One property owner is blocking final preparations to put 9,500-feet of sidewalk along N.C. 107 from the downtown area to its intersection with N.C. 16.

“We need to let him know he is holding up the entire project,” Jesse Stiles of Dukes Planning and Environmental told the Sylva Town Board last week.

Stiles said the owner of Video Update has not responded to requests from project officials who have tried to contact him about using some of his property for the sidewalk. The board agreed to have its attorney send him a letter.

According to Stiles, the sidewalk will be up to six-feet wide and in some places will have a buffer between it and the road. The plans were submitted to the state Department of Transportation in October, and it was approved except for the section by Video Update and Roberson Supply. Stiles said he is working with Roberson Supply to work out those problems, but that Video Update was proving more difficult. The owner was sent a certified letter Nov. 26 informing him of the desire by DPE to work out a solution. There has been no response, according to Stiles.

He said the sidewalk will have to turn into the Video Update property in order to meet state requirements. DOT will not approve the plans until the problem has been worked out, said Stiles.

“When these two problems are cleared up, we will be ready to let this project out for bid,” he said.

 

Home
The Smoky Mountain News