Raised Sidewalks? Lambertville Wants Them Fixed

Tree roots are the most common causes for uplifted sidewalks, which can lead to a serious tripping hazard. Now, the City of Lambertville is undertaking an effort to get the problem fixed.

In his weekly note to residents, Mayor Andrew Nowick advised residents that city officials are mailing letters to property owners to alert them they are required to “eliminate trip hazards on their sidewalks.”

The letter to residents comes after two serious falls caused by raised sidewalk edges, the mayor wrote.

“I’m not winning any popularity contests with these letters,” he wrote.

The city’s letter provides the language from the code on the issue and three potential strategies to fix the problem.

“Property owners are legally responsible for ongoing maintenance. It’s a tedious distinction to know more about sidewalk safety than most of you, but if you call me with a question, at least I can answer it,” Nowick said.

Additionally, the mayor also said in his weekly update that the city will be sending letters to short-term rental property owners who need to still complete the annual registration. The city requires owners of short-term rental properties, including Airbnb and VRBO-listed dwellings, to register with the city each year.