A member of the Olds & District Community Policing Advisory Society (ODCPAS) has come out in favour of the sidewalk bump-outs in Uptowne.
Michelle Maschke made that comment during a meeting of the ODCPAS committee in town council chambers.
The bump-outs were installed when 50 Avenue was redesigned in conjunction with a sewer and water upgrading project over the past couple of years.
Some members of the Uptowne Olds Committee have expressed concern that the bump-outs -- especially in front of Suzanne's & Jenny's and A Gallery of Floors -- have taken up several potential parking spots.
Town chief operating officer Doug Wagstaff told the Uptowne committee the town is looking at the problem, but he would not guarantee the bump-outs would be removed.
“I thought they were fantastic for the Midnight Madness and whatever it was. There was a place to stand and visit,” Maschke said during the ODCPAS meeting, sparking some laughter among her committee colleagues.
“Where previously you would have been in the middle of the street,” committee member and Olds council rep wade Bearchell said with a laugh.
“That's right – we would have,” Maschke replied.
Bearchell said some business people are “mad about the bump-out curbs.”
“I think that there are some valid concerns that we're going to deal with moving forward with those,” he said.
Bearchell agreed with comments made earlier by town officials that the plans for the streetscape – including the bump-outs – were hammered out as a result of several public meetings.
However, he indicated he understood why all the ramifications of the design may not have been understood at that time.
“It's one thing to talk about something and then the reality of when you see it is another thing. And you know, so I get it,” he said. “I'm hoping somewhere we can meet in the middle. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging that you've made mistakes.”
“The town is looking at whether there were some mistakes made or whatever – whether we can change something.
“But in the interests of pedestrian safety, I think it's a good thing,” he added.
"There was a place to stand and visit."MICHELLE MASCHKEOLDS & DISTRICT COMMUNITY POLICING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER
