Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 Ordinances and Walk and BikeabilityFrom: To: Date: Subject: Mr . Le ro, Venes sa Garza Bill Lero 8/3/2010 10 :10 AM Re : 7 .3 acres of floodplain situated on the 14.27 acre tract owned by Thelma McGill Trustee/ Parcel Rl3184 Than ks for con tacting me again, however, we are not interested in this property at this time . If there is a change I will contact you directly. Thanks again . Vene ssa Garza Gre enways Prog ram M anager Plannin g & Deve l o pm ent Se rv i ces C ity o f Co ll ege Stat i on P 0 B ox 9960 I I 0 I T exas A v enue Coll ege St ation, TX 77 845 Pho ne: (9 79) 764-3674 Fax : (979) 764-3496 Web site: www.cs tx .gov City of College Station Home of Texas A&M University @ >>>"Bi ll Lero" <blero @ve rizon .net> 7/20/2010 2:08 PM >>> Vene ssa , Yo u had sent Mrs. McGill an offe r to purch ase the above referenc ed property back i n 2008. At th at time she was not i nte res t ed in se lling beca use she had no zoning and no pl an for this land . Over the las t year she has had this property rezoned and now a plan to sell the prop erty. I repre sent Mrs. McGill as a Real Estate Broker & would like to visi t with you about this matter at your co nve ni e nce. If thi s is somethi ng yo u are sti ll inte re st ed in , pl ease let m e know a good t i m e to come by. Than k you , Bill Lero 979-776-1646 bl ero @v erizon .net ORDINANCE NO. 3205 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12, "UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE," SECTION 4.2, "OFFICIAL ZONING MAP," OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BY CHANGING THE ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AFFECTING CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS DESCRIBED BELOW ; DECLARING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS: PART 1: That Chapter 12, "Unified Development Ordinance," Section 4.2, "Official Zoning Map ," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, be amended as set out in Exhibit "A", Exhibit "B", Exhibit "C" and Exhibit "D'', attached hereto and made a part of this ordinance for all purposes. PART 2: That any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). Each day such violation shall continue or be permitted to continue, shall be deemed a separate offense . Said Ordinance, being a penal ordinance, becomes effective ten (10) days after its date of passage by the City Council, as provided by Section 35 of the Charter of the City of College Station. PASSED, ADOPTED and APPROVED this 10th day of September, 2009 APPROVED: ~ APPROVED : 2k7~ City Attorney ORDINANCE NO. 3205 --===-----Page2 EXHIBIT "A" That Chapter 12, "Unified Development Ordinance," Section 4.2, "Offic ial Zoning Map," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, is hereby amended as follows: The following property is rezoned from R-1 Single-Family Resid ential and A-0 Agricultural Open to PDD Planned Development District, with the restrictions listed in Exhibit "B" and according to the Concept Plan shown in Exhibit "C", and as graphically shown in Exhibit "D": 14.27 Acres Morgan Rector League, Abstract No. 46 College Station, Brazos County, Texas "Being all that certain 14.27 acres of land lying and being situated in the MORGAN RECTOR LEAGUE, Abstract No . 46, College Station, Brazos County, Texas and being part of that V.J. Boriskie tract described by deeds recorded in Volume 47, page 499, Volume 136 , page 359 and Volume 152, page 608, Deed Records of Brazos County, Texas and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at the intersection of the southeast line of the said Boriskie tract and the northeast line of State Highway No. 6 (East By-Pass), which is also the most westerly comer ofRaintree, Section One, an addition to the City of College Station, Texas, according to plat recorded in Volume 373, page 461 , Deed Records of Brazos County, Texas; THENCE N 42° 14' 12" E-1207.0' along the southeast line of the said Boriskie tract to the center of Wolf Pen Creek; THENCE up the center of Wolf Pen Creek with its meanders as follows: N 56° 31' 27" W -109 .71 feet; N 19° 59' 12" E -125.3 feet; N 83° 32' 33" W -82.7 feet; S 47° 29' 13 " W -162 feet; N 51 ° 12' 51" W -129 .2 feet; S 63° 25' 33" W -173 .8 feet; S 19° 55' 21" W -100.5 feet ; S 74° 41' 25" E -100.0 feet; S 29° 35' 30" E -55.3 feet; S 75° 53' 05 " W -168.6 feet; N 60° 38' 41" W -115 .6 feet; S 70° 26' 5 1" W -115.2 feet; ORDINANCE N0 .~3~2=0~5 ____ _ Page 3 N 02° 55' 31" W -112.4 feet ; S 87 ° 19 ' 38" W -546.9 feet to the northeast line of State Highway No . 6 (East By-Pass); THENCE S 32° 02' 50" E -693.00 feet along the northeast line of State Highway No. 6 (East By-Pass) to a concrete right of way marker; THENCE S 30° 01' 28" E-325 .08 feet continuing along the northeast line of State Highway No . 6 to the POINT OF BEFINNING and containing 14 .27 acres of land, more or less. And being the same tract described in Deed from Lydia Frances Boriskie to Davis McGill, Trustee, dated August 22, 1983 , recorded in Volume 597, page 226 , Deed Records of Brazos County , Texas ." ORDINANCE NO. 3205 ~===-~~~~~ Page4 EXHIBIT "B" Purpose & Intent Statement: The PDD zoning district will allow the development of this tract to include retail and office uses compatible with the adjacent neighborhood while also acknowledging freeway frontage that is attractive to retail users. Issues of concern have been addressed through collaboration by the developer, existing nearby residents and the City. The pad sites may contain uses from the below list of"Permitted Uses." The aggregate square footage of uses will not exceed that which results in a total number of trip ends greater than 319 PM peak hour trips. According to the UDO, for this site, an acceptable level of service is maintained up to 319 trip ends as per the Traffic Impact Analysis. At the detailed site plan stage, as specific square footage is allocated per lot, trip ends will be reviewed based on the specific use to ensure aggregate trip ends to not exceed 319 in the PM peak hour. e developer has met with the City's Greenways Manager and is currently otiating transfer of the majority of the existing floodplain portion of the tract and l be consolidating development on the southern portion . Permitted Uses: • Natural areas of floodplain and open space; • Profe ssional offices ; • Medical clinics; • Banks, pharmacies and dry cleaners (all with drive-thru options); and • Other neighborhood retail uses or personal service shops. Restrictions: • Dimensional standards shall be those of the C-1 General Commercial zoning district, unl ess otherwise stated. • Maximum of three pad sites. • No restaurants permitted . • Any use having a drive-thru facility that may occur on the pad site nearest Raintree will have the drive-thru located on the north side of the building. • The type, scale and design of the buildings will be more residential in character in that there will be no flat roof lines. Pitched, residential style roofs are required. • Buildings shall not exceed 35 feet in height to the highest point of the roof. • Maximum number of stories for retail uses will be one-story and for office uses will be 2.5 stories. • Sanitation services (dump sters) will be consolidated on the northern tract, furthest away from Raintree. · ORDINANCE NO. 3205 ~.;o..=."-=-~~~~~ • Pedestrian access (but no vehicular access) to the development from the end of Appomattox will be provided with this development. • There will be a 15-foot buffer area and masonry wall adjacent to the neighborhood. Page 5 • Any parking lot lighting adjacent to the Raintree property line will utilize back light deflectors to preclude light from spilling over the property line. • Signs will follow the rules for general commercial signage. • The subject property will be considered one building plot for signage, landscaping, and Non-Residential Architectural Standards. • Cross-access will be provided to the undeveloped tract to the south and within the subject property. • Based on the trip generation of 50 VPH or more for the proposed driveway, a right turn deceleration lane will have to be provided as mitigation on the State Highway 6 northbound frontage road. The proposed driveway should be located at the furthest southern most location on subject tract in order to provide enough weaving distance for traffic wanting to get on the entrance ramp to State Highway 6 . Meritorious Modifications Granted: 1. Section 8.2.A.7~e "Dead-End Streets" of the Unified Development Ordinance Allows Appomattox Drive to remain as a dead-end street with no vehicular access provided to the subject property via Appomattox Drive. 2. Section 7.6.F "BufferStandards" of the Unified Development Ordinance Allows flexibility in the design of the landscape buffer adjacent to the Raintree subdivision. The buffer area is 15 feet in width, but the location of the wall will vary (up to 15 feet from the property line) to protect existing natural vegetation. Any canopy trees ( 4 " caliper or larger) located in the buffer area, up to 12 feet away from the properfy line, that are removed during construction will be replaced with one or more canopy trees equaling the tree points removed. The goal of the buffer area will be the preservation of existing vegetation in lieu of specific buffer plantings. ORDINANCE N0. _ _,,3=2=05"'------Page 6 \ \ \ \ ACADEM Y WOLF PEN CREEK 14.27 ac R1 3184 DEVELOPER NEGOTIATING \, TRANSFER OF OPEN SPACE ~ ·:.. TOCfTY "ft ~ 1& \, ~ \, ~ -fl~ \ ~ .. ~ \ l".J.. \, ---- ~ :.=.:.::..:.._ . . EXHIBIT"C" --, -·-__ -'/. '/# -1-4, 76'0, ~· r-~=o---,.,, 044 //# PE DESTRIAN ,>-)'O-f- / / # ACCESS 6.p /# I PARKING //_. 1 AREA .. I / / # 11 RAINTREE SUBDIVISION I /# ·-·'· v //# ~q.,"f a "f / # '?· 'l1>~~ //# //# /# //# --·----·----! \ ' \PAR KING / / # · -'.'.>)AREA /# · \_?, \ ~ , -·----· .-·"' •• J \/\_ . / ~ 15' BUFFER JOINT AU:ESS ~:-6 EASEM EfllT Y TRACT 3 ~~-~~~ .. -~ ANY USE WITH DRNE-THRU FACILITY WILL HAVE rm--I DRIVE· THRU LOCATED ON NORTH SIDE OF 0 50 100 200 300 BUILDING "r ·--· i J . I Agricultural Open Ru re l Reslde ntiel Subdilllsion Single Family Re sldenllal Single Family Residential Duplex Res idential DEVELOPMENT REVIEW NjmlnlstratlvelProfess lonal Ge nera l Corrm er cia l Commerclel-lndustrl•I MCGILL TRACT Light Commercial Light Industrial Heavy industria l College end University Research and Development Planned Mixed-Use Dovelopmenl Planned Deve l ment Di stri ct Case : M-1 09-139 Woll Pen Creek Dev. Caridor COfe NoMhgate Trans lllon al Ncrlhgate Residenti al Northgete Caride,-Overlay Redevelopment Districl Ktenek Te p Overtay REZONI 0 E3 ~ n tr:1 z 0 • ORDINANCE NO. 3205 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12 , "UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE," SECTION 4.2 , "OFFICIAL ZONING MAP," OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BY CHANGING THE ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AFFECTING CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS DESCRIBED BELOW; DECLARING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS: PART 1: That Chapter 12, "Unified Development Ordinance," Section 4.2, "Official Zoning Map ," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, be amended as set out in Exhibit "A", Exhibit "B'', Exhibit "C" and Exhibit "D", attached hereto and made a part of this ordinance for all purposes. PART 2: That any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). Each day such violation shall continue or be permitted to continue, shall be deemed a separate offense. Said Ordinance, being a penal ordinance, becomes effective ten (10) days after its date of passage by the City Council, as provided by Section 3 5 of the Charter of the City of College Station. PASSED, ADOPTED and APPROVED this 10th day of September, 2009 APPROVED: ~ APPROVED: 2k;'j~---City Attorney ORDINANCE NO. 3205 -~~----- Page2 EXHIBIT "A" That Chapter 12 , "Unified Development Ordinance," Section 4.2, "Official Zoning Map," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of College Station, Texas, is hereby amended as follows: The following property is rezoned from R-1 Single-Family Residential and A-0 Agricultural Open to PDD Planned Development District, with the restrictions listed in Exhibit "B" and according to the Concept Plan shown in Exhibit "C', and as graphically shown in Exhibit "D": 14.27 Acres Morgan Rector League, Abstract No. 46 College Station, Brazos County, Texas "Being all that certain 14.27 acres of land lying and being situated in the MORGAN RECTOR LEAGUE, Abstract No. 46, College Station, Brazos County, Texas and being part of that V.J. Boriskie tract described by deeds recorded in Volume 47, page 499, Volume 136, page 359 and Volume 152, page 608, Deed Records of Brazos County, Texas and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at the intersection of the southeast line of the said Boriskie tract and the northeast line of State Highway No. 6 (East By-Pass), which is also the most westerly comer of Raintree, Section One, an additio n to the City of College Station, Texas, according to plat recorded in Volume 373, page 461, Deed Records of Brazos County, Texas; THENCE N 42° 14' 12" E-1207.0' along the southeast line of the said Boriskie tract to the center of Wolf Pen Creek; THENCE up the center of Wolf Pen Creek with its meanders as follows: N 56° 31' 27" W -109.71 feet; N 19° 59' 12" E -125.3 feet; N 83° 32' 33" W -82.7 feet; S 47° 29' 13" W -162 feet; N 51° 12' 51" W -129.2 feet; S 63° 25' 33" W -173.8 feet; S 19° 55' 21" W -100.5 feet; S 74° 41' 25" E -100 .0 feet; S 29° 35' 30" E -55.3 feet; S 75° 53' 05" W -168.6 feet; N 60° 38' 41" W -115.6 feet; S 70° 26' 51" W -115.2 feet; ORDINANCE NO. 3205 -"'-""'-'<-=<--------Page 3 N 02 ° 5 5' 3 1" W -112 .4 feet; S 87° 19 ' 38" W -546.9 feet to the northeast line of State Highway No. 6 (East By-Pass); THENCE S 32° 02' 50" E -693.00 feet along the northeast line of State Highway No. 6 (East By-Pass) to a concrete right of way marker; THENCE S 30° 01' 28" E -325.08 feet continuing along the northeast line of State Highway No. 6 to the POINT OF BEFINNING and containing 14.27 acres ofland, more or less. And being the same tract described in Deed from Lydia Frances Boriskie to Davis McGill, Trustee, dated August 22 , 1983, recorded in Volume 597, page 226, Deed Records of Brazos County, Texas." ORDINANCE NO. 3205 ~===-~~~~~ Page 4 EXHIBIT "B" Purpose & Intent Statement: The PDD zoning district will allow the development of this tract to include retail and office uses compatible with the adjacent neighborhood while also acknowledging freeway frontage that is attractive to retail users. Issues of concern have been addressed through collaboration by the developer, existing nearby residents and the City. The pad sites may contain uses from the below list of "Permitted Uses ." The aggregate square footage of uses will not exceed that which results in a total number of trip ends greater than 319 PM peak hour trips. According to the UDO, for this site , an acceptable level of service is maintained up to 319 trip ends as per the Traffic Impact Analysis . At the detailed site plan stage, as specific square footage is allocated per lot, trip ends will be reviewed based on the specific use to ensure aggregate trip ends to not exceed 319 in the PM peak hour. The developer has met with the City 's Greenways Manager and is currently negotiating transfer of the majority of the existing floodplain portion of the tract and will be consolidating development on the southern portion. Permitted Uses: • Natural areas of floodplain and open space; • Professional offices ; • Medical clinics; • Banks, pharmacies and dry cleaners (all with drive-thru options); and • Other neighborhood retail uses or personal service shops . Restrictions: • Dimensional standards shall be those of the C-1 General Commercial zoning district, unless otherwise stated. • Maximum of three pad sites. • No restaurants permitted. • Any use having a drive-thru facility that may occur on the pad site nearest Raintree will have the drive-thru located on the north side of the building. • The type , scale and design of the buildings will be more residential in character in that there will be no flat roof lines . Pitched , residential style roofs are required . • Buildings shall not exceed 35 feet in height to the highest point of the roof. • Maximum number of stories for retail uses will be one-story and for office uses will be 2 .5 stories. • Sanitation services (dumpsters) will be consolidated on the northern tract, furthest away from Raintree. ORDINANCE NO. 3205 ~~~~~~~~ Page 5 ed strian a c~ (but no. e · c~lar . c s) to th oev lopm nfiom the e;ld of Appo a x will e pr 1ded 1t his de pment. \___/ Thei;e will be a 15-oot buffer area and masonry wall adjacent to the neighborhood. • Any parking lot lighting adjacent to the Raintree property line will utilize back light deflectors to preclude light from spilling over the property line. • Signs will follow the rules for general commercial signage . • The subject property will be considered one building plot for signage, landscaping, and Non-Residential Architectural Standards . • Cross-access will be provided to the undeveloped tract to the south and within the subject property. • Based on the trip generation of 50 VPH or more for the proposed driveway, a right turn deceleration lane will have to be provided as mitigation on the State Highway 6 northbound frontage road. The proposed driveway should be located at the furthest southern most location on subject tract in order to provide enough weaving distance for traffic wanting to get on the entrance ramp to State Highway 6. Meritorious Modifications Granted: 1. Section 8.2.A.7!e "Dead-End Streets" of the Unified Development Ordinance Allows Appomattox Drive to remain as a dead-end street with no vehicular access provided to the subject property via Appomattox Drive. 2. Section 7.6.F "BufferStandards" of the Unified Development Ordinance Allows flexibility in the design of the landscape buffer adjacent to the Raintree subdivision. The buffer area is 15 feet in width, but the location of the wall will vary (up to 15 feet from the property line) to protect existing natural vegetation. Any canopy trees (4" caliper or larger) located in the buffer area, up to 12 feet away from the property line, that are removed during construction will be replaced with one or more canopy trees equaling the tree points removed. The goal of the buffer area will be the preservation of existing vegetation in lieu of specific buffer plantings. ORDINANCE NO. 3205 \ \ \ EXHIBIT"C " ACADEMY '" WOLF PEN CR EEK : i p 11 ••1 W 11 •1:W ·' . ~ .... 11••• . . ........ "' '' . ~ •, \f15' SAN.SWR :· "' 1 -: , EASEMENT . \ . . .... : \ \ • i '-' __ ,""411t . ' \ MCGILL, DAVIS T TRUST 14.27 ac R13 184 DEVELOPER TRANSFER O~EGOTIATING TO CITY OPEN SPACE ~ .-.~~~ -·-·=· .... ·~ ~ \ . ...... ·"'''"''' I \ 15' SAN .SWR. . d \ I EASEMENT l> __ •• .i. Page 6 ·' ( I ' '_;I RAINTREE SUBDIVISION I c~ \ ... ~~ ' "& v~ C',>- I I I .. / r·-· I Agricultural Open Ru ra l Resldenliel Subdivision Single Family Residential Single Family Residential Duplex Res idential DEVELOPMENT REVIEW Administrative/Professional General Conmercial Commercial-Industrial MCGILL TRACT Light Commercial Light Industrial Heavy Industrial College and University Research and Development Planned Mixed-Use Development Planned Development District Case: M-1 09-139 Wolf Pen Creel< Dev. Corridor Core Northgate Transitional Nor lhgate Residential Northgate Corridor Overlay Redevelopment District Krenek Tep Ove~ay REZON I 0 § z ~ n tTJ z 0 lvlfy I~\ p '1.),UJ ~ ~ 2 -~ {;o[Clm ~ 11;,oav S-1; ouu _\ F~iday, June 27, 2013 Maria M. Saenz-Limon 128 Southland Street College Station, TX 77840 -4222 CI TY OF COI.l£CE STATIO Project : City of College Station Greenways Program Property : Type of Interest: Lot 19-20, Block 2, Southland (BCAD ID: 41959) Fee Simple Purchase Dear Ms . Saenz-Limon , I am writing this letter to you hoping to alleviate any concerns you may have with the City's intent to purchase your property and to clarify the City's intentions . First, please be aware that the City's interest in purchasing your property in no way indicates any threat of condemnation . The City would like to enter into an amicable agreement to purchase your property if you are interested . However, if you ~t selling your property, the City will take no further action . Our continued interest in your property is due to the fact that it would serve the public in many ways . As part of the Greenways program, the purchase of your property would allow for floodplain management and erosion control!. It would also allow for ... with a drainage project, the installation of a water line and serve as a ... for a future hike and bike trail j\ye understand how important your home is to you. However, we are aware there have been issues with flooding in the past and we are hoping the proceeds from the proposed sale w i ll allow you to purchase a new home in which you will not have to be concerned with such problems . Home o/Texa.'i A&/vl l/nii'ersityK P.O. Box 9%0 11 0 1 Texas Avenue Co llege Siation , Texas 77842 979 764 .3500 www .cs lx.gov -Comment [al]: Need to ask abo ut these proj ects. -Comment [a2]: We or!??? The Brazos Central Appraisal District has your property assessed at a value of $122 ,530 . We agree that this is a likely value for your property . However, before an official offer can be made, we w i ll need to have a real estate appraisal prepared by a certified r eal estate appraiser to determ i ne the current market value based on recent comparable sales . Upon review and approval of the appraisal r eport, I will be able to mak e you an offer to purchase the property. As the City has made several unsuccessful attempts to contact you to discuss the proposed purchase, we ask that you contact us within two weeks if you have any interest at all i n selling or if you have any questions . You may contact me at (979) 764-5031 or adorsett@cstx.gov, or Venessa Garza, Greenways Program Manager, at (979) 764 -3674 or vgarza@cstx .gov. If we do not hear from you by Fr iday, July 12, 2013, we w i ll assume that you do not wish to sell your property . Sincerely, Ashley Dorsett, Assistant Land Agent Page 2 of 2 COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS DATE: ____ _ Organization:. ______________ _ Address:. _______________ _ City: -t. Phone: fJl4> iP'fj 'P.11 Email : ________________ _ C ITY OF C OLLEGE S TATION Pla nning & D eve lopm en t Services State: ___ Zip: __ _ Fax:(_). _____ _ Comments & N_- ,. ~- { .. J,~ ' t i.,_· l . ~,, ,t ·]~ IJ &\~ t· r r ·•r 1 i ... "' I l 1 i--~· I -~--~~~~ -~> ~r~~ --~ 'f-· ; -~. -. ... , . ..-:e::<: ~-"!!, ;\" ···c;':tr .. ;' ~t'.j~~! . .,'l' 'f, ... {~ .... "' :-!;.-.-'!'~· ,,._:~'-.. ~-_: ~- ~~t 1r. ~i $?'-• ~'I :,,. ·1 -"\.• . ' . " ~~~~~-:~·~,. ""' ~;;,_ ".•: .,\,I-'\-~ 1l· ~ ...; .---~ ~ .f-·-::; ~i.: l' "'·.-."' ..., ~ ~,-~ l:..f;1 -::. ..f'. ... Y' .;. -. ,.( -.~·,,.•:ti •.: .;. ~~ ~ .... ~~:~-~-;..-.., .. "-,.._ -~ •; ,,·~.:~~~~~ ';;r;;~~' ~ ,~ ~:, .;"":~""..:~-~~ i. ···T ::!_, "F" ... ,: 1;;.; f~~£ • 1<:.'•<l .... :-· 1 -~ ... i~~i'.r" ~ • .,. e; .,... :~ .. "· ~"'"' ~--fi .l: ~- :F~. r;, How walkable is your community? Take a walk with a child and decide for yourselves. Everyone benefits from walking. These benefits include: improved fitness, cleaner air, reduced risks of certain health problems, and a greater sense of community. But walking needs to be safe and easy. Take a walk with your child and use this checklist to decide if your neighborhood is a friendly place to walk. Take heart if you find problems, there are ways you can make things better. Getting started: First, you'll need to pick a place to walk, like the route to school, a friend's house or just somewhere fun to go. The second step involves the checklist. Read over the checklist before you go, and as you walk, note the locations of things you would like to change. At the end of your walk, give each question a rating. Then add up the numbers to see how you rated your walk overall.After you've rated your walk and identified any problem areas, the next step is to figure out what you can do to improve your community's score. You'll find both immediate answers and long-term solutions under "Improving Your Community's Score ... " on the third page. ..,..,. U.& Depa1ment ofTrcnportatioo ~Fede r al Hi g hway ~ ..... Adm inistrati on e.,..,_ U.S . Department ofTransportation ~ Nati onal Hig hwa y Traffic Safety 191" Administration Safe Routes N,~nial Cente• for Safe Rvt:tmo Sdi:i,-,1 El ll ll Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Location of wal k Rating Scale: 1 I 2 3 I 4 I 5 6 I I 1. Did you have room to walk? 0 Yes D Some problems : D Sidewalks or paths started and stopped D Sidewalks were broken or cracked D Sidewalks were blocked with poles, signs.shrubb ery, dumpsters, etc. D No sidewalks, paths, or shoulders D Too much traffic D Something else ________ _ Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Locations of problems: 2. Was it easy to cross stree t s? 0 Yes D Some problems: D Road was too wide D Traffic signals made u s wait too lon g or did not give us enough time to cross D Needed striped crosswalks or traffic signals D Parked cars blocked our view of traffic D Trees or plants blocked our view of traffic D Needed curb ramps or ramps needed repair Something else ________ _ Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Locations of problems: 3. Di d drivers behave well? 0 Yes D Some problems: Drivers ... D Backed out of driveways without looking D Did not yield to people crossing the street D Turned into people crossing the street D Drove too fastp D Sped up to make it through traffic lights or drove through traffic lights? D Something else ________ _ Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Locations of probl ems: awful many some good very good excellent problems problems 4. Was it easy to follow safety rules? Could you and your child ... D Yes D No Cross at crosswalks or where you could see and b e seen by drivers? D Yes D No Stop and look left, right and then left again b efore crossing streets? D Yes D No Walk on sidewalks or shoulders facing traffic where there were no sidewalks? D Yes D No Cross with the light? Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Locations of problems: 5. Was your walk pleasant? 0 Yes D Some problems: D Needed more grass, flowers, or trees D Scary dogs D Scary people D Not well lighted D Dirty, lots of litter or trash D Dirty air due to automobile exhaust D Something else _________ _ Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Locations of problems: How does your neighborhood stack up? Add up your ratings and decide. 1. 26-30 Ce lebrate! You h ave a great 2. neighb orhood for walki n g. 3. __ 21-25 Celebrate a little. Your neighborhood is pretty good. 4. __ 16-20 Okay, but it needs work. 5. __ 11-15 It needs lots of work. You deserve Total: b etter than that. 5-10 It's a disaster for walking! Now that you've identified the problems, go to the next page to find out how to fix them. .. Now that you know the problems, you can find the answers. --==::::s:=-=--~~~~ou uniti's score 1. Did you have room to walk? What you and your child can do immediately • pick another route for now What you and your community can do with more time • speak up at board meetings Sidewalks or paths started and stopped Sidewalks broken or cracked Sidewalks blocked No sidewalks, paths or shoulders Too much traffic • tell local traffic engineering or public works department about specific problems and provide a copy of the checklist • write or petition city for walkways and gather neighborhood signatures • make media aware of problem 2 . Was it easy to cross streets? Road too wide Traffic signals made us wait too long or did not give us enough time to cross Crosswalks/traffic signals needed • pick another route for now • share problems and checklist with local traffic engineering or public works department • work with a local transportation engineer to develop a plan for a safe walking route • push for crosswalks/signals/ parking changes/curb ramps at city meetings • report to traffic engineer where parked cars are safety hazards View of traffic blocked by parked cars, trees, or plants • trim your trees or bushes that block the street and ask your neighbors to do the same • report illegally parked cars to the police • request that the public works department trim trees or plants Needed curb ramps or ramps needed repair • leave nice notes on problem cars asking owners not to park there 3. Did drivers behave well? Backed without looking Did not yield Turned into walkers Drove too fast • pick another route for now • set an example: slow down and be considerate of others • encourage your neighbors to do the same Sped up to make traffic lights or drove through red lights • report unsafe driving to the police 4. Could yo u follow sa fety rules ? Cross at crosswalks or where you could see and be seen • educate yourself and your child about safe walking Stop and look left, right, left before crossing Walk on sidewalks or shoulders facing traffic Cross with the light • organize parents in your neighborhood to walk children to school 5. Was your walk pleasant? Needs grass, flowers, trees Scary dogs Scary people Not well lit Dirty, litter Lots of traffic A Quick Health Check Could not go as far or as fast as we wanted Were tired, short of breath or had sore feet or muscles Was the sun really hot? Was it hot and hazy? • point out areas to avoid to your child; agree on safe routes • ask neighbors to keep dogs leashed or fenced • report scary dogs to the animal control department • report scary people to the police • report lighting needs to the police or appropriate p u blic works department • take a walk wih a trash bag • plant trees, flowers in your yard • select alternative route with less traffic • start with short walks and work up to 30 minutes of walking most days • invite a friend or child along • walk along shaded routes where possible • use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, wear a hat and sunglasses • try not to walk during the hottest time of day •• ...I J ~-~ -'< . • make media aware of problem • petition for more enforcement • request protected turns • ask city planners and traffic engineers for traffic calming ideas • ask schools about getting crossing guards at key locations • organize a neighborhood speed watch program • encourage schools to teach walking safely • help schools start safe walking programs • encourage corporate support for flex schedules so parents can walk children to school • request increased police enforcement • start a crime watch program in your neighborhood • organize a community clean-up day • sponsor a neighborhood beautification or tree- planting day • begin an adopt-a-street program • initiate support to provide routes with less traffic to schools in your commu nity (reduced traffic during am and pm school commute times) • get media to do a story about the health benefits of walking • call parks and recreation department about community walks • encourage corporate support for employee walking programs • plant shade trees along routes • have a sun safety seminar for kids • have kids learn about unhealthy ozone days and the Air Quality Index (AQI) .l. ~ "' Need some guidance? These resources might help ... WALKING INFORMATION Pedestrian and Bic y cle Information Center (PBIC) UNC Hig hway Safety Resea rch Center Chapel Hill , NC www.pe d bi keinfo .org www.wa lki n ginfo .org National Center fo r Safe Routes to School Chape l Hill , NC www.saferoutes info.org For More Information about Who Can Help Address Community Problems www.wa lki n ginfo .org/problems/help .cfm State Bicycle & Ped estrian Coordinators h ttp://www.wa lkinginfo.org /ass is ta n ce/co ntac t s .cfm FEDERAL POLI CY, GUIDANCE AND FUNDING SOURCES FOR WALKING FACILITIES Federal Highway Administration Bicycle a n d Pedest rian Pro gr a m Office of Na tura l and Hu man Environment Wash in gton , DC www.fhwa .dot.gov/environment/bikeped/index.htm ..... U.& Deporlment ot Tr<nparlotion ~Federal Highway ~ ... Administration e.,.. U.S. Deportment of Tra nsportation ~ National Highway Traffic Safety ._,. Administ ration PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Federal Highway Administration Pe destri a n and Bicycle Safety Team Offi ce Of Sa fety Was hington, DC http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Tra ffic Sa fet y Program s Washington , DC www.nhts a .gov/Pedes tri a n s SIDEWALK ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION US Access Board Washington , DC Ph on e: (800) 872-2253; (800) 993 -2822 (TTY) www.access-board.gov Safe Routes Nationa l Center for Sai e Routos to Sr.haol El ll D Pedes trian a nd Bicycle In fo rm ation Ce nter ( c:k • t How bikeable is your community? Riding a bike is fun! Bicycling is a great way to get around and to get your daily dose of physical activity. It's good for the environment, and it can save you money. No wonder many communities are encouraging people to ride their bikes more often! Can you get to where you want to go by bike? Some communities are more bikeable than others: how does yours rate? Read over the questions in this checklist and then take a ride in your community, perhaps to the local shops, to visit a friend, or even to work. See if you can get where you want to go by bicycle, even if you are just riding around the neighborhood to get some exercise. At the end of your ride, answer each question and, based on your opinion, circle an overall rating for each question. You can also note any problems you encountered by checking the appropriate box(es). Be sure to make a careful note of any specific locations that need improvement. Add up the numbers to see how you rated your ride. Then, turn to the pages that show you how to begin to improve those areas where you gave your community a low score. Before you ride, make sure your bike is in good working order, put on a helmet, and be sure you can manage the ride e..,..,_ U.S. Department of Tran sportation ~ National Highway Traffic Safety ~ Administration Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center e ....... U.S. Departmen!of Tronsportat ion ~Federal Highway ~ Administration Go for a ride and use this checklist to rate your neighborhood's bikeability. ' Location of bike ride (be specific): Rating Scale: 1 I 2 3 4 I 5 6 1. Did you have a place to bicycle safely? a) On the road, sharing the road with motor vehicles? 0 Yes 0 Some problems (p lease note locations): 0 No sp ace for bicyclists to ride 0 Bicycle lane or paved shoulder disappeared 0 Heavy and/or fast-moving traffic 0 Too many trucks or buses 0 No space for bicyclists on bridges or in tunnels 0 Poorly lighted roadways Oth er problems: b) On an off-road path or trail, where motor vehicles were not allowed? 0 Yes 0 Some pro blems: 0 Path ended abruptly 0 Path didn't go where I wanted to go D Path intersected with roads that we re difficult to cross 0 Path was crowded 0 Path was unsafe because of sharp turns or dangerous downhills O Path was uncomfortable b ecause of too many hill s 0 Path was poorly lighted Other problems: Overall "Safe Place To Ride" Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 I I I awful many some good very good excellent problems problems 2. How was the surface that you rode on? 0 Good 0 Some problems, the road or path had: 0 Potholes 0 Cracke d or broken pavement 0 Debris (e.g. broken glass, sand, gravel, etc.) 0 Dangero u s dr a in grates, utility covers, or metal plates 0 Uneve n surface or gaps 0 Slippery surfaces when wet (e.g. bridge decks, cons truction plates, road markings) 0 Bumpy or angled railroad tracks 0 Rumb le strips Other problems: Overall Surface Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 3. How were the intersections you rode through? 0 Good 0 Some problems: D Had to wait too long to cross inters ection 0 Co uldn't see cros sing traffic 0 Signal didn't give me eno u gh time to cross the road 0 Signal didn 't change for a bicycle 0 Unsure where or how to ride through intersection Other problems : Overall Intersection Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Continue the checklist on the next page ... .. 4 . Did drive rs behave well? D Good D Some problems, drivers: D Drove too fast D Passed me too close D Did not signal D Harassed me D Cut me off D Ran red lights or stop sign Other problems: Overall Driver Rati ng: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 5. Was it easy for you to use your bike? D Good D Some problems: D No maps, signs, or road markings to help me find my way D No safe or secure place to leave my bicycle at my destination D No way to take my bicycle with me on the bus or train 0 Scary dogs 0 Hard to find a direct route I liked 0 Route was too hilly Other problems: Overall Inters ection Rating: (circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6 How does your community rate? Add up you r ratings and decide . (Questi on s 6 and 7 do not contrib ute to yo ur comm unit y's score) 1. 2 6 -30 Celebrate! You live in a bicycle- friendly community. 2. 21-2 5 Your community is pretty good, but there's always room for improvement. 3. __ 16-20 Conditions for riding are okay, but not ideal. Plenty of opportunity for improvements. 4. __ 11-15 Conditions are poor and you deserve better than this! Call the mayor and the newspaper right away. 5. __ 5 -10 Oh dear. Consider wearing body armor and Christmas tree lights before venturing out again. Total: -- 6. Wha t did you do to make you r ri de sa fer? Your behavior contributes to the bikeability of your community. Check all that apply: 0 Wore a bicycle helmet 0 Obeyed traffic signal and signs 0 Rode in a straight line (didn't weave) 0 Signaled my turns 0 Rode with (not against) traffic 0 Used lights, if riding at night 0 Wore reflective and/or retroreflective materials and bright clothing 0 Was courteous to other travelers (motorist, skaters, pedestrians, etc.) 7. Tell us a little about yourself. In good weather months, about how many days a month do you ride your bike? 0 Never 0 Occasionally (one or two) 0 Frequently (5-10) 0 Most (more than 15) 0 Every day Which of these phrases best describes you? 0 An advanced, confident rider who is comfortable riding in most traffic situations 0 An intermediate rider who is not really comfortable riding in most traffic situations 0 A beginner rider who prefers to stick to the bike path or trail Did you find some t hing that need s to be cha nged? On the next page, you'll find suggestions for improving the bikeability of your community based on the prob lems you identified. Take a look at both the short-and long-term solutions and commit to seeing at least one of each through to t h e end. If yo u don't, then who will? During your bike ride, how did you feel physically? Could you go as far or as fast as you wanted to? Were you short of breath, tired, or were yo u r muscles sore? The next page also has some suggestions to improve the enjoyment of your ride . Bicycling, whether for transportation or recreation, is a great way to get 30 minutes of physical activity into your day. Riding, just like any other activity, should be something you enjoy doing. The more you enjoy it, the more likely you'll stick with it. Choose routes that match your skill level and physical activities. If a route is too long or hilly, find a new one. Start slowly and work up to your potential. Now that you know the problems, you can find the answers. 1. Did you have a pl ace to bicycle safely? a) On the ro ad? No space for bicyclists to ride (e.g. no bike lane or shoulder; narrow lanes) Bicycle Jane or paved shoulder disappeared Heavy and/or fast-moving traffic Too many trucks or buses No space for bicyclists on bridges or in tunnels Poorly lighted roadways b) On an off-road pa th or t rail? Path ended abruptly Path didn't go where I wanted to go Path intersected with roads that were difficult to cross Path was crowded Path was unsafe because of sharp turns or dangerous downhills Path was uncomfortable because of too many hills Path was poorly lighted What you and your child can do immediately • pick another route for now • tell local transportation engineers or public works department about specific problems; provide a copy of your checklist • find a class to boost your confidence about riding in traffic • slow down and take care when using the path • find an on-street route • use the path at less crowded times • tell the trail manager or agency about specific problems 2 . How was the su rface you rode on ? Potholes Cracked or broken pavement Debris (e.g. broken glass, sand, gravel, etc.) Dangerous drain grates , utility covers, or metal plates Uneven surface or gaps Slippery surfaces when wet (e.g. bridge decks, construction plates, road markings) Bumpy or angled railroad tracks Rumble strips • report problems immediately to public works department or appropriate agency • keep your eye on the road/path • pick another route until the problem is fixed (and check to see that the problems are fixed) • organize a community effort to clean up the path 3. How were the intersections you rode through? Had to wait too long to cross intersection Couldn't see crossing traffic Signal didn't give me enough time to cross the road The signal didn't change for a bicycle Unsure where or how to ri de through intersection • pick another route for now • tell local transportation engineers or public works department about specific problems • take a class to improve your riding confidence and skills I What you and your communi t y can do with more time • participate in local planning meetings • encourage your community to adopt a plan to improve conditions, including a network of bike lanes on major roads • ask your public works department to consider "Share the Road" signs at specific locations • ask your state department of transportation to include paved shoulders on all their rural highways • establish or join a local bicycle advocacy group • ask the trail manager or agency to improve directional and warning signs • petition your local transportation agency to improve path/roadway crossings • ask for more trails in your community • establish or join a "Friends of the Trail" advocacy group • participate in local planning meetings • encourage your community to adopt a plan to improve conditions, including a network of bike lanes on major roads • ask your public works department to consider "Share the Road" signs at specific locations • ask your state department of transportation to include paved shoulders on all their rural highways • establish or join a local bicycle advocacy group • ask the public works department to look at the timing of the specific traffic signals • ask the public works department to install loop-detectors that detect bicyclists • suggest improvements to sightlines that include cutting back vegetation; building out the path crossing; and moving parked cars that obstruct your view • organize community-wide, on -bike training on how to safely ride through intersections .. 4 . Did drivers behave well? Drivers: Drove too fast Passed me too close Did not signal Harassed me Cut me off Ran red lights or stop signs What you and your child can do immediately • report unsafe drivers to the police • set an example by riding respon sibly; obey traffic laws; do n't antagonize drivers • always expect the unexpected • work with your community to raise awareness to share the road 5. Was it easy for you to use your bike? No maps , signs, or road markings to help me find my way No safe or secure place to leave my bicycle at my des tination No way to take my bicycle with me on the bus or train Scary dogs Hard to find a direct ro u te I liked Route was too hilly • plan your route ahead of time • find somewhere close by to lock your bike; never leave it unlocked • report scary dogs to the animal control department • learn to use all of your gears! 6. What did you do to make your ride safer? Wore a bicycle helmet Obey ed traffic signals and signs Rode in a straight line (didn't weave) Signaled my turns Rode with (not against) traffic Used lig hts, if riding at night Wore reflective materials and bright clothing Was courteous to other travelers (motorists, skaters, pedestrians, etc .) • go to your local bike shop and buy a hel met; get lights and reflectors if you are expectin g to ride at night • always follow the rules of the road and set a good example • take a class to improve yo u r riding skills and knowledge e (continued) What you and your community can do with more time • ask the police department to enforce speed limits and safe driving • encourage your department of motor vehicles to include "Share the Road" messages in driver tests and correspondence with drivers • ask city planners and traffic engineers for traffic calming ideas • encourage your community to use cameras to catch speeders and red light runners • ask you r comm u n ity to p u blish a local bike map • ask your public works department to install bike parking racks at key destinations; work with them to identify locations • petition your transit agency to install bike racks on all their buses • plan your local route network to minimize the impact of steep hills • establish or join a bicycle user group (BUG) at your workplace • ask the police to enforce bicycle laws • encourage your school or youth agencies to teach bicycle safety (on-bike) • start or join a local bicycle club • become a bicycle safety instructor Need some guidance? These resources might help ... BICYCLING INFORMATION Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) UNC Highway Safety Research Center Chapel Hill, NC http://www.pedbikeinfo.org http://www.bikinginfo.org National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) UNC Highway Safet y Research Center Chapel Hill, NC http://www.saferoutesinfo.org STREET DESIGN AND BICYCLE FACILITIES American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Washington , D.C. http://www.aashto.org Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Washington, D.C. http://www.ite.org Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) Cedarburg, WI http://www.apbp.org Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Office of Natural and Human Environment Washington , DC http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/index.htm PATHS AND TRAILS Rails to Trails Conservancy Washington , DC http:// www.railtrail s .org National Park Service (NPS) Washington, DC http://www.nps.gov/ind ex.htm Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center e~ U.S.Deportmentoflronsporta1ion ~Federal Highway !91" Administration e~ U.S. Department ofTransportation ~ National Highway Traffic Safety !91" Administration EDUCATION AND SAFETY National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Bicycle Safety Program, Office of Safety Programs Washington, DC http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/ menuitem.81oacaee5oc651189ca8e41odbao46ao/ Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Team, Office of Safety Washington, DC http://safety.fhwa .dot.gov/ped_bike/ SafeKids World -wide Washington, D.C. http://www.safekids.org HEALTH Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity Atlanta, GA http://www.dcd.gov/nccdphp/dnpa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Injury Prevention Atlanta, GA http://www.dcd.gov/ncipc ADVOCACY GROUPS Alliance for Biking and Walking http://www.peoplepoweredmovaement.org League of American Bicyclists (LAB) http://www.bikeleague.org National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW) http://www.bikewalk.org FUNDING SOURCES Transportation Enhancement Activities: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/ Safe Routes to School Program: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/ Recreational Trails Program: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/ National Scenic Byways Program: http://www.bywaysonline.org/ Federal Lands Highway Program: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/ Locations With Needed Improvements or Questions Street/Intersection Issue Correction Needed Neighborhood \. Holik Dr @ Anderson St Directional Arrow Faces Straight Change to Directional Arrows L/R v Village Dr @ Anderson St Directional Arrow Faces Straight Change to Directional Arrows L/R Pine Ridge Dr @Anderson St Multi-use path does not appear on map Add to ArcGIS .,..l<ongmire Ct @ Bee Creek Park Bike Route sign needed at bridge Add Bike Route sign Valley View Dr @Texas Ave Eastbound sign indicates Texas Ave is a Bike Route ? Todd Tr @ Brothers Blvd Tree branches block Bike Route sign Trim branches at Bike Route sign ,...,Deacon Dr @ Brothers Blvd Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs Deacon Dr btw. San Felipe Dr & Brothers Blvd. Bike Route signs needed at multi-use path Add Bike Route signs ... !'Rio Grande Blvd @ Todd Tr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs ,..!Welsh Ave @ Balcones Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs Welsh Ave @ Fox Meadow Apartments Debris/Dirt left on sidewalk from Verizon project Contact Verizon for sidewalk cleanup ,..fWelsh Ave @ Nueces Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs Dexter Dr S @ Gabbard Park Fence opening too narrow for bicyclists Widen fence opening btw. Cul-de-sacs "K>exter Dr S @ Gabbard Park Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs )"Dexter Dr S @ Haines Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs ,.rf.angford St @ Haines Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs v l1.angford St @ Southwest Pkwy Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs Park Place btw. Anderson St & Texas Ave Bike Route marked as proposed on map Change Bike Route marking to existing A 6exter Dr @ W Dexter Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs ,..Ktalley View Dr@ Southwood Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs Harvey Mitchell Pkwy @ Southwood Dr Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs I Longmire Dr@ Brothers Blvd Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs l"'~outhwest Pkwy @ Dexter Dr S Bike Route sign needed Add Bike Route sign "' Dexter Dr S @ Llano Pl Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs I Welsh Ave @ Llano Pl Bike Route signs needed Add Bike Route signs