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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-01-2016 BAC Agenda Packet 1 MISSION: The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is to provide oversight and policy direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling outside the City. ROLL CALL: Paula Huddleston (Vice Chair), Lea Brooks, Ken Kienow, Catherine Riedstra, Howard Weisenthal, and Jim Woolf PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, the public is invited to address the Committee concerning items not on the agenda but are of interest to the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. The Committee may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly respond to statements made or questions raised, or to ask staff to follow up on such issues. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Bicycle Facilities in the Avila Ranch DRAFT EIR (60 min) – Fukushima ADJOURNMENT: The next regular meeting will be held January 19, 2017 Agenda Bicycle Advisory Committee – Special Meeting Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Thursday, December 1, 2016 – 5:30 pm (Note earlier time) The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and activities. Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance. 2 ACTION ITEMS: Agenda Item #1: Bicycle Facilities in the Avila Ranch DRAFT EIR (60 min) -- Fukushima 1) BACKGROUND The Avila Ranch Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been released for a 45-day public comment period, which ends January 11, 2017. The project involves developing a 150-acre site at the northeast corner of Buckley Road and Vachell lane within the boundaries of the Airport Area Specific Plan for a new residential neighborhood. The entire DRAFT EIR can be found at http://www.slocity.org/Home/Components/News/News/4823/17?backlist=%2Fhome On September 17, 2015 and November 19, 2015, the BAC reviewed the bicycle facilities plan for the Avila Ranch development and provided comments. With the completion of the DRAFT EIR, City staff is seeking feedback from the BAC on the proposed mitigations to bikeway impacts. 2) PROJECT INFORMATION Avila Ranch is a proposed new master planned residential development. The project includes approximately 720 dwelling units of various housing types, a centrally located “Town Center” with 15,000 square feet of neighborhood serving retail and office uses, and 71.30 acres of open space and park uses. Project amenities would include riparian corridor enhancement, permanent open space dedication, community gardens and bike facilities. 3) PROPOSED BICYCLE FACILITIES The proposed project includes Class I and Class II bike facilities on Buckley Road, Class II bike facilities on proposed collector streets, and a Class I bike path bordering Tank Farm Creek corridor through the project. The project also proposed to extend Buckley Road to South Higuera with Class II bike facilities. Staff Recommendation: Review the findings of the DRAFT EIR relative to bicycle transportation and determine whether the findings are consistent with the Bicycle Transportation Plan. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held: January 19, 2017 ATTACHMENTS: 1. Executive Summary to the Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study 2. Proposed Avila Ranch Circulation Map 3. Development Phasing from the Avila Ranch Development Plan Avila Ranch  Draft Transportation Impact Study    Central Coast Transportation Consulting 895 Napa Avenue, Suite A-6 Morro Bay, CA 93442 (805) 316-0101 February 2016 Prepared For: City of San Luis Obispo Attachment 1, Page 1 of 7 Central Coast Transportation Consulting February 2016 1Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study Executive Summary   This study evaluates the potential transportation impacts of the Avila Ranch project located in the City of San Luis Obispo. The Project consists of 720 residential units and 15,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial space. The Project would generate 6,776 new daily trips, 414 new AM peak hour trips, and 616 new PM peak hour trips added to adjacent streets. Fourteen intersections and six roadway segments were analyzed during the weekday morning (7-9 AM) and evening (4-6 PM) time periods, as shown on Figure 1. The study locations were evaluated under six scenarios: Existing Conditions, Existing Plus Project, Near Term, Near Term Plus Project, Cumulative and Cumulative Plus Project. Project impacts are identified based on thresholds in the City of San Luis Obispo General Plan as well as Caltrans and the County of San Luis Obispo where appropriate. Impacts and mitigation measures are summarized below. Existing Plus Project # Location Mode Impact Mitigation Measure Phase 1 LOVR & 101 SB Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing WB left turn queue exceeding capacity Reconstruction of LOVR Interchange currently underway and mitigates this impact. This measure is programmed in the LOVR subarea fee and Citywide TIF. 1 2 South St. & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates NB right turn queue exceeding capacity Extend NB right turn lane. Mitigation is not currently programmed. 1 4 Prado & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing NB left turn queue exceeding capacity. Add a second NB left turn lane & widen Prado Rd. creek bridge west of Higuera. This measure is programmed in the MASP & AASP fee programs. 1 5 Tank Farm & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing SB left turn queue exceeding capacity. Add a second SB left turn lane. Mitigation is not currently programmed. 1 6 Tank Farm & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing WB left turn queue exceeding capacity. Add a second SB left turn lane. Mitigation is not currently programmed. 1 7 LOVR & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing EB left turn queue exceeding capacity. Retime traffic signal once interchange reconstruction complete. Add direction signing to encourage project traffic to access the Ontario ramps to the south. 1 8 LOVR & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing SB right turn queue exceeding capacity. Retime traffic signal once interchange reconstruction complete. Add directional signing to encourage project traffic to access the Ontario ramps to the south. 1 Attachment 1, Page 2 of 7 Central Coast Transportation Consulting February 2016 2Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study Existing Plus Project 9 Buckley & Hwy 227 Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates existing NB left turn queue exceeding capacity. Add a second NB & SB thru lane. Project shall pay its fair share to be determined by County & State 1 10 Buckley & Hwy 227 Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates NB thru volume exceeding capacity. Add a second NB & SB thru lane. Project shall pay its fair share to be determined by County and State 1 11 Buckley & Hwy 227 Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates SB thru volume exceeding capacity. Add a second NB & SB thru lane. Project shall pay its fair share to be determined by County and State 1 12 Higuera & Suburban Auto Westbound right turn queues exceed storage length with Project traffic. Revise project proposal to extend shared westbound left/right turn lane to 250 feet by restriping roadway. 1 13 LOVR (450' N of Los Verdes Dr. to Higuera) Auto Volumes currently exceed capacity and the segment operates at LOS F during the PM peak hour. The addition of project traffic exacerbates this deficient condition. The LOVR Interchange project does not include widening of NB LOVR from Higuera to 450’ north of Los Verdes Drive, widening of this remaining section will address the impact. 1 14 Tank Farm & Horizon Ped Pedestrian level of service is below minimum GP thresholds. Project traffic does not affect this. North side of Tank Farm is fenced farmland with insignificant pedestrian demand. Roundabout control would provide adequate pedestrian crossing when destinations are present on north side of road. 1 15 Vachell & Higuera Ped Pedestrian level of service is below minimum GP thresholds due to lack of pedestrian connectivity. Restrict pedestrian crossings across Higuera Street and direct pedestrians to cross at LOVR or Suburban. Complete continuous sidewalk connection on Higuera between Vachell and LOVR. 1 16 LOVR & 101 SB Bike Bicycle level of service is below minimum GP thresholds. Addition of project traffic exacerbates this deficiency Reconstruction of LOVR Interchange currently underway. This measure is programmed in the LOVR subarea fee and Citywide TIF. 1 17 Higuera (Buckley to LOVR) Ped Pedestrian level of service is below minimum GP thresholds due to lack of continuous sidewalk accessing project. Install sidewalk and ADA ramps on the east side of Higuera to provide a continuous path of travel from Buckley to LOVR. 1 18 LOVR (101 NB Ramps to 450' N of Los Verdes Dr.) Ped Pedestrian level of service is below minimum GP thresholds. Low level of service is due to high vehicle volumes. Addition of project traffic is not expected to result in a noticeable degradation or contextual impact. Install Class I path parallel to Higuera from Higuera & Buckley to LOVR (Bob Jones Octagon Barn Connection). This measure is not currently programed. 1 19 LOVR ( 450' N of Los Verdes Dr. to Higuera) Ped Pedestrian level of service is below minimum GP thresholds. Addition of project traffic is not expected to result in a noticeable degradation or contextual impact. Reconstruction of LOVR Interchange currently underway. This measure is programmed in the LOVR subarea fee and Citywide TIF 1 Attachment 1, Page 3 of 7 Central Coast Transportation Consulting February 2016 3Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study Existing Plus Project 20 Buckley Rd. (Higuera to Project Entrance) Ped Pedestrian level of service is below minimum GP thresholds. Project proposes to construct parallel Class I facility prior to Phase 2 which would mitigate this impact. 2 21 Internal intersections & driveways. Auto Potentially significant safety impact at Earthwood and Venture due to closely spaced intersections. Potentially significant safety impact at high Desnsity residential on Earthwood and commercial on Horizon due to unknown access point locations. Intersections and driveways accessing arterial and collector streets shall follow the FHWA Access Management Manual in regards to spacing, shared driveways, and access restrictions to address potential safety impacts. 1-6 22 Venture Drive Auto Forecasted volumes exceed General Plan threshold for current street designation. Geometry conducive to speeding. Amend general plan reclassifying Venture Drive to a residential collector. Implement residential trip reduction plan and traffic calming measures. 1 23 Earthwood Lane Auto Forecasted volumes exceed General Plan threshold for current street designation. Geometry conducive of speeding. Amend General Plan reclassifying Earthwood Lane to a residential collector. Implement residential trip reduction plan and traffic calming measures. 1 24 Horizon Lane Auto Forecasted volumes exceed General Plan threshold for current street designation. Geometry conducive of speeding. Amend General Plan reclassifying Horizon Ln. to a residential arterial from Buckley to Project boundary and to a Commercial Collector from the Project Boundary to Tank Farm. Implement residential trip reduction plan and traffic calming measures. 1 25 Vachell Lane Auto Forecasted volumes exceed General Plan threshold for current street designation. Amend General Plan reclassifying Vachell Ln. to a commercial collector 1 26 Vachell Lane Bike Discontinuous Class II bicycle network providing access to Project area. Install Class II bike lanes on Vachell between Higuera and Buckley 1 27 Suburban Rd. Ped Lack of pedestrian connectivity to Project area. Forecasted volumes exceed General Plan threshold for current street designation. Install sidewalks and ADA ramps to complete a continuous pedestrian connection from Higuera to Earthwood Ln. Amend General Plan to designate Suburban Road as a commercial collector. 1 28 Buckley Rd. Bike The project proposes bike lane geometry that is inconsistent with the City's bicycle transportation plan. Class II bike lanes along Buckley shall be at least 8' wide 1 29 Buckley Rd. Bike The project description has conflicting proposals for Bike facilities along Buckley Rd. The project shall install bicycle facilities consistent with the Bicycle Transportation Plan. 1 Attachment 1, Page 4 of 7 Central Coast Transportation Consulting February 2016 4Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study Existing Plus Project 30 All Phasing Auto Bike Ped Sequencing is not specified in the project description. Developing phases in an order not consistent the phase numbering will invalidate this analysis and the recommended impacts. Sequencing of the development phases shall be done in the order of the phase numbering. 1-6 31 Phases 1&2 Auto Bike Constructing Buckley Extension as part of Phase 2 will cause the volume on Venture and Earthwood to exceed General Plan thresholds, route heavy commercial traffic thru the neighborhood, and not provide a bicycle route connection to the Project during Phase 1. Public Vehicle Access to Phase 1 shall only be provided via Earthwood Ln & Suburban Rd. Access points at Vachell shall be restricted to emergency vehicle and bicycle & pedestrian traffic. Class II bike lanes shall be installed on Vachell from Buckley to S. Higuera. Left turn restrictions at Higuera & Vachell, extension of Buckley Rd., and full access from Project to Vachell Lane shall be provided prior to Phase 2. 1 & 2 32 Phases 4 Auto Phase 4 will generate volumes that cause Earthwood Ln. to exceed General Plan thresholds. Complete the Horizon lane connection to the north to provide a second route to Suburban lane prior to Phase 4. 4 Bike Ped Connecting Horizon/Jesperson to Buckley without frontage improvements on Buckley will create discontinuous bicycle and pedestrian access to the project from Buckley Rd. Complete Buckley Rd. frontage improvements as part of Phase 4. 4 In addition to the Existing Plus Project impacts and mitigation, the following impacts are noted for Near Term Plus Project. Near Term Plus Project Location Mode Impact Mitigation Measure Phase 33 LOVR & Higuera Auto Project traffic exacerbates near term SB right turn queues exceeding capacity Install second SB right turn lane. This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 34 Tank Farm & Horizon Auto The northbound approach would operate at LOS F both with and without the project. Install a northbound right turn lane. Post 4 35 Tank Farm & Higuera Bike Addition of project traffic exacerbates WB approach exceeding General Plan bicycle level of service threshold. Project proposal to install parallel Class I paths from Buckley to Tank Farm mitigate this impact. Post 4 36 LOVR & Higuera Bike Project traffic degrades the bicycle level of service to below City General Plan thresholds Install Class I path parallel to Higuera from Higuera & Buckley to LOVR (Bob Jones Octagon Barn Connection). This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 Attachment 1, Page 5 of 7 Central Coast Transportation Consulting February 2016 5Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study Near Term Plus Project 37 Buckley Rd. & Higuera Bike Project traffic exacerbates near term bicycle level of service being below General Plan thresholds. Intersection is under County jurisdiction which has no Bicycle Level of Service Threshold. Installation of a parallel Class I path from LOVR to Higuera and Higuera to Broad as called for in the Bicycle Plan would mitigate this impact. Post 4 38 Higuera (LOVR to Suburban) Ped Project traffic exacerbates near term pedestrian level of service being below General Plan thresholds. Install Class I path parallel to Higuera from Higuera & Buckley to LOVR (Bob Jones Octagon Barn Connection). This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 39 LOVR (Higuera to 450' N Los Verdes) Ped Project traffic exacerbates near term pedestrian level of service being below General Plan thresholds. Install Class I path parallel to Higuera from Higuera & Buckley to LOVR (Bob Jones Octagon Barn Connection). This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 In addition to the Existing and Near Term Plus Project impacts and mitigation, the following impacts are noted for Cumulative Plus Project. Cumulative Plus Project Location Mode Impact Mitigation Measure Phase 40 Prado & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates queues exceeding capacity for north, south, and west left turn movements. Install two left turn pockets, two thru lanes, and a right turn pocket on all approaches. This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 41 Tank Farm & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates SB left turn queues exceeding capacity. Install second SB left and second NB right turn lane with overlap phasing. This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 42 Tank Farm & Higuera Auto Addition of project traffic exacerbates WB left turn queues exceeding capacity Install a second SB left turn lane and second NB right turn lane with overlap phasing. This measure is not currently programmed. Post 4 43 Buckley & Vachell Auto The southbound approach would operate at LOS F during the PM peak hour with the Project in place and would meet the peak hour signal warrant. Installation of a traffic signal or a single lane roundabout would provide acceptable operations. Post 4 44 Prado & Higuera Bike Addition of project traffic exacerbates bicycle level of service exceeding General Plan threshold. Installation of a parallel Class I path along Prado Rd. will mitigate this impact. Post 4 45 LOVR & Higuera Bike Addition of project traffic exacerbates bicycle level of service exceeding General Plan threshold. Presence of the existing parallel Class I paths between LOVR & Prado (Bob Jones) in addition to the installation of a new parallel Class I path bewteen LOVR & Post 4 Attachment 1, Page 6 of 7 Central Coast Transportation Consulting February 2016 6Avila Ranch Draft Transportation Impact Study Cumulative Plus Project Higuera (Bob Jones Octagon Barn Connection) would mitigate this impact. This measure is not currently programmed. Details supporting these recommendations are provided in the body of this report. Attachment 1, Page 7 of 7 Attachment 2, Page 1 of 1 Avila Ranch Development Plan Avila Ranch, LLC 735 Tank Farm Road San Luis Obispo, CA Attachment 3, Page 1 of 6 Avila Ranch Development Plan Page 26 Revised: December 18, 2015 The Avila Ranch project will encourage long term housing affordability by including design and development strategies that serve to provide lower cost housing. The cost of housing over time is most closely related to the size of the dwelling unit, the size of the lot, and costs of maintenance. Within each of the residential zones there will be a broad range of dwelling unit sizes R-2 units will range in size from approximately 1,350 square feet to 2,000 square feet, with an average size of approximately 1,675 square feet. R-3 units will range in size from 1,100 square feet to 1,750 square feet with an average of approximately 1,500 square feet, and R-4 units will range in size from 650-square foot studios to 1,150 square foot two-bedroom , two-bathroom units. Maintenance expenses, to the extent feasible, will also be included in a Community Facilities District to reduce the necessity for Homeowners Associations, and the additional costs associated with that maintenance and governance structure. Landscaping will also be designed to be low-maintenance and water efficient to reduce monthly water expense and land- scape maintenance. Passive and active solar energy strategies will also be included to reduce monthly energy costs. Revitalizing Tank Farm Creek One of the key project components is the revitalization of Tank Farm Creek, which is used as the principal organizing element for the overall project design. The original course of the creek’s channel will be re-established to its historic route and connected to the Chevron property. Aesthetically and topographically, the site feature defines the neighborhoods, creates a unifying open-space element, provides the principal connecting feature through and to the project and provides the potential to pro- vide pedestrian and bicycle access to the project’s parks and open space. The north-south utilitarian drainage channel extension of Tank Farm Creek will be eliminated and the storm runoff flows that rely on that portion of the channel will be collected at the north property line and conveyed underground to a controlled discharge point. Figure 8 shows how the various land uses will relate to and interact with the Tank Farm Creek Corridor open space. Figure 9 shows the sections of Tank Farm Creek and its in- tended usage to accommodate peak flows, and an area for a multi-use Class I bike path through the site. Project Phasing Figure 10 shows the phasing of the land uses. This phasing is primarily determined by the re- quired location of sewer and circulation facilities, existing road improvements, and site topography. Phase descriptions are as follows: Phase 1 includes up to 185 R-2 units, completion of the Buckley Road frontage improvements along the phase boundary, completion of the sewer pump station and force main, extension of Venture Road along the phase frontage, extension of the potable and recycled water facilities, and extension of dry utilities to the phase, and extension of Earthwood to Suburban. This phase would also include the Attachment 3, Page 2 of 6 Avila Ranch Development Plan Page 27 Revised: December 18, 2015 Figure 8 Land Plan and Tank Farm Creek Attachment 3, Page 3 of 6 Avila Ranch Development Plan Page 28 Revised: December 18, 2015 Figure 9 Tank Farm Creek Sections Attachment 3, Page 4 of 6 Avila Ranch Development Plan Page 29 Revised: December 18, 2015 Class I Bike Path from Class II Diversion to Vachell, as described in the Circulation section, a pedestri- an/bike bridge Tank Farm Creek Bridge for Class I Bike Path, a Class II Bike Lane Bridge on South Side of Buckley and the Buckley/Tank Farm Creek Bridge, the extension of the Earthwood Collector (w/Class II) to Suburban, and a transit stop along the Venture Extension. This phase, if possible, will also include a permanent or interim Class I bike path from Vachell to the Octagon Barn parking lot, subject to right of way availability and governmental approvals. This phase will be designed as two principal neighborhood clusters, with each having its own architectural and design identity. Phase 2 will include the development of 29 R-2 units and the extension of the wet and dry utili- ties along the phase frontage. This phase will also include the extension of Buckley Road from Vachell to Higuera, including Class II bike lanes and a Class I bike path. Phase 3 includes 91 R-2 units, and 125 R-4 units, as well as the completion of intracts, and the completion of the connection to Horizon Lane (but not the offsite connection itself). This phase would also include the development of the mini-parks in that phase. The R-4 portion of the project would in- clude the development of 35 inclusionary housing units for lower income households. Phase 4 includes the development of 185 R-3 units, and development of the neighborhood park. This phase would include the construction of the vehicle and pedestrian bridge from Venture to Jesper- son, and the completion of Jesperson to the Buckley. Seventy of these units are intended to fulfill the inclusionary housing requirement for moderate income households. This phase also includes the devel- opment of the neighborhood park. Phase 5 includes 105 R-1 units. This also includes the development of the west mini park/community gardens and the portion of the open space/buffer area within the phase. Phase 6 includes the development of the Town Center neighborhood commercial sites and re- maining project frontages. Attachment 3, Page 5 of 6 Avila Ranch Development Plan Page 30 Revised: December 18, 2015 Figure 10 Phasing Plan Phase 4 Attachment 3, Page 6 of 6