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Bethel seeks to restart sidewalk project

Condemnation proceedings will start soon in Bethel to obtain permanent sidewalk easements for six Wooster Street properties.  The Board of Selectmen voted at their meeting last week to get the legal proceeding underway so the town an move forward with a downtown streetscape project. 

The residents would be compensated for the easements, but one said they don't want to be responsible for clearing snow on the town-installed sidewalk.  Local ordinances call for property owners to clear snow, and they’d responsible if somebody hurts themselves. 

A $1.5 million grant hangs in the balance for the ongoing public safety improvements.  First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says the project will make downtown more walkable, accessible and safer.  Knickerbocker says because of the shape of the property and where the property lines fall, it’s not possible to redesign the sidewalk to stay entirely within the town’s legal right of way. 

Bethel Town Attorney Martin Lawlor has been writing letters requesting easements from every Wooster Street property owner whose property does not already have a sidewalk.  Bethel will get appraisals from two different appraisers for the six properties, and then go to a judge to prove the sidewalk project is in the interest of public safety and good for the town.

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Brian Kilmeade

Local Headlines