Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

 

TO:

Chuck Soules, Public Works Director

FROM:

Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer

CC:

Dave Corliss, Mike Stock, Phil Struble, Jane Eldredge, Keith Browning, Walt Ward

Date:

September 07, 2010

RE:

Renaissance Drive – Right-of-Way Dedication

Mercato Development

Northeast Corner of K-10 and US-40 (West 6th)

 

Background

The proposed Mercato Development is a mixed-use commercial and residential development located on the northeast corner of K-10 and US–40 (West 6th Street) highways. City staff has been working with KDOT engineers and the developer /owner of the Mercato property for the past several months to figure out the details related to the right-of-way dedication for the proposed Renaissance Drive, closure of the existing access onto US-40 (West 6th), and construction of a new right-in/right-out access onto West 6th Street.

 

The existing frontage road along the east side of K-10 will be named “Renaissance Drive” as part of the Mercato Development. Currently, the Frontage Road connects to US-40 (West 6th) just east of the US-40/K-10 interchange. As part of the Mercato development plan and agreement with KDOT, this access will be closed and traded for a new right-in/right-out access onto West 6th Street, approximately 1,000 feet east of the current access.  [See Exhibit]

 

The proposed Renaissance Drive (the existing Frontage Road), currently located within KDOT/K-10 right-of-way, will become a city street as part of the Final Plat of the Mercato Tract, hence requiring the road right-of-way to be dedicated to the City of Lawrence. KDOT has agreed to dedicate the necessary right-of-way and easements (at no cost to the city) to construct the proposed Renaissance Drive as a city street. Attached are the Exhibit and Quit Claim Deed outlining the details of the proposed “Road Right-Of-Way”, “Temporary Construction Easement” and “Excess Right of Way”.

 

Proposed Right of Way Details

As shown in the Exhibit, there are three parts in this dedication.

 

  1. Road Right of Way – shown in “red” in the Exhibit. This is a permanent dedication to the city for the purpose of the construction and maintenance of Renaissance Drive. The proposed right-of-way is adequate to construct the roadway and other ambient features, e.g. sidewalk, landscaping etc.

 

 

 
  1. Temporary Construction Easement – This is the area directly west of the proposed Mercato street right-of-way, shown in ‘blue”. This easement is intended to be used during construction of the Renaissance Drive and closing of the existing Frontage Road access onto US-40. This construction easement is temporary and will become void after the construction of Renaissance Drive is complete.

 

The existing hike/bike path is within this temporary construction easement. Maintenance of the hike/bike path is currently performed by Douglas County Road Department under Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant agreement between the County and KDOT. Based on the conditions of the TE grant agreement, the maintenance responsibility of the hike/bike path will remain with the County for the life span of the h/b path.

 
  1. Excess Right of Way – shown in “green” in the Exhibit. This is the small sliver of land between the proposed Renaissance Drive right-of-way and the Mercato property line. KDOT is proposing to dedicate this portion to the city as “Excess Right-of-Way”. The excess right-of-way would belong to the city and could be used for all public purposes. However, according to the terms and conditions of the Quit Claim Deed by KDOT, the city is prohibited from transferring / selling this land to any private entities.

 

Action Request

If appropriate, accept the Right-of-Way and Easement dedication from KDOT as outlined in the Quit Claim Deed and in the Exhibit.

 

 

Attachments

          Exhibit

          Quit Claim Deed