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Home My WebLink AboutEA 16-01; PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS AT TAMARACK AVENUE & CARLSBAD BOULEVARD; Administrative Permits (ADMIN)«~ ~ CITY OF CARLSBAD WHAT is an Early Assessment? EARLY ASSESSMENT FOR CITY PROJECTS P-15 Development Services Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue (760) 602-4610 www.carlsbadca.gov It is an early, informal review of your city project by the Planning Division prior to a formal application submittal. The Early Assessment, or "EA," review is required for all city projects. WHAT you need to provide: • Application form (signed by the project engineer and individual authorizing submittal of the Early Assessment, such as the deputy city engineer or a division/department head); • Two (2) sets of your site plan and/or other exhibits (folded to 8% x 11) with sufficient detail to allow staff to adequately review your proposed project; • Completed storm water standards questionnaire Form E-34 (see below for more information). • Any other information that you think will contribute to staff's understanding of your proposal. About the storm water form: The storm water standards questionnaire (Form E-34) to complete is available from the Development Application Forms and Handouts page of the city's website at http://www.carlsbadca.gov/business/building/permitting-process/Pages/Engineering Applications.aspx. Since storm water requirements are location and project-specific, please complete the form for each project proposed and for each project location proposed. For projects covering large areas, such as a pavement overlay or sidewalk replacement, it may be appropriate to fill out only one form. For guidance on storm water or if you have questions about the form and its applicability, please contact Jeremy Riddle, Associate Civil Engineer, in Land Development Engineering at Jeremy.riddle@carlsbadca.gov or extension 2737. WHERE to submit: Please submit your application at the Planning Division Development Services Counter. HOW your application will be processed: After a submittal is made, your application will be sent to the Land Development engineer and Special Projects planner assigned to review it. Depending on the project, the planner may request additional plans for review by additional departments, such as Police or Fire. The planner will prepare a written response to your submittal (in memo form), incorporating comments from all reviewing departments. You should receive this memo within thirty days after the date you submitted the application. The response memo will address (at a minimum) the following: • General Plan, Zoning, and Coastal Zone information; • Anticipated permit, processing, and CEQA requirements; • Storm water requirements or comments; • Identification of any major project issues based upon the Early Assessment submittal; and • Contact information for the planner and engineer and any other persons who reviewed your project. The Early Assessment does not represent an in-depth analysis of your project. The completeness and accuracy of your submittals will dictate the quality of your project's Early Assessment response. Additional issues of concern may be raised after your permit application package is formally submitted and processed for a more specific and detailed review. Also, additional and/or different issues of concern may arise with the passage of time and changing circumstances. regulations, etc. Therefore, the issues and requirements identified in the Early Assessment response memo might change if there is a long lead time between the Early Assessment response and the submittal of a formal project application. The Planning Division will retain the Early Assessment. If you submit a formal application in the future, it likely will be assigned to the same planner who processed your Early Assessment. P-15 Page 1 of 6 Revised 09/11 List any technical studies that have been prepared or that you anticipate will be prepared (e.g., biology, archeology, traffic, noise, etc.). Preliminary traffic studies were prepared by Fehr & Peers via Sohrab Rashid to determine viable intersection design options. Is the project on City property? If not, has property owner authorization or an easement been secured? Yes. The project is within City ROW. The footprint of the intersection design extends outside of the existing roadway but all work will be done within the City ROW. If it is possible to coordinate with State Parks then access to their ROW could help with the type, location, and scale of the livable streets amenities. Staff has not contacted State Parks about this project. Identify the project location. Include specific parcel numbers if possible. Attachment: Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Ave project limits. P-15 Page 3 of6 Revised 09/11 Identify the project schedule. List critical and desired milestones including dates in the development review and construction process (e.g., public hearing dates, grant application submittal deadlines, public workshops, construction phasing, etc.). Task Proposed Start Date Note SANDAG Notice to Proceed (NTP) Jan 1, 2016 This is an estimated date that all other dates are based on. Coastal Commission staff to December 2015-Jan 2016 Staff level field review to define constraints evaluate alternatives Begin technical studies on all Jan 2016 This analysis is limited to what City Council alternatives needs to make decision. Public Outreach Feb-March Tentative schedule we are currently working towards City Council Chooses Preferred May-June 2016 This is not a deadline, but would like to keep Alternative this schedule for breathing room Complete CEQA documents Sept 2016 Need 3-4 months after preferred alternative selected Design team selected and contract Sept-Nov 2016 Should start selection after environmental awarded near completion Begin Design Dec 2016 PS&E Done May 2017 Bids on Street June 2017 Award of bid August 2017 Grant requirement to award bid within 24 months from NTP -Jan 1, 2018 Construction Completed June 2018 Grant requirement to complete construction within 18 months from awarding bid-June 1, 2019 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL -Describe the project in as much detail as possible. Use as much space as needed. Attach additional sheets (drawings, etc.) if necessary. Be sure to identify, if applicable, estimated quantities of grading (including import/export), construction staging areas on and offsite, areas of sensitive vegetation, unique construction technologies, proposed facility technologies and byproducts, and any public art component. If preliminary or conceptual plans or exhibits are available, please include two sets with this transmittal. Three Intersection Design Alternatives are attached. • Signalized intersection with two lanes • Signalized intersection with four lanes • Roundabout with Northbound to Eastbound bypass lane For each alternative, the project will update infrastructure along Carlsbad Boulevard near the intersection of Tamarack Avenue that utilize complete street design concepts to provide improved mobility and access for pedestrians, cyclists and bus users of all abilities. The project should also be viewed as an opportunity to provide amenities that transform the transportation space into an experience while also creating the possibility of partnerships with businesses and collaborations with the State Parks. The project limits will be along Carlsbad Boulevard approximately 1,000 feet north of Tamarack Avenue to approximately 1,000 feet south of Tamarack Avenue and approximately 500 feet up Tamarack P-15 Page 4 of6 Revised 09/11 Avenue to the Garfield Street Intersection. OBJECTIVES 1. INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS-reconfiguration of the intersection at Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue to provide new ADA-compliant access across the west leg ofthe intersection for pedestrians along Carlsbad Boulevard, repurpose existing roadway right-of-way to accommodate additional on-street parking spaces, optimize the pedestrian crossing widths, and provide opportunities for additional art and amenities to enhance the experience for those traveling along the coastal corridor. 2. SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS-analysis of the existing sidewalk on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard between Tamarack Avenue to approximately 1,000 feet south. Currently, the width of the existing sidewalk is compromised by guardrail, fencing and bridge railing, making two-way pedestrian travel uncomfortable and inconvenient. The project desires to consider alternatives that provide wider than minimum sidewalk width (5' wide) to enhance pedestrian travel and increase safety by reducing the need for pedestrians to step over the guard rail and walk/jog in the street. Maximize the area allocated to pedestrian use while providing an assigned area to better serve active transportation users that often use the bike lane. 3. TRANSIT STOP RELOCATION-The current bus stop location is not ADA-accessible and the existing bus stop shelter is an impediment to pedestrian travel due to space restrictions posed by the existing raised islands. Reconfiguration of the intersection will allow relocation of the bus stop to a more efficient and desirable location, ideally with added amenities that will encourage bus usage and create a sense of place. 4. CONNECTION TO LAGOON TRAILS-A proposed mid-block marked crosswalk will connect the Agua Hedionda Lagoon trail head located on the east side of Carlsbad Boulevard to the stairway located on the west of the roadway that provides access to the beach. 5. ENTRANCE STATEMENT-Roadway enhancements along Tamarack Ave between Garfield St. and Carlsbad Blvd. To create an entrance statement as guests approach a primary access point to the Carlsbad coast line. Write up for public outreach: The-City of Carlsbad is working on a project in the area around Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue to adapt the streets, bike lanes, sidewalks and bus stop to better meet the needs of the people who regularly use these areas so that everybody has a great experience when they come to this part of Carlsbad's coastline. The project includes: • Widening and/or improving the sidewalks and bike lanes throughout the project area, including on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard, in a manner that safely accommodates the demand from all users groups. • Creating more on-street parking where possible. • Moving the bus stop out of the center island at the entrance to the parking lot to a location that's more accessible and comfortable for people waiting for the bus. • Looking at options for improving traffic flow and safety coming into and through the Tamarack Avenue/Carlsbad Boulevard intersection from all directions. • Creating better connections with the Coastal Rail Trail segments in the area. • Improving the overall aesthetics, feel, and function of the area Project goals • Create a road that is safe, accessible and attractive to all users, including cars, bikes, pedestrians and transit users today and in the future • Create vehicle, bike, and pedestrian facilities that safely accommodate the demand from all user groups P-15 Page 5 of6 Revised 09/11 EA 16-01 February 5, 2016 Page 2 If you or the applicant has any questions, please either see or call me at extension 2781. 9LJ DAVID RICK Associate Engineer-Land Development Engineering EA 16-01-TAMARACK AVENUE ,AT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS CIP #6058 February 5, 2016 Page 2 2. Environmental review for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) will need to be performed prio r to construction. Technical reports should be prepared which analyze how the project, including all alternatives, would impact t raffic, ai r qualify, greenhouse gas emissions, aesthetics, biology, bluff stability, etc. Please include an ana lysis on sea level rise and how that might affect the proposed viewing area above the bluff. Land Development Engineering: 1. Complete a Storm Water Standards Questionnaire (attached). This questionnaire will guide you in determining what type of reports and storm water mitigation must be completed to satisfy state and city storm water quality requirements. Preliminary analysis suggests that the project is not a Priority Development Project (PDP) as long as USEPA Green Street guidelines are followed. Green Street criteria primarily requires designing the street and related amenities to discharge to pervious pavements or landscaped areas. These measures are not numerically sized nor are they subject to hydromodification requirements. If the Green Street guidelines are not followed, then the project may be designated as a PDP. The designation will most likely depend on how much pervious area will be used on the proposed medians since these areas appear to make up the most replaced impervious area and also appear to exceed 5,000 square feet. Another criteria that needs to be considered is question 7 of Step 3 of the Questionnaire which asks if the project will discharge to an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and create or replace more than 2,500 square feet of impervious area. Agua Hedionda Lagoon, which extends under the Carlsbad Boulevard, bridge that is within the project boundary, is an ESA. Refer to the GIS map for ESA boundaries. If the project is designated a PDP, the project will be subject to numerically sized storm water pollutant treatment BMP's. A Storm Water Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) is required for all POPs. The suggested approach would be to implement Green Street criteria. 2. Consult with a soil engineer early to determine if using pervious pavement or pervious concrete sidewalk is feasible or what mitigations must be implemented to make it feasible. Be aware that if impervious liners must be installed to preve nt infiltration into the native soil, the pervious pavement/sidewalk will not be considered pervious. If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss this letter with your staff planner, please contact Pam Drew, Associate Planner at ext. 4644, or your staff engineer, David Rick, Associate Engineer at ext. 2781. DN :PD:fn c: Don Neu, City Planner Scott Donnell, Senior Planner David Rick, Associate Eng ineer File Copy Data Entry OMS Attachments