22 - Laserfiche WebLink

3. When viewed in two dimensions, the width between the retaining wall and western property edge of the corridor allows 12 feet for the bicycle/pedestrian pathway. Due to the varying elevations of the adjacent properties and pedestrian access points, some of this available width has been designed as landscaping in order to transition the elevation of the proposed improvements to the adjacent properties' improvements. The minimum width of the concrete path is eight feet at the pinch points. Policy Issue Before City Council The BPTC and the PRC raise the issue that the proposed transportation corridor improvements between Bernal and Abbie put too much emphasis on maximizing parking, and not enough space is allocated to bicycles or pedestrian activity. The goal of the design, as proposed, is to maximize parking for the downtown area. Devoting more of the corridor width to bicycle and pedestrian trail uses will result in decreasing the number of parking spaces that can be created within the corridor. The question before City Council is whether to proceed with the project as currently proposed or change the goal of the design and explore other options. Discussing the challenges and how those challenges impact the design in this report allows for the understanding that if other options are to be considered, each option will also need to overcome those challenges. After receiving the feedback from the BPTC and PRC, and in preparation for this discussion, staff referred to some of the alternative designs considered very early in the design process, and also developed some other options to increase the trail width area that Council may wish to consider. Some of the options staff considered as part of the design process proved to be infeasible, but they are presented as well for informational purposes. Reduce Parking Lot Size or Move Parking Lot East Reduce the parking lot drive aisle and parking stall lengths or shift the entire parking lot area eastward: Further review confirmed that the parking lot is utilizing the minimum recommended design dimensions for drive aisle width and parking spaces. A drive aisle width of 24 feet is required with 90-degree parking spaces so that motorists can maneuver a standard vehicle in and out of the parking space from/to the drive aisle. The parking spaces are designed at 8.5 feet wide, as is necessary to create the 81 additional spaces. This 8.5-foot-width is the minimum width recommended for parking spaces. It should be noted that the parking lot will "feel" fairly tight, and care will be necessary when motorists park and open their car doors. Therefore, it is not feasible to decrease the stall widths. Moving the entire parking lot east would impact the mature trees and existing improvements on the eastern private property. While the trees could be removed, and additional property purchased, staff did not spend time exploring this option and has accepted the property boundaries as a "given" to this point in the design. Page 7 of 10