Item 6: Minimum Sidewalk Width Design Standard for Crest Drive Area

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The City Council amended the Design Standards and Guidelines for Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Accessways on October 22, 2007, to allow for a minimum street width of 18 feet (two 9- foot travel lanes) in the Crest Drive area. At the City Council work session held on January 23, 2008, the City Council was presented with the Crest Drive Community Team’s (CDCT’s) recommended design for Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street. In addition, information was provided on the City’s Design Standards and Guidelines for Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Accessways to aid the council in deciding whether the design standard pertaining to minimum sidewalk width should be reduced from five feet to four feet in the Crest Drive area. On February 19, 2008, the City Council held a public hearing on the minimum sidewalk width in the Crest Drive area. Eight people testified at the public hearing. Two people testified in favor of reducing the minimum sidewalk width to four feet. In addition, the chair of the Crest Drive Citizens Association (CDCA) read a motion (Attachment B) passed at a general meeting of the CDCA supporting a minimum sidewalk width of four feet. Four people testified in opposition of reducing the minimum sidewalk width to four feet. One individual requested mountable sidewalks along her property frontage on Crest Drive. Design Standards and Guidelines for Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Accessways The City’s Design Standards and Guidelines for Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Accessways establishes a minimum sidewalk width design standard of five feet. In addition, there are a set of exception criteria including topographic or slope constraints, significant trees, natural resources constraints, historic resources, insufficient right-of-way, or adopted council policies that allow for a sidewalk width of less than five feet. The design standard of five feet was established as a width that would allow two people to comfortably walk side by side. Crest Drive Community Team Recommendation At its last meeting, the Crest Drive Community Team reached consensus on the following with regard to minimum sidewalk width: The CDCT requests that City Council revise the minimum sidewalk width standard in the Crest Drive neighborhood from 5 feet to 4 feet. The CDCT believes that a sidewalk width of four feet better meets the themes and values identified as part of the context sensitive solutions process. RELATED CITY POLICIES Transportation System Characteristics Transplan Goal #2: Enhance the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area’s quality of life and economic opportunity by providing a transportation system that is: a.Balanced b.Accessible c.Efficient d.Safe e.Interconnected f.Environmentally responsible