HomeMy WebLinkAboutACHD Commentst ~~~~5
"'~ CHD ~
May 14, 2009
To: LeAnn Carlsen
Meridian Joint School District # 2
1303 E. Central Drive
Meridian, ID 83642
From: Mindy Wallace
Planning Review Supervisor
Subject: Willow Creek Elementary School Traffic Impact Study
Carol A. McKee, President
Sherry R. Huber, 1~ Vice President
Rebecca W. Arnold, 2nd Vice President
John S. Franden, Commissioner
Sara M. Baker, Commissioner
RECETVED
MAY15~
CITY OF G~fp-~I"„r'~'
CITY CLERKS OFFICE
The Ada County Highway District's Traffic Services staff has completed an initial review of the
submitted traffic impact study for Willow Creek Elementary School. Below are the
comments/recommendations that will be required to be addressed prior to the District proceeding
with its review of the application.
1) The submitted traffic study includes a proposed boundary for the school. The study
states that the boundary is one square mile bound by Chinden, Linder, McMillan, and Ten
Mile Roads. To ensure an accurate analysis of the impacts due to the school, ACHD
request written verification from the Meridian Joint School District # 2 confirming that the
school boundary identified in the submitted traffic impact study is correct.
2) The submitted traffic impact study did not include a Pedestrian Plan, as required per
Idaho Code 67-6519(3). The pedestrian plan is needed before an analysis can be
completed on such items as crosswalks, and signage. One of the District's primary
concerns is the lack of sidewalks on the west side of Long Lake Way between the traffic
circle at Cayuse Creek/Goddard Creek/Long Lake and Chinden Blvd. Staff needs to
know how the deficiency in the sidewalks is going to be address.
The study states that a "safe route to school and pedestrian plant will be developed in
conjunction with the opening of the school." This is not acceptable to the District, since all
warranted pedestrian improvements will need to be installed prior to the school opening.
A pedestrian plan for the school will need to be developed and provided to the District for
review prior to ACHD taking a formal action on the conditional use permit application for
the school. The applicant's engineer should use Figure 7A-1 from the most current
MUTCD as a template for the pedestrian plan.
3) The submitted study indicates that adult crossing guards will be stationed at each
crosswalk within the school zone area. This would include three locations: Long Lake
Way/Boulder Bar Drive, Tango Creek/Long Lake Way, and Tango Creek/Silver Maple
Avenue. The School District will need to verify that crossing guards will be located at
these locations and the time of day they will be located at the crossings.
4) The submitted traffic study identifies a crosswalk at the intersection of Long Lake
Way/Boulder Bar Drive. Staff has site distance concerns regarding this crosswalk location
Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208 387 6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achd.ada.id.us
due its close proximity to the center landscape island located on the north end of Long
Lake Way. The site distance between the crosswalk and the island will need to be
address prior to moving forward with the conditional use permit application.
5) The Long Lake Way/Tango Creek intersection should be included in the analysis to
determine whether, or not it will operate at an acceptable level of service. Additionally the
analysis should look at how the intersection and site access off of Tango Creek function
due to their close proximity.
6) The study will need to expand on the internal circulation plan, specifically, the parent
drop-off and pick-up areas. The School District may want to consider an additional
driveway on Tango Creek to serve the site. This recommendation is based on the
District's past experience with elementary schools, and recent requests for additional
driveways after the opening of a school.
7) Although the submitted study did not recommend that flashing beacons were not
needed for the site, ACHD recommends a flashing beacon be installed on Long Lake Way,
and would like to consider one on Tango Creek. Before further recommendations can be
made the pedestrian plan will need to be completed to allow for analysis of the projected
pedestrian volumes at the proposed crossings.
8) ACHD recommends that parking be restricted on Tango Creek abutting the school site
from the Long Lake Way/Tango Creek intersection to the proposed driveway. This will
reduce conflicts and increase safety for the school.
9) The signing plan submitted as part of the study will need to be updated to account for
the most current version of the MUTCD and resubmitted to ACHD for review.
10) The submitted traffic impact study did not include locations for "School Xing" markings
on the roadways. ACHD has required these markings previous school applications and
may with this application.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 208-387-6178.
Sincerely,
Mindy Wallace
Planning Review Supervisor
Right-of-Way & Development Services
CC: City of Meridian -Anna Canning
City of Meridian -Pete Freidman
Dobie Engineering Inc. -Pat Dobie
LKV Architects -Wayne Thowless
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May 15, 2009
To: Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Avenue
Meridian, ID 83642
Subject: MCUP-09-0005 -Willowcreek Elementary School
Carol A. McKee, President
Sherry R. Huber, 1st Vice President
Rebecca W. Amold, 2nd Vice President
John S. Franden, Commissioner
Sara M. Baker, Commissioner
The Ada County Highway District (ACRD) respectfully requests that the City of Meridian's Planning
and Zoning Commission defer taking an action on CUP-09-0005 (Willowcreek Elementary School),
until the submitted traffic impact study (TIS) is accepted by ACHD, and the ACRD Commission has
had an opportunity to take an action on the application. This request is made in accordance with
the sate statute~Title 67, Chapter 65 of the State Local Land Use Planning Law statute specifically
states that "Each application (for a public school) for a permit required or authorized under this
chapter shall first be submitted to the zoning or planning and zoning commission for its
recommendation or decision." The statute continues by saying, "When considering a permit
application which relates to a public school facility, the commission shall specifically review the
permit application for the effects it will have on increased vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian volumes
on adjacent roads and highways. To ensure that the state highway system or the local highway
system can satisfactorily accommodate the proposed school project."
In accordance with state statute (Title 67, Chapter 65) ACHD respectfully requests that the Planning
and Zoning Commission defer taking an action on the Willowcreek Elementary School application
until ACHD has reviewed and accepted the traffic impact study; and the ACHD Commission has
acted on the application and provided findings and/or recommendations to the City of Meridian.
This process will help ensure that the necessary improvements and safety measures are installed
by the school district prior to this school opening for students. Additionally, that ACHD receives all
of the information necessary to perform a full analysis of the school's potential impacts to the
transportation system and can report those finding to the Planning and Zoning Commission as
identified in the attached state statue.
¶ eleted: ¶
Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achd.ada.id.us
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (208) 387-6178.
Sincerely,
Mindy Wallace
Planning Review Supervisor
Right-of-Way & Development Services
Ada County Highway District
CC: Project file
Anna Canning -Planning Director
Caleb Hood -Planning Manager
Pete Friedman -Deputy Director
LeAnn Calrsen -Meridian School District
TITLE 67
STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 65
LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING
Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achd.ada.id.us
67-6519. PERMIT GRANTING PROCESS. (1) As part of ordinances required or authorized
under this chapter, a procedure shall be established for processing
in a timely manner applications for permits for which a reasonable fee may be
charged.
(2) Each application for a permit required or authorized under this chapter shall first be
submitted to the zoning or planning and zoning commission for its recommendation or decision.
The commission shall have a reasonable time fixed by the governing board to examine the
application before the commission makes its decision on the permit or makes its recommendation
to the governing board. Each commission or governing board shall establish by rule a time period
within which a recommendation or decision must be made.
Provided however, any permit application which relates to a public school facility shall receive
priority consideration and shall be reviewed for approval, denial or recommendation by the
commission or the governing board at the earliest reasonable time, regardless of the timing of its
submission relative to other applications which are not related to public school facilities.
(3) When considering a permit application which relates to a public school facility the
commission shall specifically review the permit application for the effect it will have on increased
vehicular. bicycle and pedestrian volumes on adjacent roads and highwavs To ensure that the
state highway system or the local highway system can satisfactorily accommodate the proposed
school project, the commission shall request the assistance of the Idaho transportation
department if state highwavs are affected. or the local highwav district with jurisdiction if the
affected roads are not state highwavs The Idaho transportation department the appropriate local
h~way jurisdiction, or both as determined by the commission shall review the application and
shall report to the commission on the following issues as appropriate the land use master plan
school bus plan access safety pedestrian plan crossing guard plan barriers between highwavs
and school location of school zone need for flashing beacon need for traffic control signal
anticipated future improvements: speed on adjacent highways traffic volumes on adjacent
highwavs; effect upon the highway's level of service need for acceleration or deceleration lanes
internal traffic circulation anticipated development on surrounding undeveloped parcels zoning in
the vicinity access control on adjacent highwavs required striping and signing modifications
funding of highwav improvements to accommodate development
proposed highwav projects in the vicinity and any other issues as may be considered appropriate
to the particular application.
(4) Whenever a governing board or zoning or planning and zoning commission grants or
denies a permit, it shall specify: (a) The ordinance and standards used in evaluating the
application; (b) The reasons for approval or denial; and (c) The actions, if any, that the
applicant could take to obtain a permit.
An applicant denied a permit or aggrieved by a decision may within twenty-eight (28) days after
all remedies have been exhausted under local ordinance seek judicial review under the
procedures provided by chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code.
Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achd.ada.id.us