Does District of Clearwater want to spend $40,000 to construct a walkway along the south side of Murtle Crescent, across from the new shopping center now under construction?
That was the question municipal staff asked of town council during a meeting held July 8.
The project would include a paved three-meter wide multi-use path, curb, gutter and street lighting from Helmcken Street to just past Weyerhaeuser Park.
Buy-Low Foods intends to install a walkway along the north side of Murtle Crescent, next to the shopping center it is building.
However, when staff reviewed the design with the developer and the contractor, it was felt that a reduction in the sidewalk width fronting the shopping center would be beneficial.
This translated into a savings for the developer, which the developer has transferred to the district.
Constructing a multi-use path as proposed would reflect the intention of the recently developed Road Cross-Section Bylaw, staff pointed out.
Other options proposed included installing the multi-use path as a graveled trail, and not installing it at all, just the curb, gutter and streetlights.
Buy-Low is paying for half the cost of upgrading the section of Murtle Crescent next to the new shopping center. The municipality is paying the other half, at a cost of $50,000.
Installing a paved multi-use path as proposed therefore would bring the total investment in the area to $90,000.
There was some discussion by council members about spending that amount of money in one small part of the community.
However, in the end they agreed to the proposal.
Councilor Ken Kjenstad pointed out that the section of road in question would be one of the first things many people would see of Clearwater.
Spending money to make it attractive therefore was a good investment, he felt.
Kjenstad also pointed out that it was better to install the walkway, etc. now as part of the larger shopping center construction project. Delaying the installation would make it much more costly in the end.
During the discussion it was noted that the intent is to extend the paved portion of Murtle Crescent only to past Weyerhaeuser Park, and not to connect with the section of the crescent by Blair Place.
Buy-Low Foods does, however, plan to construct a multi-use path from Weyerhaeuser Park west to Murtle Road.
Councilor Jon Kreke noted that this would help connect the community’s most densely populated area with the new shopping center.
