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HomeMy WebLinkAboutACHD Commentsf ~~~~~~ CHD liorwswv~6a~~o JriLVh%co January 8, 2008 To: City of Meridian, Planning Department 660 E. Watertower Lane, Suite 202 Meridian, Idaho 83642 Subject: CenterCal Development MAZ-07-012 n/e/c and n/w/c of Eagle Road/Fairview Avenue Intersection Carol A. McKee, President Sherry R. Huber, 1st Vice President Dave Bivens, 2nd Vice President John S. Franden, Commissioner Rebecca W. Arnold, Commissioner ~]ECEI~ED JAN - 8 2008 ~ityofMeridiam >~~ The Ada County Highway District has received the annexation and zoning application for the proposed CenterCal Development project located at both the northeast and northwest corners of the, intersection of State Highway 55 (Eagle Road) and Fairview Avenue. The District has not yet received the required traffic impact study for this development. Therefore, staff is submitting these __ __ _ _ preliminary comments._ based_ on_ the_conceptual- site--plan-for- the- City's- consideration-of- the- - -~ annexation and zoning application. Additional comments and recommendations will be submitted once the District has received the traffic impact study. These comments may be altered depending on the findings and recommendations of the traffic impact study. Existilng Conditions The State Highway 55/Fairview Avenue intersection is the busiest intersection in the State of Idaho. The City of Meridian and ACHD recently approved 'Pinebridge Subdivision, a commercial development located to the south and west of this project. The projected traffic volumes and level of service are identified below, based on the Pinebridge traffic impact study. Roadway Functional Traffic Count Level of Projected level of Speed Classification Service* Service at Pinebridge Limit Build-Out (2015) (Does not include traffic from CenterCal ro'ect Fairview Principal Arterial 37,198 east of "E" "C" 40 MPH Locust Grove in (assumes 7-lanes at build- Ma 2006 out Pine Minor Arterial 2,376 west of Better than Better than "C" Eagle Road in "C" March 2006 SH 55 .Principal Arterial 51,580 south of "F" (See "F" 50 MPH (Eagle Road) Fairview in Note below) "October 2006 *Acceptable level of service for a five lane principal arterial roadway (Fairview) is "E" (37,000 ADT). *Acceptable level of service for a five lane minor arterial roadway (.Locust Grove and Pine assuming completed improvements) is "~" (33,OrJ0 P.DT}. -1 west side of Eagle Road 1.18 mile south of the proposed'/z mile signal at River Valley. The applicant is proposing a signalized intersection with Eagle Road at the'/2 mile location (River Valley Street). Staff Comment: The preliminary plan indicated that the'/e access on Eagle Road would be signalized. ACRD is adamantly opposed to any additional signalization on Eagle Road beyond the '/z mile location. Additionally, district staff is not supportive of any of the proposed 1/8 mile right- in/right-out driveways. The District recognizes that ultimately the decision for the access points on Eagle Road will be made by the City of Meridian and ITD. However, the District pursued the designation and the requirement for the'h mile collector streets (River Valley and Allys Way/Records Avenue) and paid for portions of these roadways in order to provide alternatives for access, rather than granting additional access points to the State Highway system. If access points are granted to the state system, then ACHD's attempt to truly plan and construct a collector roadway system for an area such as this is degraded. REQUEST Due to the significant impacts that this development will have on the surrounding roadways, ACRD respectfully requests the following: 1. That this application be continued until such time that a traffic impact study has been submitted to ACHD and ITD with the appropriate review time provided. Without that critical information, ACRD and ITD cannot accurately determine the improvements necessary to mitigate the impacts of this development to this area. 2. If this application is not continued and is approved tonight, then the City should include conditions in the development agreement relative to the applicant being required to comply with ACRD and -- ITD~coriditions prior to receiving approval forany building permit; and a commitment-that the City will not sign off on any occupancy cards without first receiving ACHD's signature and sign-off. Because there is not a plat associated with the development at this time, individual buildings can be constructed on single parcels through the Certificate of Zoning process with the City. ACRD has plat signing authority, but is somewhat limited on CZC related authority. The City should include in the development agreement a requirement that all applications within this site are subject to ACRD requirements, regardless of the type of application (i.e. conditional use permit, certificate of zoning compliance). 3. If this application is not continued and is approved tonight, then the City should clarify that the applicant is responsible for the improvement of the roadways and intersections, regardless of approval of STAR funding. If that funding source is not available, the improvements are still necessary and should be constructed and paid for by the developer. ACRD and ITD have no improvements planned or funded for this area. 4. If this application is not continued and is approved tonight, then the City should not approve any details related to access. The proposed access locations on the major arterials should be approved by ACRD and ITD and cannot be evaluated until a traffic impact study has been completed. These comments are preliminary in nature, and the District will submit a more complete and detailed analysis after the applicant has provided the required traffic impact study, and more detailed development application material. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 208-387- 6144. Sincerely, Christy Richardson Program Administrator Right-of-Way & Development Services