HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo MEMORANDUM
To: Planning and Zoning Commission
From: Ken Fogle,Transportation Planner
Date: October 24,2005
Re: Thoroughfare Plan Amendment-Clean Up
The thoroughfare plan is used as a planning tool to anticipate where thoroughfares will
be needed in the future. This plan is implemented by constructing these roadways
through the capital program and the platting process, by the city and private
development, respectively. Periodically, the platting process results in the construction
of roadways that meet thoroughfare standards that are not shown on the thoroughfare
plan, or realigned thoroughfares compared to those shown on the plan. Because of this,
it is necessary to officially amend the thoroughfare plan to reflect these changes.
Additional Thoroughfares
In many undeveloped and developing areas within the city, the thoroughfare plan
primarily consists of arterial and major collector thoroughfares. While these roadways
fulfill the need for mobility, minor collector roadways are also required to connect
residential areas to these higher level thoroughfares. In many cases, these minor
collector roadways are intentionally not included on the thoroughfare plan because the
location and alignment are a function of neighborhood design. When residential
developments are proposed in these areas, the developer is required to provide
roadways built to minor collector standards when projected traffic volumes warrant
them. The following roadways meet this criteria and staff recommends their inclusion
on the thoroughfare plan:
• Navarro Drive -Wellborn Road to Welsh Avenue
• Brandenburg Lane - Graham Road to Eagle Avenue (future)
• Hartford Drive-Brandenburg Lane to Victoria Avenue
Realigned Thoroughfares
The Unified Development Ordinance,Section 1.6.0 states:
The alignments of proposed thoroughfares and bikeways on the "College Station
Thoroughfare Plan map" and the "College Station Bikeway and Pedestrian Plan
map" are generalized locations that are subject to modifications to fit local
conditions,budget constraints, and right-of-way availability that warrant further
refinement as development occurs. Alignments within 1,000 feet of the alignment
shown on the aforementioned maps will not require a thoroughfare plan
amendment.
This ability to realign thoroughfares has been used in two residential developments
recently, including the Dove Crossing and Fojtik developments. Each of these cases is
discussed below.
Dove Crossing
The thoroughfare plan shows three proposed thoroughfares on the parcel where Dove
Crossing development is proposed including, Eagle Avenue,Mountain Breeze Way, and
Alexandria Avenue. These thoroughfares provide connections to the north, south, east,
and west. In order, to improve efficiency with the thoroughfare system, the developer
requested and staff agreed to use a more grid like transportation network through the
development. This involved realigning Eagle Avenue as an east-west collector from SH
6 to SH 40 through several residential developments and extending Alexandria Avenue
through the site to Graham Road, aligning with Schaffer Road. These alignments were
approved on the plat and staff recommends their alignments be modified on the
thoroughfare plan.
Fojtik
Prior to the thoroughfare plan amendment adding Appomattox Drive between North
Forest Parkway and Raintree Drive, the Fojtik tract only included the extension of
Raintree Drive south to North Forest Parkway. The master development plan for the
Fojtik tract shows Raintree Drive realigned and terminating into Appomattox Drive.
Based on anticipated traffic volumes and neighborhood integrity, this realignment is
preferable and meets the intent of the thoroughfare plan. Staff recommends that this
realignment be reflected on the thoroughfare plan.