PC 06/24/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

_ Commissioner Kumaran noted that the pedestrian link between the existing Santa Rita Road sidewalk and the main entry on the south elevation would result in an 11 percent slope and would not meet ADA requirements. He inquired if it would be possible to consider a zig-zag design which would meet both the ADA and area requirements. Mr. Iserson replied that staff would take a look at this. Commissioner Dove commented that in most of the assisted-living facilities he has visited, the residents did not venture much outside the facility. He noted that most of the clients of this facility would be coming from the hospital and that the number of residents who would be driving or walking outside would not be significant enough to require unusual measures. PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Mr. Seth Bland, 4086 Stanley Boulevard, representing Marriott Senior Living Services, introduced the members of the project's design and engineering team -- Mr. Dennis Dibiase of Van Tilburg Architects; Mr. Steve Moreland of Brian Kangas Foulk, consulting civil engineers, and Mr. Rick Stover from Thomas E. Baak & Associates, landscape architects -- and indicated that the team would be available to answer questions. He described the Marriott Senior Living Services as the country's largest provider of quality senior assisted living currently operating more than 90 percent of these facilities with approximately 17,000 residents. He commended staffs detailed and significant involvement and requested the Commission to support the proposal as provided in the staff report with the exception of the deceleration lane. He pointed out that the traffic report indicated that the deceleration lane was not necessary, which would preserve the aesthetic quality of the facility from southbound Santa Rita Road and the mature landscape buffer between the facility and Boston Market and Santa Rita Road. He added that the deceleration lane required by staff would start over 200 feet back from the existing exit at Boston Market in the Rose Pavilion Shopping Center. He also expressed concern that vehicles may be accelerating away from the shopping center at the same time as others decelerate from the same lane to enter the facility. He proposed three alternatives to Condition No. 8: (1) delete the condition; (2) direct the installation of a reasonable deceleration lane only for the facility; or (3) if a larger deceleration is desired, require the City to contribute to its installation. Commissioner Kumaran asked staff why it was necessary to have a deceleration lane beyond the project's frontage. Mr. Higdon replied that the minimum length required for traffic safety is about 150 feet: 60 feet with a 90-foot transition. Because the widening of the road is about 200 feet from the facility, it is preferable to have one continuous extra lane where the acceleration lane from the Rose Pavilion becomes part of the deceleration lane onto the facility. He added that the biggest concern is the difficulty to slow down from a lane moving at 45 miles per hour to turn onto the driveway. Commissioner Roberts asked Mr. Bland if they give families of residents a map showing the entrances and exits of the facility so they have the option of going around the corner and coming in through Old Santa Rita Road. Mr. Bland replied that this is clearly shown in the marketing materials. He added, however, that people would continue to use the Santa Rita Road access because that is the facility's main entrance. Planning Commission Minutes Page 10 June 24, 1998