To the editor:
I am writing to you to inform other homeowners living in Hellertown there is a little-known Article III. Curb, Sidewalks, Handicap Ramp and Driveways ordinance in existence. My sisters and I recently had to place our 89-year-old mother in an assisted living facility when she could no longer safely live alone in her home. Our parents lived in the family home for over 62 years. We cleared out her house of belongings, listed it for sale and it quickly went under agreement. Our realtor did mention a sidewalk inspection was required, but we had no idea how detailed it would be.
The first step in the process is to go to Hellertown Borough Hall when selling a home or transferring ownership. There is a Sidewalk and Curb Inspection Application to be completed, requiring a fee of $25. The seller’s property is inspected by the Zoning/Codes Enforcement officer. A report is then given to the homeowners. Ours was all done by way of e-mail.
About one week after our inspection we were notified the sidewalk and driveway failed the inspection. We were three weeks away from the settlement date and told we needed to have four things done before then. The zoning officer would later return to inspect the work. We were given names of three possible contractors to call who were familiar with the zoning requirements. We also could have used anyone else of our choosing. The officer was willing to work with us to be able to still meet the settlement date.
Among the items needed to be done to pass our inspection were:
- Fill a large crack in the corner sidewalk handicap ramp (which was originally installed by the Borough several years ago) with an approved joint compound.
- Raise or replace a section of sidewalk with a lip of over 1/4”.
- Install one directional ADA ramp at the sidewalk leading to an alley.
- Remove a very large section of an existing macadam driveway leading to a street and install a concrete driveway apron and sidewalk across the existing driveway. A permit was required for the work.
We were provided pictures of the violations, which needed to be (addressed) before going to settlement. We were fortunate to get one of the recommended companies to give an estimate and be able to do the work within a week. The weather also cooperated during that week. We also got a second estimate which was more than double the first one and the work (was) to be done much later.
The unexpected and unplanned for cost was over $2,000. This caused an extreme amount of stress when we were already dealing with many difficult and emotional issues leading up to placing Mom in assisted living, along with clearing out and listing the long-time family home in a short period of time. The zoning officer returned after the work was done to complete the re-inspection. This time we passed and were given the passing form, which was one of the documents required at the settlement.
The point of this letter is to let other Hellertown homeowners know they will face this same inspection when and if they decide to sell their homes. We spoke to many people in town after this situation and most were not aware the required inspection exists. Nobody ever received a letter notifying them of it or remembered seeing articles in the paper about it. If we knew about this law, we certainly would have had the inspection done way before listing the house. If we weren’t selling the home, the same violations would not seem to be an issue.
I attached the very detailed ordinance (click here to read the Article III ordinance) and the inspection application form to this letter to point out the specifications. As we later drove through Hellertown, we saw many other sidewalks in violation of these codes. Many were worse than our family’s sidewalks and driveway looked to us. It seems the existing violations are only an issue if a resident wants to sell the home or transfer ownership.
I would like to alert all the homeowners in town to check their sidewalks, curbs and macadam driveways leading to a street before they may want to sell their home or the home of an aging parent on a fixed income. This may help prevent others from experiencing a shocking report and expensive estimates for failing the required inspection with little time to get the work done. We certainly wished someone would have alerted us to this ordinance so we could have planned ahead of time.
Sincerely,
Rita Frey, Bethlehem
Editor’s Note: Hellertown Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer Kris Russo said in an email in response to this letter that the sidewalk ordinance has been in effect since November 2005. He said he conducts about 75 sidewalk inspections in a typical year, with an estimated 40 percent failing the initial inspection. “Most realtors from the surrounding area are familiar with this required inspection,” Russo said. He added that “unlike other municipalities, the borough does not require a CO (certificate of occupancy) inspection of the actual dwelling on the property. The only required inspection before a sale is the sidewalk inspection.” To submit a letter to the editor, email it to jo**@sa**********.com.
