Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 7.A-Attch10 09/13/2004ATTACHMENT 10 Zachary Ivlatley, AICP 324 Keller Street Petaluma, CA 94952 (707)781 -7224 August 27, 2004 City Council City of Petaluma 11 English Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Request to Condition Street .Changes with Approvals of Sweed SchoolProj ect Members of the City Council: I am in support of the proposed Sweed School adaptive reuse, but urge; you to consider conditions of approval aimed at alleviating impacts on Keller and 'Liberty Streets. I feel ;these low -cost requests to be reasonable and commensurate'with the level of;circulaton impacts our:neighborhood is likely to experience as a result of i this development. As you can see in -my prior memos to:the:Planning Commission, J -believe that diagonal parking on Keller Street would work very well as .a 'means of traffic calming ,and, increasing neighborhood parking supply. I also believe that edgeline striping to visually narrow travel lanes .could be an . effective solution on both Liberty5treet; and, as an alternative to diagonal parking, on Keller Street. I would like to point out a couple of items about the diagonal ,Included in your packets is a memo from Wilson Engineering that addresses -my earlier requestto'the Planning Commission for diagonal parking on Keller Street. In reading it, please consider that 1:) Diagonalparking on a 46 -foot wide street is not a new and is .consistent with "livable streets" design standards; and 2) Streets like Keller that have under. 1;5.00 vehicles per day,function very well with travel widths of 20 feet. The configuration encourages lower vehicle speeds that are appropriate for a residential neighborhood I also want to clarify some of the collision data: The portion of 'Kentucky Street north of Washington (adjacent to the Petaluma Hotel) is the same width .as Keller and has. diagonal parking. Between Washington Street and Prospect Street, there have been 7 collisions over. the past 4 years, 5.of which were attributable to parking maneuvers'. Of these , 5 collisions, 3 involved drivers hitting other parked cars and 2 involved drivers - backing into oncoming traffic., None ,involved injuries, ,presumably because all occurred at low speeds. Note that this collision data differs.from,that inthe Wilson memo, which also includes collisions. oin Kentucky within the business district where there is both more traffic and an entirely different street character. R " " CE � 'Data from Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS)U U 3 0 2004 PLANNIN DIVISION Page 2 b ty' p ed with diagonal p arkin and that.a street may I acknowledge there are safe un licahonsassociat g p g, • experience more collisions per block with diagonal parking than with parallel. I also understand hesitation on the Council's part to implement diagonal parking on the street because of safety concerns: 1t ,is- difficult to make such calls �witlout the advice of a staff transportation professional.. If you choose not to condition diagonal parking; I would ask thatyou consider it;in the future when you do have someone on staff to coordinate "Iivablerstreets" projects in Petaluma. Further, if'you choose not to condition diagonal,parking, I urge you to condition the'Vroiect developer to install edgeline striping on Keller Street similar to what.:I requested to the Planning Commission be implemented on Liberty`Street; Edgeline striping, which. visually narrows the width of a street ,has been shown to reduce vehicle speeds: Though the decreasernay not - be asapparent as that achieved with diagonal parking, ithas virtually yrio riegativesafetyimplications. An appropr44te,configuration for a 46 -foot wide Str such aS Keller Would be to stripe - White edeelines 12 feet fr om each curb, resulting in a.22 -foot wide perceived 'travel way to drivers.. 'Though neither- Keller nor Liberty are designated bicycle routes in.the City's Bicycle.Plan, this' configuration also has the benefit of creating a "safety=zone" between ,parked cars and - moving vehicles similar to that created by bicycle lanes. A local example of edgeline striping in a neighborhood can be seen on Keokuk Street. I have attached my,Apri1,19,, 2004:memo to the Planning Commission for your refeience. It includes photos, figures, and data that may be helpful. hT summa • rye ® The, °proposed development should be:�conditioned toprovide traffic calming ;measures such as edgeline striping and /or installation of .diagonal parking on Keller and, Liberty Streets. • Diagonal parking on a 46 - foot wide : street is consistent with "livable streets` principles. ® Themmay bean increase in.minor eollisions.;with diagonal parking versus parallel .parking, though there are also'safety benefits associated with reduced speeds. ® If the: Council.chooses not to:.require diagonal.parking on.Keller Street, the pr"oject•should.be. conditioned to ^install edgeline striping on Keller Street;(in addition to Liberty Street). I thank -you for your time and" considerati"on.. Sincerely; u� Zachary Matley, AICP • Zachary Matley, AICP 324 KellerStreet Potalurria; CA 94952 (707) 781 -7224 Planning Commission City of Petaluma 11 E:ftglis'h Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Request for Street Changes with'Sweed S chool Adaptive Reuse Members of the Planning Commission: During, your review of - the Sweed School adaptive reuse, I would like you to consider the potential for improvements to the4.character and operationpi.keller and'Liberty,'S.tkle&§. Speeds are..excessive on both streets, and the proposed Project could.actually* improve condition:svith some, minonimprovernents. Request' "l W I In- . wift!� Opp . Ortuh ity "exists for residents surrounding. Sweed School and the -project I - :Keller Street in front of Swad School ' � 1 Page'2 The presence of'.diagonal parking on streets has been found to decreases speeds by 3 -5 miles per hour.for two reasons. First, the perceived width of the street is reduced, making it look less like a racetrack: Second, driyers must proceed more cautiously'as they watch for vehicles maneuvering into and out of parking spaces. m On- street parking is frequently full during evenings and weekends, even , along the vacant, school parcel. 'Parking demand (particularly visitor:parking) Will increase upon, :completion of "the Project. Implementation of :diagonal parking spaces will increase parking supply benefitting both existing and future °residents. - ® The exact same parking configuration . exists on KerituckyStreet�between Martha and'. Washington Streets (Petaluma Hotel area) and effectively :regulates 'traffic speeds. Th&two streets,havethe sameA6- foot wide -curb width.. Whereas diagonal;parking is undesirable in front of single 'family homes where ,multiple: driveway and. curb cuts exist, it works wel'1 in ,front' of multi - family residential. It,also works bestwhere,daily traffic volumes , are less than 1 vehicles :(Keller Street has an' average daily volume of"826 vehicles). Diagonal parking may not work, on the Liberty Street side of the` school because of a crest in the roadway that reduces :sight ,distance. Visually narrowing the roadway by .striping a. white edgeline between parking ,areas and travel Panes would help reduce speeds: A 'similar ,treatment: was recently ,corrpl'eted one block west on.Keokuk- Street as part' of the streets "reconstruction. General. Desien s mplernentation.of diagonal parking and edgeline striping would consist mainlyof painting lines on existing'str"eets. The combined width of travel. lanes "would remain 20-22 feet on each street.. • Kentucky Street.DiagonalParking! . Edgeline Striping on Keokuk Street Page 3 �. Landscaped islands should be constructed: n the "triangles" formed at the ends of diagonal parking areas. 'This is consistent with Program (9.1) of the City's General Plan. Nexus Visitor parking activity ;associated with ; the Project will increase parking demand .in the neighborhood, ' and ,traffic volumes will increase slightly. • The improvements are relatively low-cost,. consistinprimati ly g , , of paintand two small landscaped islands at the ends of diagonalparking areas , I The cost of these, is..reasdnably commensurate with the level of impact, and.zdds value to the Project itself; Background Traffic Data An automated traffic data collecti I on machinelwas installed on KellorStreet,ill frontof Sweed School between Saturday morning and Thursday afternoon, Mardi 6-11,20.04_ The unit collected speed and volume data during this time. Summaries of the data are provided,in,the following tables and charts. Traffic Volume Statistics Direction Volume Northbound 465(56%) Southbound 361 (44%) Total Daily 826 ,, cars Vehicle Classification 0 Statistics on Spee4jng Vehicles Keller Street;Dally Traffic Flow 100 so 0 60 40 20 0 X: r :t < < < < Q < CL EL 0 d( CL rn M M Ln 1'- 0% — KellerrStreetCridca)LSpeed by Time 35.0 E 30.0 cu 0. 25.0 U 20.0 U Z Z < < < i E D_ 2 CL rn Ln 25 mph 30 mph 35 mph -Number and percent of 1 633 121 drivers exceeding-'speed (63%) (24%) (4%) (80.3%) out of 1 out of 1 out of Ratio exceeding speed .2' car's 4 cars 25 cars Keller Street;Dally Traffic Flow 100 so 0 60 40 20 0 X: r :t < < < < Q < CL EL 0 d( CL rn M M Ln 1'- 0% — KellerrStreetCridca)LSpeed by Time 35.0 E 30.0 cu 0. 25.0 U 20.0 U Z Z < < < i E D_ 2 CL rn Ln Motorcycles Passenger Cars Pickups./SU'Vs Large Trucks Number Observed 14 3,412- 804 9 (Percent) (0 (80.3%) (18.9%) . (0.2%) Keller Street;Dally Traffic Flow 100 so 0 60 40 20 0 X: r :t < < < < Q < CL EL 0 d( CL rn M M Ln 1'- 0% — KellerrStreetCridca)LSpeed by Time 35.0 E 30.0 cu 0. 25.0 U 20.0 U Z Z < < < i E D_ 2 CL rn Ln Page 4 Conclusion • Many of thexesidents surrounding Sweed School, including,myself, are the proposed redevelopment of 'the • school and would like to express our Tsupport to - the Commission Neighborhood-wide traffic calming, schemes will become increasingly'importantlas;adjacent arterial streets become congested: Though many .of us would prefer "bulbouts,"'tesidential traffic c'irc'les, and landscaped medians/curb extensions to' ease speeding -problems in our neighborhood; 'we, recognize: that. there ,'is little nexus for a small projjzct, such as the'Sweed School, adaptive reuse to fund such, measures. o - Implementation of diagonal parking on Keller Street and edgeline striping on, Liberty Street is a. IdWmcdst solution that would provide short -term. results and complement, -future traffic. : calming efforts ifiYetaluma. I thank you foryour consideration .of these,street-,improvements , as Conditions of,Approval, arid'u e, rg -9 you to support this,ihhovatiVe"Project. Sincerely, Zachary Matley, AICP • Comments fpr:Plahhing Co,mm? ission - Sweed School Adaptive Re'use pti'al Streedmprovements: - Submitted 'by Zack Matley, 324 Keller Street Alternative 2 = Project to Oak Street I I . Alternative I - Project Frontage Comments for Planning Comi -mission - Sweed School Adaptive Reuse. Potential. Street lmprovements:- Submitted by Zack,Clatley, 324 Keller Street N i rTi t u� g rq • 3 s s t ji s Oak F F` 3 `.,� s n t "s. ,, 4 � Lx W a t Keller Par�Cing § t �' o zi 7 Chan }�Q ���. ip Edgelme Y�05P Striping on, Liberty Street '` - •$ a 5 ' i } f 4 �! . l��EQrr,� ),ark Y N` { `'N t y h f it ,Sam,e Parkin z, ,� COp igUratlon�,on ' cV y a a 1 Kentucky vp k z$ as h \n4a Area .Map Same Configuration on Kentucky Street Martha Street to Washington Str.'eet August 23 2004 g A U�� Mike Bierman, City of Petaluma 11 English Street , Petaluma, CA 94.952' RE: Sweed School Project Dear Mr.Bierman, As a resident of the Oakhill- Brewster Historic District, I support. the adaptive reuse of the Philip Sweed School °at 331 Keller Street. This property has long been an undesirable nuisance, in the neighborhood, and we are looking- forward 'to its redevelopment. to 'residential town'homes'. We urge your office to schedule this project.to be reviewed'by=the City Council as soon as o . possible, - and Ve request that it be placed first on the agenda. so that members of the neighborhood can speak in support of -the project at a reasonable hour. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nwe: Address cc Kim 'Gordon, Planning `Department City Council Members • Page 1 of a z . Gordon, Kim From: Ron Storey [ronstorey @ronstorey.com) Sent: Wednesday, August 2.5, 2004; 7:33 PM To: Bierman, Mike; Bryant. Moynihan; Mike Harris; Pam. Torliatt; Mike Healy; Mike O'B'rien , Mayor Cc: zmatley @comcast.net; Gordon, Kim; mariap @westbaybuilders.com Subject: Sweed 'School Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, and Mr. Bierman: It has been three months since the Planning Commission approved the Sweed School.. project. Since that time, review of this project has been scheduled several times for City Council •lout has repeatedly been "bumped!'. I am writing to encourage you to make .this­a pr- iority item and hear it at the next City Council meeting. I feel that the City Council views this project as being of. concern. for 'only a few local cit iz'ens of the Oak Hill region; but :due to the location of Sweed +School, the project needs to be recognized as ,a concern for the whole of Petaluma. I would like to p oint out that Sweed School is only two blocks from downtown. and is. seen by many who visit' the city during events as `they drive by Sweed, School iii search of parking... Sweed School,, as it stands, now is an eye sore And- cannot be viewed', as anything but disgusting by visitors from outside' of the region. - Sweed School has been a derelict building and an attractive nescience for .many years. T encourage you,to take action of the matter of Sweed:School in a timely manner and not to . hdld . up the progress any longer on the renovation of this building .which has been an eyesore for so long. I submit to you the fact that 'Sweed School is frequented ,by vandals:.and is': 'a fire hazard_. This matter has already been brought to your attention by one•of our neigh bors, ; Zach Matle y. As mentioned s e- mail, a quick phone call to the police de artment will confirm that he uil p p. hat the building is a concern,_ not only to' its neighbor-s., but also to the police who are sworn to serve public safety. My wife and I live and a_re - homeowners on the same block as Sweed School. am requesting .that you hear this. item ,at, the next City Council meeting so, the project can begin without further- delay. I would 1like to reiterate that the :Sweed School. property is currently, ,? 'b'lack eye for the whole of the City of Petaluma,, and i;t is not just . a concern • to 'those, of. us. that live•in the Oak Hill region. You•not only have the. power to do something about this matter but the responsibility to see that this problem is alleviated. Please. do not hold this projtect any longer since it serves to benefit mutually .th'e neighbors, the.City and those who propose:to..fund. and implement the renovation Thank you, and please forward this message to Mr. Thompson. Ron Storey 3 Liberty Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Cj 8/30/2004 r "I'DV E D August 23, 200:4. '�'� 3 !1 ? U !f r ', MMUi ICY DE'VEONI'I 1DEPARTMEN' • Mike Bierman City of Petaluma 11.English .Street Petaluma, CA 94952 1E: Sweed Schwl Project Dear- Mr.Bierman,' . As a resident of the Oakhill Brewster Historic,District, I support the adaptive reuse of the Philip Sweed School at 331 Keller "Street. This property has long beeri an undesirable nuisance in the neighborhood, and we are looking forward to its redevelopment•to residential town homes. We urge your office to schedule this project to be reviewed by the City Council as soon as possible,.andue request ;that it be placed first on the agenda so. that members of the .neighborhood can speak of the=proj'ect at.a reasonable hour. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, r , am �z,-i 1�� �• Tess: cc Kim Gordon, Planning Department City Council Members August 31,.2004 Mayor Glass and members :of City Council Because of this. project's location in a residential neighborhood, I ask -,that you please revise condition of approval 8-so that the first two sentences read: "Construction hours are limited to Monday through:Friday from 7 :3.0 A.m. to 6 OOpm. On Saturday, o my interior work: may, be performed, and only betweenr the hours -•of 9 `a m.' "And 5 p.m." I thank you for your consideration of this matter. Tiffany Robbe 324 Keller `Street AU'G 3' 1 X0 04