PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
ITEM NO 10: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT: CHAPTER 8 TRANSPORTATION (BA)
CPA-2005-01: Hold public hearing on Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) to Horizon 2020, Chapter 8 – Transportation. This chapter was considered at the May 25th Planning Commission meeting and referred to the Comprehensive Plans Committee (CPC) for additional review.
STAFF PRESENTATION
Mr. Ahrens introduced the item, a proposed amendment to the Transportation Chapter (Chpt. 8) of HORIZON 2020. The Planning Commission initiated the amendment and received a draft version prepared by the Comprehensive Plans Committee (CPC) in May 2005. The Commission returned the draft amendment to the CPC with specific direction for revisions based on Commission discussion and public comment. Mr. Ahrens said this direction has resulted in an overall chapter rewrite and the new version was presented tonight with a recommendation for approval from the CPC and Staff.
Mr. Ahrens said the chapter contained the same goals and objectives, but was rewritten to make the information more understandable and place items in different sections for clarity.
Tonight’s communications from the League expressed their wish for more language defining a residential collector. The CPC believed the existing language was adequate but did not oppose the revised text suggested by the League. The rest of the League’s comments dealt with the access policies section and asked for multiple text revisions to make the wording more stringent. Staff and the CPC recommended retaining the language as written to accommodate exceptions for redevelopment. Stringent regulations would make the exception process unreasonably complicated.
Mr. Ahrens responded to questioning that large numbers of exceptions were not expected, but Staff would like to retain the ability to make interpretations to allow exceptions where needed. The League’s proposed language would not allow exceptions at all.
Haase referenced recent concerns about the inadequacy of the City’s wastewater sewer system and said some felt this was brought about by underestimations of density projections. He asked if the density concepts shown on the Major Thoroughfares Map (MTM) were a reasonable expectation for supportable build-out. Staff said the MTM would likely be reexamined in the upcoming transportation plan update.
It was discussed that designating a needed east-west arterial in the northwest became more difficult the longer this decision was delayed. However, a number of factors prevented the simple designation of an extension of Peterson Road. It was suggested that this extension be put on the MTM as ‘placeholder’ until more studies were complete. It was noted that this had been attempted when the Planning Commission approved Transportation 2025 and identified three possible east-west arterials. These potential alignments had been removed from the MTM with City Commission approval.
PUBLIC HEARING
Dan Watkins commented on concerns about the need for an east-west arterial. He said the SLT was once designed with limited access points, including on at 1750 Road. He said commercial development was allowed in that area prematurely, effectively removing the 1750 Road access from the map. Mr. Watkins said he understood it would require a supermajority of the Planning Commission and County Commission to put the 1750 Road access back into the plan, but he hoped this option would be considered as a way to aid circulation.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
It was suggested the Commission begin with a basic motion for approval and discuss possible text revisions as amendments to the motion.
ACTION TAKEN
Motioned by Erickson, seconded by Krebs to approve the Transportation Chapter update with revised language per discussion to follow.
DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION
Several amendments to the basic motion were made with no objection:
· Policy 2.1(a) – modify to state: ...promote and facilitate pedestrian and bicycle access to public transportation
· Policy 4.1(c) – should be Policy 4.3(d)
· Policy 4.3(c) – reword to state: Minimum impacts on scenic, historical, archeological, sensitive habitats and environmentally sensitive areas
· Policy 5.1(e)– add to state: Have clear, easily read, unobstructed signage
· Policy 6.1(a) – reword to state: ...promote and facilitate pedestrian and bicycle access to public transportation
· Policy 6.3 (c) – modify to state: …should be permitted access onto adjacent arterials only when projected traffic volume…
· Policy 6.4(c) - modify to state: …should be permitted access onto adjacent arterials only when projected traffic volume…
· Policy 8.1(d) – add to state: Monitor and modify transit service in response to future growth, changes in development patterns and users needs
· Policy 2.3(b) – reword to state: Direct access from a local street, public or private, to an arterial street or principal arterial street shall not be permitted unless applicant provides proof of hardship or burden. Advanced planning of neighborhood street patterns should be required to avoid local-arterial street connections.
· Policy 6.2 – add to state: Direct access from a local street, public or private, to an arterial street or principal arterial street shall not be permitted unless applicant provides proof of hardship or burden. Advanced planning of neighborhood street patterns should be required to avoid local-arterial street connections.
ACTION TAKEN
Revised motion on the floor was to approve the Transportation Chapter update with text modifications as described above.
Motioned by Haase, seconded by Ermeling to amend the motion to include modification to the MTM to add a principle arterial from the western terminus of Peterson Road extending west to but not connecting to the SLT.
DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION
Burress said he supported the proposed amendment in concept, but this concept had been forwarded to the governing bodies already and had been negated. He asked if it was the intent of the amendment to reintroduce this idea into the governing bodies’ discussion. Haase said there were new members on the City Commission that may be more supportive of the east-west arterial concept than the previous body had been.
It was discussed whether the Commission should attempt to re-introduce all three potential arterial ‘placeholders’ as recommended in 2004. It was noted that all three options proposed in 2004 ended at Queens Road and most of that area was now developed.
Haase verified his intent to preclude connection of the new east-west arterial to the SLT because he believed this would reduce the arterial’s function, which was to keep traffic off W. 6th Street.
The motion to amend was revised without objection to include downgrading 1750 Road to a minor arterial.
There was discussion about the Peterson Road extension running through the large nature reserve in that area. Haase said he believed that directing the Peterson Road extension southward would prevent a violation of the City’s agreement with the Lichtwardts. He added that the Peterson Road extension would be a more functional road with fewer negative environmental impacts than either of the other suggested arterial alignments. Burress suggested mitigations might be found to address ecological impacts.
The question was called without objection.
ACTION TAKEN
Motion on the floor was to amend the original motion to include modification to the Major Thoroughfares Map to add a principle arterial from the western terminus of Peterson Road extending west to but not connecting to the SLT.
Motion carried 8-1, with Burress, Eichhorm, Erickson, Ermeling, Haase, Harris, Lawson and Riordan voting in favor. Krebs voted in opposition.
Amended motion on the floor was to approve the Transportation Chapter update with text modifications as identified and forward it to the City Commission and Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation for approval.
Motion carried unanimously, 9-0.