Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportSTAFF REPORT REQUEST: Appeal to Sections K(2)(b) and K(6)(e) of the Driveway Access Location and Design Policy. Section (2)(b) prohibits commercial driveways that require backing maneuvers on to arterial or collector streets and Sectiotr (6)(e) identifies the maximum width of commercial drives to be 36 feet. This is a request to allow the construction of a new 12 space "head-in" parking lot off of College Main Avenue to replace 7 head-in spaces that will be lost as part of the upcoming reconstruction. APPLICANT : Mr: John A. Blasienz for Our Savior's Lutheran Church LOCATION :Lots 5-13, Block 13 of the Boyett Addition. The specific location of appeal is along College Main Avenue. The Church's address is 315 Tauber but the .properly has frontage on College Main, Cross, and Tauber Streets. The church is not located in the Northgate zoning district. ZONING AND LAND USE: Subject Tract: R-2, Our Savior's Lutheran. Church .North; R-6, Single Family Homes East: R-6 and C-1, Apartments and a Parking Lot .South: R-2, A&M United Methodist Church West: C-1, Lutheran Student Center, Adventure Travel, and Vacant. STAFF COMMENTS: The design plan for the College Main Improvement Project calls for the removal of all on-street and head-in parking to safely allow for the installation of bike lanes from Church Street north to the Ciry Limit line. The current head-in parking. operationally acts as an extra wide curb cut (140' feet in length) which creates. one long point of conflict along the street. Of greatest concern is the unsafe condition created by vehicles backing out across the bike lane and onto the street. The consulting traffic engineer for the project recommended installing bike lanes due to the high volume of bike traffic on College Main. His. study found over 800 bikes a day using this street. This number represents one bike per every 3.5 vehicles on College Main. The issue of head-in parking on College Main has already been addressed by Council. In January 1994, Council accepted the consultant's recommendation and directed staff to remove all head-in parking and install :bike lanes from .Church Street north. to the city limit line. The College Main project will remove. all seven of the Church's existing head-in parking spaces on College Main. This accounts for about 10 percent of their total parking. They currently have 72 total spaces which includes the 7 spaces on College Main along with 22 spaces on Cross Street, 26 spaces on Tauber Street, and 17 spaces on-site. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial for the following reasons: 1. Safety. The backing maneuver across the bike lane and out into the street would be detrimental and unsafe for traffc operations on this street, The conflict between the head-in spaces and the bike lane is of greatest concern. 2. Consistency/Fairness. Previous requests from two businesses to retain their head-in parking has already been denied. Both lost a greater percentage of their total parking than will the church. 3. Setting a Precedent. If this .variance is approved, it sets a precedent for similar appeals that could come before the Commission for head-in parking on College Main. 4, Previous Council Action. Council has already directed staff to remove the Church's 7 existing head-in spaces on College Main. To approve 12 new head-in parking spaces in this same location would be contrary to their prior direction.