Developer John Rocca and architects presented their plans for the altered sidewalk to Saint Andrews Council at the council meeting on May 20.
Saint Andrews councillors approved the alterations to the sidewalk adjacent to the Argyll Residences on Water Street. A slope under 5 per cent was approved with near unanimous support.
The new designs were presented in-person to the council by John Rocca, president of Ellerdale Ventures Inc., with technical support from the project’s architects online. The alterations to the sidewalks at three points around the building will not exceed the 5 per cent, abiding by the regulation set by the New Brunswick Building Code Administration Act as the maximum for barrier-free ramps.
The approval was made without a lift to the current height of the curb. Although the topic was discussed by the council and if changes need to be made from what has already been approved they would have to seek approval for the alteration.
“It will make the building accessible and also the sidewalk,” said Saint Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson.
The alterations were presented to the council as “sidewalk improvements” as some sections of the existing sidewalk did not meet provincial guidelines. In the letter sent to council by Rocca the alterations will be an improvement in “accessibility, drainage, and pedestrian safety.”
“One hundred per cent of all costs incurred with this change will be funded by the developer,” said Henderson.
He said the council had received a number of proposals for alterations to the sidewalk but never considered “offsetting a mistake that was made in design.”
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The Southwestern New Brunswick Service Commission (SNBSC) and the developer confirmed to The Courier that their building officials have certified the plans for the building.
“Our certified building officials have evaluated the plans for this building’s barrier free entrances, and they have found that they comply with the requirements,” said Alex Henderson, planning director for the SNBSC.
Based on the designs presented to council, Ability New Brunswick was not able to provide advice on how accessible this alteration is for people with mobility issues as the designs do not “detail the level landings at the top and bottoms of slopes.”
Rocca confirmed to The Courier the project, including alterations to the public sidewalk, are estimated to be finished in August.
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