| | | | | | | |  | STAFF REPORT
For Meeting of July 8, 2019
MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL | Agenda Item # 10.B.
TITLE: Resolution #2130 Local Improvement District (LID) #322 Street Standard |
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| | | | | | | | Subject
Resolution 2130 adopts a new street standard specific to the area included in Local Improvement District #322.
Summary and Background
This resolution allows for a “sanity check” in the City’s standard specifications for street development, without throwing the door wide open to allow developers elsewhere in the city to attempt to reduce costs by developing sub-standard streets.
The existing street standard requires, among other things, sidewalks to be installed at the time that a property develops and a street is installed. This requirement has a broad public benefit for most properties throughout the city in order to make pedestrian movement throughout the city easier and safer. However, the area of LID 322 presents a unique situation where sidewalk installation is likely to have very limited public benefit while substantially driving up the cost of development.
The cost of sidewalk installation became a point of consideration when, preliminary engineering estimates to install streets in the LID 322 area showed a cost of $3.4M to construct them to current standards, but the cost would fall by $660,000 simply by not installing sidewalks. The area of LID 322 is well removed from any current or planned residential areas. The area is also not along any future major roadway connections in the adopted Transportation System Plan, which would have made future pedestrian long-distance walking possible. Finally, the size of developments which have been, and are planned to take place within the area in the future are very low-density development; making it un-likely that any future employees will find it beneficial to walk to, from, or through this area.
Additionally, upon reviewing the cost savings associated with sidewalk removal, staff began to examine the wisdom of requiring the streets themselves within LID 322 to be constructed to the current standard. Currently asphalt paving width for those streets would be required to be 36’, which includes two 12’ travel lanes, and accommodation for 6’ of on-street parking on either side. It was determined that the development lots in that area are of such a size that off-street parking is the most likely, and desirable option, and on-street parking mixed with truck traffic creates a more dangerous street environment. Therefore, the width of the street in LID 322 is recommended to be (somewhat counter-intuitively) reduced to just 30 feet wide, however, this standard would also not allow for on-street parking, and therefore make the travel lanes themselves 15’ each, instead of 12. In addition to the safety improvements for this specific area, the reduced asphalt and base rock necessary to construct to the proposed standard will substantially reduce the cost of developing the streets in LID 322.
Tie-In to Council Goals:
Goal 2.1: Complete SHIP Master Plan Concept.
Fiscal Information
Adoption of Resolution 2130 has no direct fiscal impact. However, please note its potential impact on planned developments within LID 322 if and when they occur.
Alternatives and Recommendation
Alternatives
-Approve Resolution 2130
-Reject Resolution 2130
Recommendation
Approve Resolution 2130
Requested Action/Motion
Motion to approve Resolution 2130
Submitted By: Mark Morgan |
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