Bauer Farm Development

Public Works Review Comments

(February 12, 2008)

 

 

Additional Access Driveways

Please refer to the attached memo from Shoeb Udden regarding additional access driveways, dated January 31, 2008.

 

Additional Right of Way

Folks Road (between 6th and Overland): Traffic Impact study submitted by the applicant recommends 5-lane section for Folks Road between 6th and Overland. Following is a break down of Right of Way width to accommodate the recommended improvements.

 

5 lanes for Traffic:                         11’ x 5                       = 55 feet

Curb and Gutter:                             2’ x 2                          =   4 feet      

Sidewalks:                                        6’ x 2                          = 12 feet

Separation between sidewalk

And curb and gutter:                      5’ x 2                          = 10 feet

 

Total:                                                                                         81 feet

 

The existing 80 feet right of way is barely adequate to accommodate a 5-lane section roadway and leaves no room for landscaping. The current city practice has been to provide approximately 10 feet of Landscaping easement on each side of a collector or arterial street. Therefore, an additional 10 feet of right of way or easement on each side of Folks Road would be necessary to provide adequate room for landscaping.

 

Based on the future traffic volume at the intersection of 6th and Folks, it is somewhat likely that a 6-lane section (1 SB Right Turn, 1 southbound thru, 2 southbound left turn, 2 north bound thru) will be needed at the north leg of this    intersection. As shown above, the existing 80 feet right of way is barely enough for a 5-lane section. To accommodate a 6-lane section, additional right of way would be required.

 

Agreement not to protest Benefit District

Geometric Improvements and Signal installation and / or Improvements (or other traffic control measures) at the following intersections.

Wakarusa and Overland

Overland and Folks

Folks and 6th

Overland Drive and Champion Lane

 

Widening of Overland Drive (between Folks and Wakarusa) and             

            Folks Road (Between 6th and Overland)

 

 

Internal Road Geometry

In the latest revision of the Bauer Farm PDP, the internal road network and the alleys have been proposed to be taken over by the city as public infrastructure. Following comments are to be viewed in that context.

 

Bauer Farm Drive with angle parking on both sides: The b/c to b/c distance is 61      feet, but the R/W shown is 60 feet.      Typically, the City would want to keep the pavement and curb and gutter within the Right of Way, if the city is responsible for their maintenance. It is recommended that additional space in the angle parking area be provided for adequate sight distance when vehicles are pulling out of the parking area. In recent years, providing additional width in the roadway to provide adequate sight distance has been the city’s practice, example, Hobbs Taylor angle parking on New Hampshire. If additional space is not available, parallel parking instead of angle parking may be considered as an alternative.

It is recommended to provide a gutter section between the roadway pavement and the angle parking.

The geometry of the Roundabout at Bauer Farm Drive and Champion Lane has to be revised as required by design speed.

Traffic Calming measures, e.g. Traffic Circles, Speed bump etc. are recommended at all four-way intersections.

Alleys with long straight runs (longer than 600 feet) are also recommended for Traffic Calming Measures.

 

Storm Water Issues

Due to the density of the eastern half of the development, space for locating utilities is at premium.  The proximity of water lines, sanitary sewer and storm sewer will need to be closely evaluated for conflicts during the design and review of the Public Improvement Plans.

 

Maintenance Issues

Currently, the city does not maintain street side parking except in the downtown areas. Therefore, as proposed in the PDP, the city will assume additional responsibility for the maintenance of the angle parking and the parallel parking as well. It will be more expensive for the City to maintain (e.g. street sweeping, snow removal) roadside parking areas.

 

Alternatively, the outer edge of the gutter section in the angle parking area (as proposed above by the city staff) would be the dividing line for maintenance purposes, meaning the city will maintain the roadway pavement including the gutter section and the property owners will maintain the parking areas.

 

It is important to note that under the current practice, the city does maintain a few paved alleys in the core of the city, but the city does not provide snow removal services for paved alleys.

 

 

 

Street Lights

It is our understanding that the street lights proposed for this project are pedestrian street lights. Under the current practice, the city does not maintain pedestrian lights except in the Downtown areas. There are some places in town where the city pays for the electricity while the residents take care of the maintenance needs for the pedestrian lights. Assuming the full responsibility of the maintenance of the pedestrian lights within the proposed Bauer Farm Development would be beyond the ordinary limit of city’s role.