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Home My WebLink Aboutstaff report julyJuly 10, 2008 u ►• FILE NO.: MSP07-04 Name: Master Street Plan Amendment University Avenue Design Standard Location: University Avenue from Markham to Cantrell Road Request: Alternate Design Standards Source: Staff PROPOSAL / REQUEST: Master Street Plan Amendment for University Avenue adopting an alternate design standard north of Markham to Cantrell Road. An Alternate Design Standard is shown on the plan when a different design section from the 'norm' has been determined to be appropriate. The variation proposed is to reduce the required right-of-way from 110 to 100 feet (note this does not change the requirements for additional right-of-way at intersections). The proposed design section for University Avenue from Markham to Cantrell Road is a 100 -foot right-of-way. CURRENT MASTER STREET PLAN: University Avenue is shown as a Principal Arterial on the plan. The design standard is: 110 feet of right-of-way with three travel lanes in both directions and a 14' median in the center. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. Access points (entrances and exits) should be limited to minimize negative effects of traffic and pedestrians on a Principal Arterial. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN: The Land Use Plan shows the intensity of use lessening as one moves to the north from Markham. Along University Avenue from Markham to Lee Avenue the uses are more commercial and retail with Community Shopping and Mixed Use classifications. There is a small amount of Office use near Lee Avenue. The middle segment of University Avenue is predominantly Public Institutional and Office with schools and medical offices. A small amount of Residential use is located in the segment with both Multifamily and Single Family classifications along the western side. The northern segment is totally Single Family on the western side, with Office and Low Density Residential uses along the eastern side. July 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: B (Cont.) FILE NO.: MSP07-04 HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: This road is the boundary of three neighborhood Plan areas — the Hillcrest Neighborhood Plan, Heights Neighborhood Action Plan and Midtown Neighborhoods Plan. None of the neighborhood plans address University Avenue's design or the need for changes to the current design of University Avenue. ANALYSIS: University Avenue is shown as a Principal Arterial with a design standard of 110 feet of right-of-way with three travel lanes in both directions and a 14' median in the center. The Arterial street system is a network of streets, which have a primary purpose to move vehicles and goods in and through the City. Arterials are generally at a spacing of one -mile, both in a north -south and east -west grid pattern. The Principal Arterials are part of this network. Generally these roads provide service through the area and help connect it to other surrounding areas of the region and state. Generally every three to four miles or every third Arterial is either a Principal Arterial or higher classification (Expressway or Freeway). University Avenue is one of the few north -south roads, which extend through the City of Little Rock. To the east the next road to do this is Broadway and to the west 1-430 is the next through north -south roadway. Both of these roadways are more than three miles away from University Avenue. All the remaining north -south Arterials in Little Rock traverse only portions of the City. University Avenue is a major north -south route connecting the east -west routes of Cantrell Road (Highway 10) to 1-630, Asher Avenue -Colonel Glenn Road (Highway 300), 1-30 and Baseline Road (Highway 338). Each of these roads are Principal Arterials or higher classifications and are state or federal highways. Even University Avenue south of Asher -Colonel Glenn is a state highway. In addition various collectors connect the neighborhoods of Little Rock to University Avenue and other streets of the Arterial Network. The high design standard for Principal Arterials is in part due to the expected high traffic volume since they move vehicles not only within the urban area but also through it. The surrounding use pattern and connectivity to other streets all will have impacts of the traffic demands and thus the need for travel lanes on the street. The design standard for Arterials is general at least four -lanes. 2 July 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: B --(Cont.) FILE NO.: MSP07-04 The design standard for University Avenue from Markham to Lee Avenue has already been modified to a right-of-way of 100 feet. This was done late 1990 with Ordinance 15,964. In the review of University Avenue north of Markham, traffic counts from 1996 through 2008 were reviewed and MetroPlan rerun the transportation model with the new 2008 counts. From these figures for volumes on the road new 2030 projections were generated. The volumes south of H Street have risen from 17,000 to 18,000 up to 20,Q00 -to 21,000 with projections of volumes in 2030 from 30,000 to 36,000. While sout,o N" of H Street the volumes have risen from around 14,000 up to 17,000 to 19,000, with projected volumes from 26,000 to 28,000 in 2030. Based on this City Staff believes the long-term 6 -lane road must remain in the Master Street Plan. Staff does recognize the constraints of this part of Little Rock. And with a reduction of the area for a median from 14 feet to 4 feet, a right-of-way of 100 feet would be appropriate for the road. This is consistent with the existing situation along University Avenue. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: All property owners (sixty) abutting the section of road were notified via certified mail of the proposed changes. Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: Evergreen, Hillcrest, Normandy -Shannon, and South Normandy. As of this printing, Staff has received eight informational calls/emails or visits from property owners. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 6, 2007) The applicant requested the item be deferred to January 17, 2008. The item was placed on consent agenda for deferral. By a vote of 11 for, 0 against the consent agenda was approved. STAFF UPDATE: The applicant requested that the item be deferred to February 28, 2008 hearing of the Little Rock Planning Commission. 3 July 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: B Cont. FILE NO.: MSP07-04 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 17, 2008) The item was placed on consent agenda for deferral to April 10, 2008. By a vote of 10 for, 0 against the consent agenda was approved. STAFF UPDATE: The applicant requested that the item be deferred to May 22, 2008, hearing of the Little Rock Planning Commission. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (APRIL 10, 2008) At the request of Staff in order to further review the item, it was placed on the consent agenda for deferral to May 22, 2008. By a vote of 11 for and 0 against the consent agenda was approved. STAFF UPDATE: Staff and the Midtown Redevelopment Advisory Board have reviewed traffic information and expect to have an amendment to present at the July 10, 2008 hearing. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MAY 22, 2008) The item was placed on consent agenda for deferral to July 10, 2008. By a vote of 10 for and 0 against the consent agenda was approved. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval of R.O.W. change. 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