HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/22 Memo from Planning
Project: Dienville Square Access
RECEIVED
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 full access from / to Eagle Road, SH 55. Specifically, the
new approach is to be located approximately 'l'4 mile south of the Ustick Road / Eagle Road intersection.
Upon completion of the Eagle Road Corridor plan, the access will be reduced to a left-in / right~in / right~
out access. Deceleration and acceleration lanes will be dedicated and constructed to ITD standards.
Other: The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has provided conditional permit approval contingent
on obtaining a variance to UDC 11~3H. Sadie Creek Promenade is willing to provide cross access to the
Bienville Square at the time of development oftheir property.
Staff Recommendation: Denial
Outstanding Issue(s) for City Council: Access is not supported by the Comprehensive Plan or the UOc.
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. In 2004, the intersection of Eagle
and Ustiek 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. Additionally,
a full movement access does not comply with the Eagle Road Corridor study. Sadie Creek Promenade
Commercial Subdivision, just north of the subject site has been granted three accesses from Ustiek. A
cross-access agreement has been establi~hed which allows patrons of Bienville Square to travel through
Sadie Creek Promenade via Ustick Road.
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 Ustick Road to get through the Ustick / Eagle
intersection. Drivers could turn to and from Eagle Road and avoid accessing the site from U stick Road. In
addition, upon construction of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Ustick Road and Sadie Creek
Avenue, the left-hand turn from Ustick Road should be relatively simple. It may require more time than a
direct access to / from Eagle Road, bul is slill better than making non-signaled 1eft~handed turns from
U stick 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 ordtlr 10 safely accommodate the slowing traffic.
For a vehicle traveling at 55 miles per hour, a 920 to 1140 foot deceleration lane is necessary. Said traffic
should not he decelerating in the roadway. On the same note, an acceleration lane of appropriate length
should also be constructed to safely accommodate the merging traffic. 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.