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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: West 11th Avenue Setbacks ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY th Work Session: West 11 Avenue Setbacks Meeting Date: June 9, 2010 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5343 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this work session is to discuss the available options for encouraging development along th West 11 Avenue, while at the same time preserving street frontage that may be needed for future improvement/widening of that street. This work session will be staff’s opportunity to discuss with the th council the current issues related to West 11Avenue and to get the council’s direction regarding how to proceed. BACKGROUND At recent council discussions related to West Eugene EmX and the West Eugene Collaborative, it was th noted that recent development patterns on West 11 Avenue could pose conflicts with some of the future corridor needs. Specifically, some commercial development is being built very close to the existing street. th It is likely that future improvements to West 11 Avenue will require expansion of the existing right of th way. Thus, concern has been expressed that the current development pattern along West 11 Avenue could create additional challenges or barriers to potential long term solutions for that street. In particular, th West 11 Avenue is one of the alignments under consideration as the next EmX corridor. West of Seneca thth Street, West 11 Avenue is the only alignment that is being considered. West 11 Avenue would need to be widened in order to accommodate EmX lanes. th West 11 Avenue between Garfield Street and Green Hill Road is classified as a Major Arterial. Generally, Major Arterial streets have right-of-way widths ranging from 100 to 120 feet and paving th widths ranging from 68 feet to 94 feet. While the existing right-of-way along West 11 Avenue varies in width, it is generally 80 feet in width between Garfield Street and Bailey Hill Road. Based on discussions to this point, it is clear that additional right-of-way will be necessary to accommodate future th transportation enhancements on West 11 Avenue, with or without the addition of an EmX route. It is estimated that an additional 30 feet of right-of-way, or 15 feet on each side is needed to accommodate EmX lanes and an enhanced pedestrian realm with street trees, for a total right-of-way of 110 feet. One important tool used by the City in making long term transportation decisions is the Eugene Arterial & Collector Street Plan (ACSP). Among other things, this plan includes an adopted right-of-way map identifying future right-of-way needs for many of the city’s arterial and collector streets. The ACSP th currently identifies specific right-of-way needs for portions of West 11 Avenue, while other portions are yet to be specified. For example, the ACSP identifies a need for an 80-foot right-of-way for the area between Garfield and Bailey Hill, which generally represents the existing conditions. Given that this Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100609\S100609A.doc th map was adopted in 1999, many factors have changed along the West 11 Avenue corridor warranting reexamination of the future right-of-way needs identified on this map. The land use code requires that new buildings be located between 0 and 15 feet of the front property line. The purpose behind this standard is to promote pedestrian connections between the sidewalk and buildings while discouraging strip commercial designs with large parking lots fronting the street. Given th the relatively narrow right-of-way that currently exists on West 11 Avenue, this circumstance can pose conflicts with future corridor enhancements. Locating buildings at the back of the sidewalk is practical and desirable in downtown Eugene where there is generally a parking lane that serves as a buffer between traffic and pedestrians on the sidewalk, lower vehicle speeds, and wider sidewalks with street th trees. However, this approach has created unintended consequences on a major arterial like West 11 Avenue where the sidewalk is curbside, there are few street trees, no on-street parking buffer, and considerably higher vehicle speeds. th Establishing a wider right-of-way for West 11 Avenue within the ACSP would address these current conflicts by ensuring that future development is set back from this newly defined right-of-way. The land use code provides the City the authority to require “special setbacks” from the approved right-of- way. No acquisition or purchase of private property is necessary under this approach. Rather, this tool enables the City to preserve its ability to purchase additional rights-of-way at some point in the future. If the council decides to proceed with the City Manager’s recommendation for increasing the right-of- th way width on West 11 Avenue, staff would conduct outreach to affected property owners. If the council decides to proceed with the City Manager’s recommendation for increasing the right-of- th way width on West 11 Avenue and EmX ultimately does not end up on this street, the right-of-way could be narrowed by future council action, closer to the existing condition. However, staff recommends that at such point consideration should also be given to other transportation needs, such as th the pedestrian realm and current lack of street trees on West 11 Avenue. RELATED CITY POLICIES From Eugene-Springfield Transportation System Plan (TransPlan): TSI Transit Policy #2: Bus Rapid Transit Establish a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system composed of frequent, fast transit service along major corridors and neighborhood feeder service that connects with the corridor service and with activity centers, if the system is shown to increase transit mode split along BRT corridors, if local governments demonstrate support, and if financing for the system is feasible. TSI Pedestrian Policy #1: Pedestrian Environment Provide for a pedestrian environment that is well integrated with adjacent land uses and is designed to enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of walking. From Adopted Growth Management Policies: Growth Management Policy 11 Increase the use of alternative modes of transportation by improving the capacity, design, safety, and convenience of the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems. Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100609\S100609A.doc COUNCIL OPTIONS A. Direct City Manager to move forward with amending the Street Right-of-Way Map (Figure 61) for th West 11 Avenue to allow for future improvements to that street. B. Take no action. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION Option A – direct City Manager to move forward with amending the Street Right-of-Way Map. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to direct the City Manager to proceed with Option A. ATTACHMENTS A. Conceptual Right-of-Way Illustration for West 11th with EmX FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld Telephone: 682-5343 Staff E-Mail: rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100609\S100609A.doc