COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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AGENDA TITLE: Meadow Creek Parkway; CATEC Impacts
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Board direction on responding to design issues impacting CATEC site improvements
STAFF CONTACT(S): Tucker, Foley, Davis, Graham, Kelsey
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes |
AGENDA DATE: May 4, 2005
ACTION: X INFORMATION:
CONSENT AGENDA: ACTION: INFORMATION:
ATTACHMENTS: Yes
REVIEWED BY:
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BACKGROUND:
On May 5, 2004 the Board of Supervisors adopted a Resolution of Intent to endorse the design of the Meadow Creek Parkway, as presented in the design public hearing (see attachment). Condition #3 of the resolution stated that a 3 meter [9.8 feet] planting strip will be provided between the curb and sidewalk on both sides of the four-lane divided portion of Rio Road to provide a visual transition into the Parkway.
On September 21, 2004 VDOT gave an informational presentation on the Meadow Creek Parkway project to the CATEC Board of Directors, who expressed concern regarding the impact to their parking lot and bus routing. Following this meeting VDOT requested the County Engineer to consider reducing the planting strip to the minimum 3 foot wide utility or grass strip. In response, the County Engineer provided VDOT with two alternatives demonstrating that the planting strip recommended by Jones & Jones could be maintained by reconfiguring the parking lot and bus circulation (see attachments).
The CATEC Board has recently expressed their concerns for this design issue and provided recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors in their letter dated March 15, 2005 (see attachment).
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal 3 - Enhance the Quality of Life for all Citizens.
DISCUSSION:
The concerns expressed by the CATEC Board include 1) loss of a safety buffer between the roadway and parking/bus circulation; 2) loss of parking spaces and impacts to the bus circulation route; and 3) disruptions to school operations and student safety during construction. Their recommendations include, 1) use of only a 2 foot wide grass strip; 2) use of a guardrail or earth mound to create a physical buffer between the sidewalk and the parking/bus routing; and 3) creating a reduced speed school safety zone around CATEC.
These items are discussed in detail in the memo prepared by the County Engineer and included in the attachments. In brief, the County Engineer’s alternatives address the concerns raised by CATEC, but the additional site improvements will increase the cost of the Meadow Creek Parkway construction. However, the improvements will allow for a transition from the urban 4-lane divided Rio Road to the Meadow Creek Parkway that is true in form to both the Jones & Jones design recommendations and condition #3 of the Resolution of Intent.
Staff needs to instruct VDOT on how to proceed with the final design plans for the Parkway. This issue is complicated by the County’s vision for this portion of the parkway and the related cost implications of adhering to that vision.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff requests direction from the Board of Supervisors on how to respond with this design issue.
ATTACHMENTS