HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/22 Memo from Planning
RECEIVED
Project: Sadie Creek Promenade
AUG 2 2 2006
Location: east side of Eagle south of Us tick
City Of Meridian
City Clerk Office
Applications: variance
Highlights of Proposed Development: one new right-in only approach to Eagle Road, SH 55. Specifically,
the new approach is to be located approximately 660 feet south of the Ustick Road / Eagle Road
intersection.
Other: The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will not grant any approach permits on this site.
Staff Recommendation: Denial
Outstanding Issue(s) for City Council: Access is not supported by the Comprehensive Plan or the UDC.
The request does not meet the required findings for a variance. We have seen a dramatic increase in
traffic accidents in this area since the first commercial development. 1n 2004, the intersection of Eagle
and Ustick did not make the top 10 list for accidents. In 2005, it moved into the #4 position with 33
accidents. The accident rates for this year will likely be similar (From January through July of2006, there
have been 22 accidents at this intersection.)
Required Findings
The variance shall not grant a right or special privilege that is not otherwise allowed in the district:
If the City Council grants the access form Eagle Road / SH55, it would grant a right that is currently
prohibited not only in the C-G zone but for all new development adjacent to state highways. Section 11-
3H-3 of the UDC does state that the City Council may consider and apply modifications to the standards
of Article H upon specific recommendation of the ITD. However, in this case, ITD on has explicitly
denied any access to or from Sadie Creek Promenade from / to Eagle Road. It is ITD's standard policy to
allow access to Eagle Road at the 'l2 mile Section.
The variance relieves an undue hardship because of characteristics of the site;
Granting access from Eagle Road may relieve some traffic congestion within the site because southbound
traffic on Eagle Road / SH55 would not be forced to use U stick Road to get through the U stick / Eagle
intersection. Drivers could make a free right-out turn from Eagle Road and avoid the left-hand turn from
U stick Road to the subject site. However, this is not tied to a physical characteristic of the site, which is
what this finding requires.
In addition, upon construction of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Us tick Road and Sadie Creek
Avenue, the left-hand turn from Ustick Road should be relatively simple. It may require more time than a
free right on to Eagle Road, but is still better than making non-signaled left-handed turns from Ustick
Road.
The variance shall not be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare.
According to Philip Demosthenes, Parametrix Consulting, for a vehicle traveling at 45 miles per hour, an
850 to 950 foot deceleration lane should be provided in order to safely accommodate the slowing traffic.
For a vehicle traveling at 55 miles per hour, a 920 to 1140 foot deceleration lane is nelltls::;ary. Said traffk
should not be decelerating in the roadway. This clearly indicates that access points should be located a
safe distance from signalized intersections.
It is important to limit access points on major roads such as highways, as their main function is to move
traffic over longer distances at higher speeds. This means separating access points on said roads so that
turning movements occur at few locations. Frequent access points do increase congestion. And as traffic
congestion increases, so does the likelihood of traffic conflict and the potential for accidents.
Staff finds that the proposed access point is not located an acceptable distance from the Ustick Road /
Eagle road intersection and that granting this right-in access point does contribute to unsafe and congested
conditions on Eagle Road / SH 55.