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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B - Crest Drive St.Improv.EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Context-Sensitive Design and Funding of Crest Drive Neighborhood Street Improvements Meeting Date: January 24, 2005 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Mark Schoening www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5243 ISSUE STATEMENT This is an opportunity for the council to review and discuss the principles of context-sensitive design (Attachment A) and options for moving forward with the design of street improvements for Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard and Friendly Street in the Crest Drive Neighborhood in advance of assigning a functional classification to any streets in the neighborhood. BACKGROUND In November 1999, the council adopted by Ordinance No. 20181, the "Street Classification Map, Figure 60" that depicts the classification of major streets within the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary, consistent with TransPlan and the Metropolitan Plan. The 1999 Street Classification Map did not classify the streets in the Crest Drive neighborhood. At that time, staff was directed to conduct a separate transportation study to determine the appropriate classifications and street design standards for the neighborhood. The Crest Drive Area Transportation Study was completed in September 2003. In February 2004, the Planning Commission recommended the classification of certain segments of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, Friendly Street and McLean Boulevard as neighborhood collectors and the use of context-sensitive design processes in any future street improvement projects. At a council work session on April 28, 2004, the council directed staff to perform additional and more inclusive public involvement with the neighborhood to inform interested parties of our efforts and provide opportunity for input on street classification in this area. An extensive public outreach effort occurred over the summer of 2004. The City Council held a work session on October 25, 2004, to review the recommendations of the Planning Commission on the classification of streets in the Crest Drive neighborhood and to receive a staff report on the public outreach efforts since April 2004. Although the council did not take any action, it was clear that a majority of the council was not supportive of the Planning Commission recommendation to classify segments of Friendly, Storey, Crest and McLean as neighborhood collectors. The City Council held a public hearing on October 25, 2004, on the classification of streets in the Crest Drive neighborhood. Over 30 people provided testimony at the public hearing and nearly all were L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050124\S050124B.doc opposed to the classification of any streets in the Crest Drive neighborhood as neighborhood collectors. Many of those opposed to the classification expressed concern about the design options available for neighborhood collectors that would protect the character of their neighborhoods roadways. The council did not take any action at the public hearing. After the public hearing it appeared that the majority of the council favored addressing the issue of street design in advance of classification. RELATED CITY POLICIES The Street Classification Map in the Eugene Arterial and Collector Street Plan (ACSP) is intended to clarify and implement policies set forth in the regional transportation system plan (TransPlan), the Growth Management Study, and other adopted plans. The 1991 Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA) and Oregon's Transportation Planning Rule require the State and each county and municipality to functionally classify their public roads and streets. When unimproved streets are brought up to City standards, it has been the policy and practice of the City to assess the abutting and benefiting property owners for a portion of the cost of the improvements. Over the course of several years, a Council Ad Hoc Committee on Street Improvement Funding reviewed the assessment policies for all functional street classifications. The goal of the subcommittee was to more equitably and fairly allocate the cost of street improvements to the benefiting properties. Based upon the work of the subcommittee, in October 2000 the council adopted an ordinance that substantially changed the assessment methods for arterial and collector streets. A year later in November 2001, the council adopted an ordinance that substantially changed the assessment methods for local streets. COUNCIL OPTIONS The options for funding the preliminary design of street improvements for portions of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard and Friendly Street using the principles of context-sensitive design include: 1. Direct the City Manager to prepare a resolution to form a local improvement district for the design and construction of street improvements using the principles of context-sensitive design for those sections of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street shown on Attachment B. 2. Appropriate $240,000 in General Fund in the FY06 Annual Budget for the preliminary design of street improvements using the principles of context-sensitive design for those sections of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street shown on Attachment B 3. Request that the County Board of Commissioners program funds for the improvement of those sections of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street shown on Attachment B in the Lane County FY06-FY10 Capital Improvement Program. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the council direct the City Manager to prepare a resolution to initiate a local improvement district for the design and construction of street improvements using the principles of context-sensitive design for those sections of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street shown on Attachment B. The resolution would also stipulate that upon completion of the L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050124\S050124B.doc preliminary design of the street improvements, the City Manager will return to the council at a work session to discuss the issue of street classification. In the event that the project does not move forward after the completion of the preliminary design, then a funding source would have to be identified to reimburse the Assessment Fund for the estimated $240,000 in preliminary engineering costs. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to direct the City Manager to prepare a resolution to initiate a local improvement district for the design and construction of street improvements using the principles of context-sensitive design for those sections of Crest Drive, Storey Boulevard, and Friendly Street shown on Attachment B. ATTACHMENTS A. Context-Sensitive Design Process B. Map of the Crest Drive Neighborhood FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Mark Schoening Telephone: 682-5243 Staff E-Mail: mark. a. schoening~ci, eugene, or. us L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050124\S050124B.doc ATTACHMENT A Context Sensitive Design Process Conventional roadway design standards define features such as minimum lane Context Sensitive Design (CSD) is an widths, minimum degrees of horizontal emerging roadway design technique that and vertical curvature, design speed, and is flexible and sensitive to community design vehicle. They often reflect the values. CSD is a collaborative, assumption that wider, straighter and interdisciplinary methodology that flatter roadways are better, resulting in involves all stakeholders throughout the sleeker roadways and higher design project development process to design a speeds than what may be optimal in a transportation facility that fits its given situation. When applied rigidly, physical setting and preserves scenic, conventional standards can actually aesthetic, historic, and environmental hinder efforts to achieve various resources, while maintaining safety and community objectives. Context mobility. CSD is an approach that Sensitive Design has been termed by the considers the total context within which U.S. Department of Transportation as a transportation improvement project "thinking beyond the pavement" will exist. Public Involvement in Context CSD requires an early and continuous Sensitive Design commitment to public involvement, flexibility in exploring new solutions, Governmental actions that involve and an openness to new ideas, change to existing residential Community members and residents plan neighborhoods tend to be controversial. an important role in identifying local and The following strategies are aimed at regional concerns and solutions that may facilitating open communication with better meet and balance the needs of all affected parties and to ensure continuous stakeholders. Context Sensitive Design public involvement, up to and including promotes six key principles, including: the decision-making process, which will help minimize conflicts and foster public · Balance safety, mobility, trust. community and environmental goals in the project. 1. The process will be fair, · Involve the public and affected reasonable and open parties early and continuously. · Use an interdisciplinary team Citizens need to know that the decision- tailored to each projects needs, making process is fair and reasonable, · Address all modes of travel/ that they are being heard, and their transportation, concerns are being considered. · Apply flexibility inherent in Roadway projects or actions will not be design standards, developed or physical changes to existing roadways imposed upon · Incorporate aesthetics as an residents without early and continuous integral part of good design. public involvement. To initiate a project, city staff will conduct an open house, workshop or charrette to solicit 4. Continuity of involvement as comments and ideas from the public. A project progresses citizen involvement committee will be formed with citizen volunteers, Continuity of public involvement in potentially affected property owners, CSD will be maintained to ensure the businesses, or other interested parties to project is kept on track without losing assist with design and development of support. Many times citizen interest will the project. The committee will be decline if issues are not clear, are advisory and shall assist staff in considered to be insignificant, or all deliberating key issues, collaborating on contributions have been made. The the resolution of complex or process shall include the preparation of controversial issues and formulating summary reports of decisions and appropriate courses of action, commitments that have been made and the process through which they were 2. Stakeholders will be invited and reached. These reports, the minutes of involved all meetings, and the history of public involvement will become an essential The objective of public involvement part of the project documents and will with CSD project development is to ensure that commitments are carried bring public concerns to the forefront so through into construction or deployment they can be debated and resolved. Early of any changes. and continuous involvement of major stakeholders in the process will be 5. Provide the City's basis for solicited and no one who wants to decision making, including policies participate will be excluded. Outreach and guidelines techniques may be formal and informal and will be adaptive to the availability The public involvement process will and profile of volunteers, include disclosure of the policies and guidelines that regulate roadway design 3. Public Involvement will parallel in the City of Eugene, since this is an the decision process important factor in the decision process. As decisions are made, staff will be The public involvement process for CSD required to demonstrate how those project development will not be a policies and guidelines affect the discrete task, and will be integrated into outcome. The need for safety, the work program and will parallel the constructability, maintainability and technical decision-making process, cost-effectiveness of each element must Employing CSD techniques is be balanced with issues of livability and anticipated to add time to the project the need to move goods, services and development process and timelines shall people. There needs to be adequate be adjusted to provide the necessary time effort to demonstrate that any concepts for the committee to meet for the or alternatives proposed by the public purpose of identifying and resolving that cannot be incorporated due to policy issues related to the project, or guideline incompatibilities were given a fair review and due consideration. 6. Seek a clear understanding of public concerns. CSD public involvement will provide opportunities for people to express their specific concerns. Property owners and interested parties opinions will be actively solicited and the project objectives shall address these concerns. 7. Demonstrate that concerns will be considered It must be clear to participants that all projects are open to new ideas and there is a process for considering modifications. The CSD public involvement process will provide a role for citizens in the decision-making process and staff will seek to modify the project in response to valid public concerns. The challenge is to balance technical solutions and public concerns, while adhering to critical elements of safety and operational standards that regulate project development. 8. Follow-up and Feedback All issues raised through the public involvement process will be followed up promptly and resolved with participants, or clear responses to concerns will be provided. Key recommendations or issues will be summarized, staff responses to each will be distributed and future opportunities to participate will be defined. Whenever additional analysis is required, it shall be completed as soon as practicable after concerns or comments are received. Although full consensus is generally unattainable, we will endeavor to hold this as our prime objective as we work to achieve resolution of all issues. ATTACHMENT B Crest Drive Area I W28TH AVE I W 29TH AVE I I ~ ~< "~ ~ :IOTHAVE ~'1 ~ HST AVE CREST DR / I I CREST DR I W 36TH AVE I w W36T. AVE I .._ -- -- I 38TH AVE W 37TH AVE J W 38TH AVE W 40TH AVE I ! .... '-' PO'I'FNII~L I ! ~ NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR* CREST STUDY AREA * recommended by Eugene Planning Commission 8/04