03/13/1996 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF ORIGINATOR: Dave Ahrens, Public Works Director/City Engineer DATE: 3/8/96 TOPIC: Centennial Middle School Street Improvements INTRODUCTION: The Planning & Zoning Board directed staff to hold a neighborhood meeting regarding the proposed street improvements for the Centennial Middle School at the February 14, 1996, meeting. On February 22, 1996, City staff, engineering consultants and school district officials held a neighborhood meeting to present street options considered to serve the proposed Centennial Middle School site and to solicit comments from the residents. Approximately 75 people attended this meeting. On March 4, 1996, staff held a second "open house" meeting in which four street options were presented and discussed with the residents. Comment cards were available to the 40 residents that attended this meeting with 31 cards returned. The vast majority of the comments and comment cards received by the residents expressed concern over the closing (or restriction) of Elm Street at Lake Drive. It is the opinion of most of the residents that any restriction of traffic to access Lake Drive from the existing Elm Street will cause a dramatic increase in traffic on Second Avenue and cause unnecessary inconvenience to drive further north on Lake Drive to turn onto Elm Street. The re -aligned Elm Street option was also considered by some residents to create a safety problem between traffic and pedestrians. DISCUSSION OF NEW OPTION: A street option that was developed by City consultants after the March 4, 1996, neighborhood meeting appears to meet nearly all concerns expressed by the school district, consultants and residents. A detail showing this latest option is attached for the Board's review. Although this option seems to work, it still needs further discussion and investigation by the engineering consultants and the school district. Immediate comments on this plan include: 1) it leaves Elm Street essentially the same; 2) bus traffic would access Lake Drive as originally presented by a road to the north of Elm Street; 3) it decreases the chances to meet warrants on the installation of a traffic signal; and, 4) it restricts left turns by southbound 4th Avenue traffic.