The Sandy Springs City Council voted Tuesday evening to suspend its approximately 18-month-old sidewalk construction policy while it takes a look at possible changes.

The 2014 policy requirement mandates adding new sidewalks as part of construction projects, including putting up single-family homes. Officials said residents have frequently sought waivers from the policy, even though city officials amended the policy last summer to require single-family home sidewalk construction only on streets with sidewalks that are part of the sidewalk master plan.

One primary objection has been cost.

The suspension scuttles required new single-family-home sidewalk construction while the city examines potential changes.

One option on the table is possibly using impact fees to fund sidewalks.

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Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

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