as an unimportant “frill”, too-often ignored at the time of property development and ignored again as they deteriorate. To correct this problem, the City of Chadron is initiating a Sidewalk Improvement Plan to incentivize residential property owners to install new sidewalks where they have not been installed, to repair damaged sidewalks on their property, or to totally replace sidewalks that are beyond repair or that do not meet current standards.
ELIGIBILITY
This program is available for all owner-occupied residential properties located in the city of Chadron. A project funded by this program must be for the repair, replacement, or installation of a residential sidewalk in order to be eligible. New home construction, where sidewalks are required by Municipal Code are not eligible. Driveway approaches and aprons are not eligible. In order for a sidewalk repair or installation to be eligible for this program, all necessary permits must be obtained and the work must be completed in accordance with all City, State, and Federal codes and regulations, including the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Only projects started on or after the date of adoption of this Plan by the Chadron City Council are eligible for participation.
FUNDING
The city of Chadron will fund this plan through the City's General Fund Budget. The funding amount will be determined by the City Council annually. When funds are not available, grants under the Plan will not be made.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
A Sidewalk Construction, Renewal and Replacement Grant will reimburse a homeowner for fifty percent (50%) of the cost of materials and labor for the repair, or total replacement of an existing sidewalk or the installation of a new sidewalk up to a maximum of $1,500 for a four-foot-wide sidewalk and up to a maximum of $3,000 for a five-foot-wide sidewalk (curb-side sidewalk or SRTS sidewalk). If a Sidewalk Improvement project also requires curb-cuts, thisprogram will reimburse the homeowner for up to $500 of the cost of installing the curb-cut(s). This curb-cut reimbursement will be in addition to the amount granted for the sidewalk construction.
A property owner may participate in this sidewalk improvement program by submimng a Sidewalk Construction, Renewal and Replacement Grant application to City of Chadron, PO Box 390, Cha&on, Nebraska 69337. The application must be submitted not later than April 15t• of each year.
Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Chadron City Council. The committee will screen the applications to ensure projects meet the eligibility requirements and any priority criteria established by the City Council and recommend the most qualified projects to the Council for funding. It is the intent of this program that Council's decision on funding will be made not later than May 15th each year.
Thank you for your interest in participating in The City of Chadron's Sidewalk Improvement Plan. Here are some basic aspects of the Sidewalk Construction, Renewal and Replacement Grant process. Please complete the grant application and return it to the City of Chadron, PO Box 390 OR 234 Main St., Chadron, NE 69337 as soon as possible. Here are important details for grant applicants:
1. The homeowner will be reimbursed 50% of the cost of materials and labor paid to a contractor for
the repair, or total replacement of an existing sidewalk or the installation of a new sidewalk up
to a maximum of $1,500 for a four-foot-wide sidewalk or a maximum of $3,000 for a five-foot-wide
sidewalk (required width for curb-side sidewalks and Safe Routes to School sidewalks). Receipts
must be submitted to receive reimbursement.
2. The homeowner will be reimbursed an additional 50% for curb cuts installed on corner lots up to
a maximum of $500 per curb cut.
3. Applications will be accepted from March 8, 2022 through April 15, 2022. No applications will
be accepted after April 15th.
4. Applications will be reviewed by a committee and successful applicants will be notified during
the week of May 16th.
5. Funds will be dispersed after the completion of the project, once we have received the receipts.
Projects are expected to be completed by October 1, 2022.
6. Applications will be scored by a committee of 3, based on criteria, including but not limited
to:
*Located within a designated School Zone
*Located on a designated Safe Routes to School
*Proximity to Schools
*Connectivity to existing sidewalks
Original source can be found here.
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