02/14/1996 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

residential area. The school site acts as a transitional land use separating for 1-35 and the industrial uses to the north from the residential land uses to the south. The site design needs to address buffering of residential uses in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance. From the above discussed land use issues, it can be said that the change in zoning is consistent with the surrounding properties. Public Services. To justify the requested rezoning, findings should be made that the proposed use will not overburden the City's service capacity. The subject property lies within the City's MUSA. Public sewer and water service is readily available to the site and can be adequately provided to the proposed school. However, the City Engineer will specifically address the provision of utilities as part of this site plan review. Vehicular Traffic. The middle school is bounded by I -35W on the north, and Elm Street to the south. Lake Drive provides a north south thoroughfare that will provide access to the site. With the development of the middle school, it is proposed that a Fourth Avenue aligning with the east property line be extended between Elm Street and Lake Drive. A traffic signal is proposed at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Lake Drive. The purpose of these street improvements is to improve traffic circulation throughout this neighborhood in the following way: a. Fourth Avenue reroutes Elm traffic to Lake Drive. b. Fourth Avenue will provide primary access to the school site at three separate locations. It is intended to orient the site traffic and parking away from residential areas. c. Lake Drive and Fourth Avenue intersection will be signalized. The signal will help channelizing traffic to one point along Lake Drive and will provide some interruption at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Lake Drive providing safe vehicular access and pedestrian/bicycle crossing at the intersection. d. EIm Street is a two lane residential street traversing from Lake Drive to Sunset Road. To channelize traffic to Lake Drive, EIm Street will become a "right turn only" at intersection with Lake Drive. Based on the feasibility study by OSM these street improvements are intended to improve traffic patterns throughout the area. Pedestrian /Bicycle Traffic. Pedestrian/Bicycle issues raised by Park Board and Police cite the following concerns: a. Crossing Lake Drive at EIm Street. 6