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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-27; City Council; 16086; Circulation Element Roadways Into City Road SystemCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENM BILL AB# ld,ot6 MTG. i2 -27-01 DEPT. CA TITLE- iib&lON OF A COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF CIRCULATION ELEMENT ROADWAYS INTO THE CITY ROAD SYSTEM DEPT. HD. CITY ATTY. CITY MGR. % RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Council Policy Statement No. 63 announcing the Council’s policy for acceptance of Circulation Element roadways into the City road system. ITEM EXPLANATION: The Council has established a Council Policy Manual which contains the written policies indicating how the Council intends to rule in the future on particular items of a recurring nature and which are subject to its discretion. (CMC §1.20.580). Policies become effective after receiving at least four affirmative votes. (Council Policy Statement No.1). Circulation Element roadways are shown in the Circulation Element of the General Plan. Such roadways are generally constructed in segments resulting from conditions in approved subdivisions. The ultimate acceptance and opening of these road segments is a two-step process. First, the roadway must be constructed according to City standards and the physical improvements accepted in accordance with a Subdivision Improvement Agreement. Second, the roadway must be accepted into the roadway system by resolution of the City Council. (Sts. & High. Code $1806). The attached Council Policy Statement recognizes this process and permits the Council to decide whether and when it is appropriate to open a Circulation Element roadway to through traffic. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The adoption of a Council Policy Statement is not a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section 21080. The EIR for the General Plan including the Circulation Element for the General Plan was certified by the City Council on September 6, 1994. Each development project containing a portion or link of a Circulation Element is processed under the appropriate CEQA process. FISCAL IMPACT: Other than minor expenditures of staff time, the adoption of this policy will not have a significant fiscal impact. The timing of the opening and acceptance of segments of circulation roadways into the City road system may have a fiscal impact on liabilities and maintenance and operations of an unknown amount. EXHIBITS: I. Council Policy Statement No. 63 2. Letter from Mayor Lewis appearing in the North County Times on February 16, 2001, illustrating how the various City policies may affect a given road. CITY OF CARLSBAD COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT General Subject: ACCEPTANCE OF ROADS Policy No. 63 Date Issued 2&‘-a/ Effective Date a ‘X7-01 Cancellation Date Supersedes No. Specific Subject: PROCEDURE FOR ACCEPTANCE OR CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF CIRCULATION ELEMENT ROADWAYS OR PORTIONS OF SUCH ROADWAYS INTO THE CITY STREET SYSTEM Copies to: City COUnCil, City Manager, City Attorney, Department and Division Heads, Employee Bulletin Boards, Press, File PURPOSE: To establish a policy on the acceptance or conditional acceptance of Circulation Element roadways or portions of such roadways into the City street system. The City of Carlsbad is strategically situated in North San Diego County such that its location requires facilities to accommodate local and regional traffic. In recognition of this requirement, the City Council has adopted the Circulation Element of the General Plan as a way to ensure a comprehensive manner and method for the circulation of people, goods, energy, water, sewage, storm waters, communications and services. The primary focus of that element is to provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods within the City of Carlsbad and to provide for public access to all existing and future land uses identified in the General Plan. It also identifies how transportation systems will link with surrounding jurisdictions and be coordinated with regional transportation plans. That element ensures that circulation facilities are provided concurrent with their need under the Growth Management Program and the numerous policies, programs and ordinances related thereto. The Circulation Plan was developed utilizing computerized traffic modeling and analysis of projected land uses contained in the General Plan as well as the land use plans of surrounding communities. It has been developed using computerized modeling techniques conducted by the San Diego Association of Governments. This element is designed to address the various components of the circulation system and to provide the basic policies and guidelines for the development of a safe, efficient and aesthetically pleasing transportation network. The Circulation Element recognizes that the Growth Management Program establishes minimum performance standards for the provision of basic public infrastructure and that, for the most part, roads and their related public utilities will be constructed as a condition of ,-. ^.. development activity guided by the policies in the General Plan and the standards of the Growth Management Plan. The timing of construction of missing Circulation Element roadways or links is, for the most part, a function of development activity and, financed by facility impact fees or other funding sources, subject to the City’s Capital Improvement Program. The Capital Improvement Program must balance the availability of revenues with the various competing needs for public facility construction. The Council by means of these policies and standards ensures that the Circulation Elements will be timely completed and opened as needed by the residents of Carlsbad and surrounding communities. Therefore, in recognition of this background the City Council adopts this Policy. STATEMENT OF POLICY: 1. Council recognizes that it has delegated authority to the City Manager the power to accept streets and roads of a subdivision into the street system pursuant to Cadsbad Municipal Code section 11.04.050. However, when those streets or roads are shown on the Circulation Element of the General Plan, the City Manager shall refer them to the City Council for acceptance or conditional acceptance. 2. The City Council shall formally accept the improvements and shall exercise its discretion as to whether and when to accept such road or street into the City street system by resolution as required under Streets and Highways Code section 1806. In exercising its discretion, the City Council shall consider the policies of the General Plan, the standards of the Growth Management Plan, the safety and needs of the traveling public including the impacts on existing roadways and intersections and the anticipated level of service, the anticipated traffic volumes, and the impacts on existing residential neighborhoods, public facilities, commercial districts, pedestrian and other needs which in the opinion of the City Council are necessary and appropriate for the orderly, safe and efficient development of the circulation system . If the Council conditionally accepts a road into the City street system, it may specify the events or timing prior to the opening to through traffic including, but not limited to, the construction of other links of the circulation system and other mitigation measures. I I - 3 CITY OF CARLSBAD ClRCULATlON RAV PAClFlC ocE4N LEGEND: tttt+ RAILROAD - FREEWAY PRIME ARTERIAL MAJOR ARTERIAL SECONDARY ARTERIAL COLLECTOR STREET CONSTRUCT/ON ZONE FUTURE ROAD . -. -..- ._-_.- \ \A CT: I .~. ‘. __Y’- - Ll3KxoM - lLo?&dti l2$p&ddw -w w&i BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON &w-o/ STREET DEVELOPMENT IN CARLSBAD The development of streets in Carlsbad is guided by a number of policies and documents. The major street system is laid out in the Circulation Element of the General Plan. The Circulation Element classifies streets by the amount of traffic they are designed to carry. The streets are designed in accordance with standards that will accommodate traffic generated from within the City, as well as traffic generated outside the City that can be expected to travel into and through the City. The Carlsbad General Plan has designated major regional streets. Major streets in Carlsbad have been laid out to coordinate with adjacent cities to provide a smooth linkage for these regional streets that extend through more than one jurisdiction. A plan has been in place for years and was painstakingly developed in coordination with other agencies. Carlsbad has always planned to do its share to participate in developing the regional street network. La Costa Avenue, Palomar Airport Road, El Camino Real and the construction of new interchanges at I-5 and Poinsettia Lane, Palomar Airport Road and La Costa Avenue are prime examples of Carlsbad commitment. Carlsbad will continue to do its share in the future. The missing links of College Avenue, Cannon Road, Faraday Avenue and Poinsettia are actively being pushed forward for completion as soon ’ as possible. Extensive realignment and widening of Ranch0 Santa Fe Road will soon begin. Carlsbad wants to build out its circulation system in order to provide adequate circulation for both local and regional users of Carlsbad streets. The days are long gone since the time you could merely grade a road and throw down some pavement. Street construction takes years and involves a number of discrete steps such as right-of-way acquisition, environmental assessment, financing programs, design, permitting by state and federal agencies, as well as the construction time. This can be a time-consuming and frustrating process, but it is important so as to not adversely affect the human and natural environment. Built into this process are numerous opportunities for public ,participation. All input from various stakeholders must be carefully evaluated and considered. Carlsbad has a duty to protect the health and safety of City residents, as well as all members of the general public who work in and visit the City. As the City develops, sequencing the development and the opening of all public facilities, including streets, take into account how the construction and operation of those facilities will impact the neighborhood as well as the community at large. The answers are not always easy and often there are trade-offs that need to be made to serve the greatest public good. The old adage of “first do no harm” is always a consideration. Careful study of issues and full knowledge of the consequences of an action or decision must be understood. We all desire convenience and ease of movement and access when we travel. Carlsbad is concerned that safety not be sacrificed for convenience’s sake. Carlsbad will not trade-off safety for convenience. Often, mitigation measures can be taken to reduce risks to an . acceptable level. However, until the City Council is convinced a street can safely be opened, and measures have been taken to mitigate unacceptable impacts on neighborhoods, the project will not proceed. As Carlsbad continues to develop, the timing of the construction of various public improvements will become more difficult if the City is to maintain a quality of life and high standards that the community expects. After careful study, and based on good information and public input, decisions will be made that serve the public well. 2