HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemoKITTELSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING / PLAN NING
101 S Capitol Boulevard, Suite 301, Boise, ID 83702 208.338.2683 208.338.2685
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MEMORANDUM CITY OFC>W ,wv
CITY CLERKS OFFICE
D0:Ic: October 7, 2014 Project#: 18323.0
To: Doug Tamura
Cc. Tom Dvorak, Givens Pursley, LLP
From: John Ringert, P.E.
Subject: Fairview Lakes Circulation Review
As you requested, we have reviewed the proposed entry design for the retail center on the northeast
corner of Fairview Avenue and N. Lakes Place. The review focused on the design of the north -south
driveway aisle from Fairview Avenue into the site and whether the one row of front -in parking on the east
side of the drive aisle should be Proposed Entry Design Change Based on City Condition
removed per the condition by 21W"i,
MAP
the City of Meridian. The
.,
comparison of the proposed a�
design and the change required
by the City are illustrated in Parking No
Figure 1.
While the design recommended
by the City is common in many
large retail centers, it is not
always applicable. For this
particular site, it is not needed
for the following reasons:
Fairview Avenue — — —
Figure 1. Comparison of Entry Desigm
r
Fairview Avenue
• There is no through street to the north connecting to the north -south drive aisle that requires a
design that accommodates higher speeds and minimizes vehicle conflicts.
• The driveway onto Fairview Avenue is not the only access location and the existing traffic signal at
the Fairview Avenue/N. Lakes Place intersection at on the western border of the site provides the
best access during the peak hours.
• The site plan is designed to provide the most efficient access to parking through the southern
east -west drive aisle and does not require most customers to drive to the storefronts to access the
parking.
FILENAME.• H.• I PRO7FILE118323 - FAIRVIEW LAKES PARKING CIRCULATION REVIEWIREPORTIDRAF/I18323 - FAIRVIEW LAKES
CIRCULATION REVIEW - FINAL 10-7-14 DOCX
Fairview Lakes Circulation Review
October 7, 2014
These reasons are illustrated in Figure 2. As shown in
Figure 2, there are many access locations available and it
no specific need for most customers to utilize the a
section of north -south drive aisle since the majority of
the parking field can be accessed through other
routes. Therefore, a design similar to the City
recommendation that emphasizes higher -speeds and
reduced conflicts in this section of the north -south _
drive aisle is not needed.
Project #: 18323.0
Page 2
No
Through
Street
In addition to the design being recommended by the . " -
was: Fairview Avenue
City not being needed, we believe the proposed design Not
has some benefits for this particular site. Following are Best Peak Hours Access at Required
some of the benefits of maintaining the parking along Signal to Access
the main north -south drive aisle: Business orParking
• The design encourages vehicles entering the Figure 2. Circulation Elements that Support the
site from Fairview Avenue to turn at the main Proposed Design
east -west drive aisle and then park ,
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in the parking field. This route 7 i0'°E.'"""c'
provides the most efficient access __ i ^Typical Pedestrian
to the parking areas.
Movement
• The design will result in decreased
speeds for through vehicles going
toward the front of the stores. This
potentially will increase safety at
the northerly internal intersection. Circulation
• There are potentially less conflicts Route
between vehicles and pedestrians -� — Discouraged
due to less vehicles circulating with Proposed
directly in front of the storefronts. Design
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C—C
Figure 3 illustrates the circulation pattern SWAY Mix
that should result from the proposed site p . _r. i1020 Preferred Vehicle
evkowcplan. By maintaining parking between the =ME,W Circulation to Parking
north and south east -west drive aisles, the
traffic will be encouraged to utilize the -- - 47NA[WWA _ — —
�tSICN
south route into the parking area which I.._I
results in less conflict with pedestrians Figure 3. Proposed Design Key Vehicle and
walking from their vehicles into the Pedestrian Circulation Routes
commercial buildings.
.................
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Boise, Idaho
Fairview Lakes Circulation Review
October 7, 2014
One way to think about these benefits is in the context
to Main Street in downtown Meridian. Figure 4 shows a
picture along Main Street in Downtown Meridian. Main
Street is designed to accommodate only the local traffic
that wants or needs to be on Main Street though a
lower -speed design that includes on -street parking. In
contrast, Meridian Road is designed to emphasize
through traffic movement. Similar to the effect of
narrower lanes and on -street parking in a downtown,
well -placed parking within a site can be beneficial
because of the effect it has on speeds and the indirect
effect it can have discouraging through traffic.
In summary, the design recommended by the City is
not required due to the design of the site. In addition, Figure 4. Photo of Main Street in
given the on -site circulation, we believe maintaining Downtown Meridian (caogle)
the parking will result is less traffic circulating in front
of the storefronts which decreases conflicts with pedestrians and other vehicles.
Project #: 18323.0
Page 3
I trust this evaluation addresses your questions regarding the site circulation with respect to the City of
Meridian condition of approval to remove parking on the primary north -south drive aisle. Please call me at
(208) 338-2683 if you have any questions or comments.
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Boise, Idaho