ITEM: 12.4 Administration - Jean M. Keely, City Engineer
Title
SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION IN THE PLAT OF WOODLAND VILLAGE, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 11-20
Background
On December 1, 2011, City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with Pioneer Engineering for preparation of construction plans to complete public improvements with bond funds from the original Gardenwood Village development. Council had staff withhold $3,000 of the contract until a decision was made on sidewalk construction on Hupp Street. Two residents had asked Council to move the proposed sidewalk from the east side of Hupp Street to the west side of the street.
A neighborhood meeting was held on December 13, 2011 to discuss proposed sidewalk and trail improvements proposed in the plat of Woodland Village. Fifty two meeting notices were mailed to property owners in the plats of Woodland Village and St Andrews Village and residents adjacent to the south side of 117th Avenue and west side of Hupp Street. Four residents attended the neighborhood meeting and staff received five emails. The map attached to the meeting notice indicated the proposed sidewalk and trail system approved for construction with the original development. Concrete sidewalk was to be built on the east side of Hupp Street to match existing sidewalk adjacent to the plat of St Andrews Village, on the north side of 117th Avenue, on the east side of Woodland Parkway and on the north side of 118th Avenue. Bituminous trail was also to be built on the west side of Woodland Parkway.
Input received from the neighborhood meeting attendees and emails indicate that four residents were in favor of moving the sidewalk from the east side to the west side of Hupp Street from 117th Avenue to Woodland Parkway. Three residents did not have an opinion on the Hupp Street question. The developer of St Andrews Village stated that his strong opinion was that the sidewalk should remain on the east side of Hupp Street to match into the sidewalk he constructed adjacent to his plat. The developer involved with Woodland Village asked that sidewalk on Hupp Street be built in the location that makes the most economic sense. Woodland Development expressed concern that if the sidewalk is moved to the west side of Hupp Street, the City will need a plan to justify and rectify with builders on the east side of Hupp Street that have already prepared driveways for planned sidewalk placement.
Staff recommendation would be to build the sidewalk as originally designed on the east side of Hupp Street to match sidewalk already constructed adjacent to the plat of St Andrews Village. All driveways built on the east side of Hupp Street, except for the concrete driveway of the original model home, were built to accommodate future sidewalk construction. The concrete driveway and front yard area of the model home would have to be regraded with sidewalk construction and would go from existing grades of 11% to 13% slope with a 4% slope in front of the garage to a 10% straight slope from the sidewalk to the garage pad.
In summary, either side of Hupp Street would work for sidewalk construction. If Council directs a change in sidewalk design to the west side of Hupp Street, pedestrians would cross over at 117th Avenue and it should be noted that staff would not recommend striping or signage of a crosswalk in this midblock location.
Recommendation
By motion, authorize City Manager to release the $3,000 held from Pioneer Engineering's contract for Engineering Services and direct staff on location for sidewalk construction in the Hupp Street right-of-way from 117th Avenue to Woodland Parkway.