(12/14) The Town Council approved a resolution at their December meeting authorizing the submission for a Community Development Block Grant to help address curb-ramps not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Town Planner Zach Gulden told the commissioners that ADA requires local governments to make their facilities, streets, and sidewalks accessible to people with disabilities so that they may travel throughout the municipality in a safe and convenient manner. There are some 300 individuals in Emmitsburg considered disabled, and more than 100,000 visitors a year which could include other disabled individuals as well.

With that in mind, Gulden stated that, in developing a town-wide ADA curb-ramp project application, "the town contracted with Fox and Associates, Inc., in order to conduct a formal, town-wide inventory and detailed cost-estimate of all of the ADA non-compliant, sidewalk curb-ramps located at intersections and street-corners."

The town planner said the survey revealed that 117 curbs throughout the town are "old, cracking, and not ADA-compliant, which create unsafe conditions for all citizens and visitors, but especially the elderly, disabled, wheelchair-bound, and sight-and-hearing impaired."

The numerous non-ADA compliant curb-ramps were scattered throughout the Pembrook, Brookfield, Silo Hill and Southgate developments, and throughout the town-proper, including parks and other residential areas.

The total estimated cost of the project for bringing the 117 curb-ramps up to ADA standards is $697,693.

If awarded, the curb-ramps projected timeline would include producing an associated environmental review in March or April, issuing requests for construction proposals in April or May 2021, awarding contract for construction in June 2021, and beginning and completing construction-period between July 2021 and April 2022.

The block grants required public hearing also mandated review of a number of other topics relating to community development, including citing recent, past, and projects underway.

Gulden noted that a Dollar General opened in 2015, a Dunkin Donuts in 2020, an 8,380 square-foot Rutter’s gas station and convenience store is to begin construction in 2021, and insurance broker is currently renovating a former residence into a new headquarters, and a daycare-center has purchased and is renovating the old Emmitsburg Feed store.

He further noted that, not only have developers expressed interest in finishing-out existing housing developments, but other developers have expressed interest in annexing lands on North Seton Ave. and Frailey Rd. to the town for construction of new housing developments. In addition, he said, there has been interest expressed in the past year by a developer who would like to construct a 58,900 square-foot warehouse and a 5,200 square-foot office building.

Public comment may be submitted to the town which may accessing the town’s website.