HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-03; City Council; 16131; Report On Livable Streets To Revise General PlanCITY OF CARLSBAD -AGENDA BILL r
AB# kz-‘: /3 / TITLE: ACCEPT REPORT ON
LIVABLE STREETS AND DIRECT STAFF TO
MTG. 3127101 HOLD A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AND INITIATE com70 q-3-01
DEPT. ENG REVISIONS TO THE GENERAL PLAN,
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE AND CITY STANDARDS
DEPT. H dWTT
CITY MGR.-;fa)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council accept the report on Livable Streets and direct staff to meet with stakeholders and adopt Resolution No. doe/ - 9.5 approving the initiation of revisions to the General Plan, Carlsbad Municipal Code and City standards.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
For many years the focus of streets in residential neighborhoods has been oriented towards the automobile. Priority has been given to individuals in cars, to the extent that walking and bicycling have been made to seem less important. In recent years, however, throughout the United States there has been a reconsideration of steps that can take place to make City streets more conducive to walking, bicycling and using public transit.
The Carlsbad City Council has a strategic goal to “Integrate a comprehensive efficient transportation system with quality of life-centered land use decisions”. To that end, one of the 2000-2001 goals for staff is to develop the concept of Livable Streets for Carlsbad for incorporation into the desrgn of new subdivisions.
Staff is proposing the introduction of Livable Streets concepts because the design and function of residential streets (local streets) are key determinants of neighborhood livability. Livable streets provide places for human interaction where children play and neighbors meet and where residents can walk and ride bicycles. Access is provided to homes and nearby destinations. The perception of safety and a sense of community exists, in part, because streets have slower vehicle speeds. Neighborhood character is enhanced through the use of parkways and street trees Access for emergency service providers is maintained. Impervious surfaces are reduced and water quality is improved.
The width of a local street has many tangible and intangible aspects associated with livability. With about 20,000 dwelling units remaining to be constructed in Carlsbad and various master plans to be developed and processed for approval, an opportunity exists to incorporate features of Livable Streets into future Carlsbad housing locations.
There is a growing appreciation for the relationship between street width, vehicle speed, the number of crashes and resulting injuries or fatalities. As vehicle speeds increase, death and serious injury to pedestrians increase significantly. For instance, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour has about a 10 percent chance of surviving, whereas, at 20 miles per hour chances of survival are 95 percent.
Staff proposes an integrated approach to local street desi n that promotes neighborhood livability and encourages safer streets by slowing vehicle speeds. 9 his can be accomplished by narrowing public street widths (including private streets), installing traffic calming measures and providing parkways that separate sidewalks from the street.
The current standard for a local street is one with a curb-to-curb width of 40 feet. On a cul-de-sac the width is 36 feet curb-to-curb. This width provides for two traffic lanes (one in each direction), parking on both sides of the street and maintains the minimum width required by the Uniform Fire Code of 20 feet so as to not impede access by a large fire apparatus or ambulance. A local street width standard of 34 feet is recommended by staff. This satisfies the need for:
0 Narrower streets in new residential subdivisions 0 Two lanes (one in each direction) 0 Parking located on both sides of the street 0 Minimum Uniform Fire Code requirements 0 Opportunities for parkways
Page 2 of Agenda Bill No. /I, . 13 1 I
A 34-foot street helps to achieve an incremental reduction in vehicle speeds and, combined with
some traffic calming measures, helps to further reduce speeds. The proposal maintains the 20-foot
width required by the Fire Department and, when combined with offset driveways, further ensures that fire vehicles can access the neighborhood and have sufficient area in the street to perform fire
suppression activities.
The 34-foot curb-to-curb width is partially achieved by changing the parking lane width from eight
feet to seven feet. Staff obtained information on parking lane widths from other agencies and
conducted a literature search of parking lane widths. The survey revealed that there is a general
acceptance of seven feet as a standard for parking lane widths. Additionally, field measurements of
more than 200 vehicles parked on residential streets in Carlsbad confirms that seven feet will satisfy
on-street parking needs.
Although a narrower street is a key component of creating a Livable Street, an integrated approach
is proposed in the street design. This includes, in addition to a 34-foot width, providing:
0 A parkway seven feet wide adjacent to the curb
l City trees planted in the parkway (within the right-of-way) 0 Sidewalks located between the parkway and front yard setbacks 0 Offset driveways 0 Street connectivity (fewer culde-sacs) 0 Traffic calming measures
Several areas of concern may be generated by the Livable Street concept. One relates to street
connectivity and offset driveways. Connectivity permits access to the fire scene or scene of incident
by emergency service providers from more than one direction. Offset driveways, in effect, widen the
street at regular intervals and provide a larger area to accommodate fire ground operations. A single
access street design is discouraged since it would contribute to the emergency access problem.
However, where single access design is unavoidable, fire service concerns can be mitigated by the requirement for “built-in” fire protection in the form of automatic fire sprinklers in each residence.
The length of single access streets will be limited to ensure that residents are able to evacuate
efficiently during large-scale emergency events. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
recommends, and staff concurs, that the number of dwelling units on single-access streets must be
limited to 20 to support the concern for the safety of residents. Also, the current standard of 36 feet for the width of a cul-de-sac street will remain.
Provisions for utilities not placed in the street can be made under the sidewalk. This is similar to current practices utilized in many jurisdictions. Careful selection of parkway trees will be necessary
to minimize future maintenance requirements or root damage.
The construction of narrower streets achieves an overall cost savings to developers. This results
from six feet less of pavement width to construct as compared to the current street standard. Future
street maintenance expenditures by the City are reduced by having less pavement to overlay or
slurry, repair cracks or potholes. However, trees planted in the parkway have the potential to cause uplift problems from the roots and therefore damage sidewalk, curb and gutter or the pavement.
Careful tree selection and the use of root guards will reduce the potential for tree root disturbance.
Maintenance costs for the trees could be a responsibility placed upon the homeowners association through the masterplan of the development.
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Page 3 of Agenda Bill No. /b ! I3 1
If the concept of a Livable Street is acceptable to the City Council, staff should be directed to meet
with stakeholders. The purpose of the stakeholders meeting would be for staff to explain the
concept and receive feedback on its acceptability or concerns with implementation, function,
practicality or operational/design parameters. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to:
0 Land development professionals 0 U.S. Postal Service 0 Building industry Association 0 Utility companies
l Solid waste haulers 0 Transit officials 0 Carlsbad maintenance staff for streets, 0 School districts sewer, and water
After the Stakeholders Workshop, staff will prepare the documents necessary to present the
proposal to the Planning Commission and City Council as a proposed General Plan Amendment and revisions to the Carlsbad Municipal Code incorporating Livable Streets concepts into the
General Plan. Additionally, required Engineering Department standards would be subsequently changed, all of which would implement the Livable Streets concept.
As a planning study, this report to the City Council qualifies as a statutory exemption under Section
15262 of the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, does not require consideration of
environmental factors. At a future time, any formal revisions to standards, policies, and programs
will undergo environmental review when brought forward to the Planning Commission and
City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Continued processing by staff of the Livable Streets concept will not result in a significant
administrative fiscal impact. However, expenditures of staff time is required. Although reduced street maintenance costs can be realized as a result of the narrower street, there will be a need to
develop a funding mechanism for parkway tree maintenance.
1. Existing City standard cross-section of a 40 (36)-foot local street.
2.
3.
Cross-section of the proposed 34-foot local street.
Resolution No. 2 W/- 96 directing staff to initiate the processing of a General Plan Amendment and revisions to the Carlsbad Municipal Code and City Standards to implement
the concept of Livable Streets and to hold a stakeholders meeting.
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M IO’ )( 40 '(.36 ') *< 10’ >
PROJECT NAME EXIST/A/G CROSS SEC T/ON EXHIBIT
40(36kFOOT LOCAL STREET I
A: CONSTRUCT/ON & REPA/R SETBACK
B= 5’ WIDE SlDEW!MK
C Z5’PARKwY
D: 7 WIDE PMMNG SPACE
E ZO’PWAY TmVtL MES
Lk U;r/uTyLlNES
PROJECT NAME CROSS SECTION EXHIBIT
PROPOSED 34 -FOOTL OCAL STREET 2
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RESOLUTION NO. 2001-95
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING STAFF TO INITIATE THE
PROCESSING OF A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND
REVISIONS TO THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE AND CITY
STANDARDS TO IMPLEMENT THE CONCEPT OF LIVABLE
STREETS AND TO HOLD A STAKEHOLDER’S MEETING.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Cat&bad, California has determined that to
improve neighborhood livability, the concept of Livable Streets should be incorporated into the
subdivision design process; and
WHEREAS, a Livable Street is visually pleasing and balances the use of the roadway
between vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, a Livable Street has a street design that provides for human interaction,
reduces vehicle speeds, provides parkways and trees, limits the use of cul-de-sacs and provides
walkways to link homes with schools, stores, businesses and transportation corridors; and
WHEREAS, revisions to the General Plan, Carlsbad Municipal Code and City Engineering
Standards are required to facilitate the implementation of the Livable Street concept.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad,
California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That staff is directed to hold a stakeholder’s meeting to receive input on the
Livable Street concepts.
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1 3. That the Planning Director and Public Works Director are directed to prepare
2 revisions to the General Plan, Carlsbad Municipal Code and City Engineering Standards, and set
3 the matter for public hearing before the Planning Commission and the City Council.
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5 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council
6 held on the 3rd day of April ,200l by the following vote, to wit:
7 AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Finnila, Nygaard and Hall.
(SEAL)
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March 21,200l Ci9y Council
City Manager Mayor Lewis and City Council Members
City of Carlsbad
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, California 92008
City Atiospaey
city C9esk
Subject: Livable Streets Report to Council - Resolution 2001-95
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Lennar Communities would like to take the opportunity to mention that we look forward to
participating in the stakeholders meetings to create livable streets. We look forward to a process which
should improve the quality of life, maintain a safer environment, and encourage people to interact with
one another.
To get there, Lennar has been working with your staff, specifically with our Bressi Ranch community
in mind. We will continue to provide feedback on innovative design features, some old designs that
have been lost over time and overall neighborhood concepts that are intended to make walking in a
neighborhood an enjoyable activity again.
We are glad to see that staff is recommending a reduced street width for pubic roads. In the spirit of
creating more walkable neighborhoods we encourage the City to examine other options including:
1. The use of one -way streets in limited situations where the design can benefit the traffic
flow.
2. The creation of another street category between that of a local street and a collector street.
This is to provide a category where lower volumes exist and the classification does not
exist in the City standards.
The goal of Lennar Communities in Bressi Ranch is to integrate the components of modem life,
housing, workplace, shopping and recreation into a pedestrian friendly community. The streets are an
important component of achieving these goals. We are very pleased that the City has recognized that the local street design is as integral to the overall livable environment as the home is to its inhabitants.
President, Community Development
cc: Michael Holzmiller
Dee Landers
Mike Smith
Bob Wojcik
5780 Fleet Street, Suite 320, Carlsbad, California 92009 - (760) 918-8858, Fax (760) 918-8868