HomeMy WebLinkAbout10A - No Parking on Tower St.
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
AGENDA ITEM:
DISCUSSION:
ISSUES:
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
JULY 21, 2003
lOA
MAKENZIE MCCORMICK, PUBLIC WORKS COORDINATOR
BUD OSMUNDSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
REMOVAL OF "NO PARKING" SIGNS ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF
TOWER STREET.
This item is a request for the City Council to consider approving the removal of
"No Parking" signs along the north side of Tower Street from east end to 50 east
of Toronto Avenue. There are several apartment buildings along Tower Street,
creating a high density residential area. Staff has received a petition containing
40 signatures from the residents of the Highwood Townhome Community.
Apparently, there is a lack of parking spaces in the townhome facility for visitors
and is a problem for the residents living in the townhomes.
Currently there are "No Parking" signs posted on both sides of Tower Street
from Toronto Avenue to the east end of Tower Street. With limited parking
spaces within the Highwood Townhomes complex, the residents would like the
Council to consider allowing parking on Tower Street. They also requested
parking on the water tower site.
For more information, a report is attached with the investigation findings of
staff. The report includes engineering, planning, public works, police and fire
input. Based upon the report findings, staff is recommending Council consider
allowing parking along the north side of Tower Street. Allowing parking on
only one side of Tower Street provides additional parking for the residents
without compromising the safety or limiting the access of emergency and
maintenance vehicles.
The policy issue is should on street parking be the relief valve for insufficient
off-street parking or should the property owner be held responsible for providing
sufficient parking? According to the subdivision ordinance, you need two
parking stalls/unit. The Highwood Townhomes complex has 36 units and 45
parking stalls. The complex was built before the ordinance was created and
therefore does not need to adhere to the requirements until improvements are
made.
We do not feel that the City should allow private parking on the water tower site
due to security issues. Staff does recommend that the City Council authorize the
removal of "No Parking" signs along the north side of Tower Street, allowing
7/llllMroO Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
CONCLUSION:
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
REVIEWED BY:
7/16/2003
parking on one side of the street. If approved, staff would remove these signs
this week.
Bud1(et Impact
The labor cost to remove the signs is very minor and would be funded by the
Street Operating Budget.
The alternatives are as follows:
I. Approve a Resolution authorizing the removal of "No Parking" signs along
the northside of Tower Street as described in this report.
2. Table this item for a specific reason.
3. Deny this agenda item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction.
Staff recommends alternative number I.
LUTION AUTHORIZING THE REMOVAL OF "NO PARKING" SIGNS
ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWER STREET
MOTION BY:
SECOND BY:
WHEREAS,
The City received a petition from residents in the Highwood Townhomes,
including 40 signatures, requesting parking along Tower Street; and
WHEREAS,
Allowing parking along one side of Tower Street does not show a potential risk to
vehicular traffic, pedestrians or the access of emergency equipment to property
located on 32' wide streets; and
WHEREAS,
City staff has investigated the above location and has made recommendations to
the City Council.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA, that:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. The removal of "No Parking" signs is hereby ordered on the northside of Tower Street.
Passed this 21 st day of July 2003.
YES
NO
Haugen Haugen
Petersen Petersen
Zieska Zieska
LeMair LeMair
Blomberg Blomberg
{ Seal }
Frank Boyles, City Manager
C:IDocuments and SettingslKellyMILocal SettingslTemporary Internet FileslOLK167\parking highwood townhomes agenda 7-21-03.DOC
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Investigation of the Petition:
To Allow Parking along Tower St. SE and/or in the Tower St. Water Tower
Access Area
June 11, 2003
Prepared by: Makenzie McCormick, Public Works Coordinator
Introduction:
The petition was signed by 40 residents who live in the Highwood Townhomes, south of
Tower Street SE. The petition requests allowing visitor parking along Tower Street
and/or in the water tower access area.
The information contained in this report was gathered from site investigations, standard
engineering practices, and police and fire regulations.
Existing Conditions:
Highwood Townhomes are located at the East end of Tower Street, approximately 800
feet East of Toronto Avenue. There are a total of36 units in the Highwood Townhomes
complex. The complex has spaces for a total of 45 parking stalls, which includes one
handicap space. In addition, the parking lot has three available staff/visitor stalls and one
handicap stall. This does not conform to the two parking stalls/unit requirement in the
current subdivision ordinance. This means that two parking stalls/unit would be required
if this subdivision were developed today.
Site Investigation:
During the site investigation, "No Parking" signs were found on both sides of Tower
Street, from Toronto Avenue continuing east to the end of Tower Street. There are
several apartment buildings along Tower Street, creating a high density residential area.
There are also "No Parking" signs posted around the water tower access area. Tower
Street is approximately 32 feet wide.
Standard Engineering Practices:
The street width of 32 feet is adequate for parking on one side of the street. There is no
path on either side of Tower Street. For pedestrian safety and access, it is recommended
that only one side of the street be allowed parking. Public Works staff does not feel it
would be appropriate to allow private parking on the water tower site due to security
Issues.
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Police and Fire Regulations:
The Police and Fire departments requested that one side of the street remain no parking.
This is needed to provide access and enough turning radius for emergency vehicles
servicing the area. Both departments did not find a problem with allowing parking on
only one side.
Public Works Maintenance Issues:
The Streets and Utilities Supervisor is concerned snow removal with vehicles parking
along Tower Street in a snowfall event. Therefore, the vehicles parked along Tower
Street would have to follow the City Code 901.207 Winter Parking Restrictions. This
includes no Vehicles on any Street within the City between the hours of two o'clock
(2:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) A.M. from November 1 until March 31 ofthe
following year. At all other times of the year it is unlawful for any Vehicle to stand on
any public Street within the City between the hours of two o'clock (2:00) A.M. and six 0'
clock (6:00) A.M. after a continuous or intermittent snowfall during which there has been
an accumulation of two inches (2") or more of snow on any Street, and until the snow has
been plowed or removed to the full width of the Street. Any Vehicle parked in violation
ofthis subsection may be towed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 169.041.
Conclusion:
Based on the information gathered for this report, staff recommends allowing parking
along the Northside of Tower Street from the East end of the road to 50 feet east ofthe
Toronto intersection. The No Parking signs already in place on the Southside of Tower
Street are recommended to stay for the reasons mentioned in the above report.
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