Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-22 08-315 ORDER� ft 08 315 Date: September 22, 2008 Item/Subject: Order, Authorizing Acceptance of Easement from Stlllridge, I.I.C. for KRtredge Road Connector. Responsible Department: Engineering In 1998, the City Council approved and placed on the OfHdal Clty Map a proposed relocation of the lowerend of Kittredge Road. This action was taken in anticipation of an extension of Hogan Road and W avoid creation of a five way Intersection. As the Council is aware, the Hogan Road E nsion will be constructed this year. The estimated cost W construct the Kittredge Road Extension is in Me order of $500,000 W ;600,000. Since traffic volumes on Kittredge Road are very low and expected W remain so in the foreseeable future, an alternative appmach Is recommended which involves an easement through an existing developmentowned by Stfiridge,LLC. Under this alternative, theatyvrould make some she Improvementscositng approdmately$70,000 In exchange for an easement through the site which would provide ter public access, use, and travel between Shclwater Avenue and Ktmedge Road. Easements would be retained on the portion of Kittredge Road to be discontinued W accommodate public milifes and pedestrian/bicycle access. L^,���.,..� U Department Head Recommend approval as dues Transportation and Infrastructure. City Manager Assotla[ed IMermation: m p(aan wn Wt'S cwt Budget Approval: Fifurce Director Lepel Approval: C Solidtor Introduced for Passage _ First Reading Page _ a_ Referral (TITLE.) Order, Authorizing Acceptance of Easement from Stiliridge, LLC far Kittredge Road Connector. By the C&y Cwnd/ofthe pry of Hanyor ORDERED, THAT, the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept an easement from Stillridge, LLC to provide for public access, use, and travel between Stillwater Avenue and Kittredge Road, said easement to be in a final form as approved by the City Solicitor or Assistant City Solicitor. 08 315 n,�cgoea ro coe..essor atevchesse septmber iz, zaoe CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Order, Authorizing Acceptance of Easement from Stiliridge, LLC far Kittredge Road Connector. By the C&y Cwnd/ofthe pry of Hanyor ORDERED, THAT, the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept an easement from Stillridge, LLC to provide for public access, use, and travel between Stillwater Avenue and Kittredge Road, said easement to be in a final form as approved by the City Solicitor or Assistant City Solicitor. m CITY COOgCIL f September 22. 2808 Mots Nide and Seconded for pa. a' ge P7; CITT "K of Easement from Stilltidge, LLC for Kittredge Mlgo W Coss ry_ I C 1 / ' e oE�E�aaxExe /_ 1� 08 �MEHl FOR �' [yu CONNECnONN 3' � N/r Pe DEF WtuM A N� KR E6GE RMOOONNE ON PR EM ° Q- 08 315 MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: James D. Ring, Director - Infrastructure and Development Support SUBJECT: Relocation of lower End of Kittredge Road DATE: September 17, 2008 The City has anbapated an extension of Hogan Road far many years and a proposed location has been shown on the Official City Map since 1998. As you know, construction of the Hogan Road Extension will be done this fail. In conjunction with the Hogan Road Extension, it will also be necessary to relocate or reroute the lower end of Kittredge Road to avoid creating a five way intersection at a very busy location. All of this needs to be accomplished prior to the new WalMart opening early next summer. In 1998, a proposed location for rerouting the lower end of Kittredge Road was also added to the Official City Map. This would involve discontinuance of several hundred feet of the existing Kittredge Road right-of-way northerly from Stillwater Avenue. It would also require acquisition of new right-of-way and construction of approximately 700 feet of new roadway in an easterly direction to intersect with Stillwater Avenue several hundred feet northeasterly of Hogan Road. Based on our recent experience with the Hogan Road Extension the cost to accomplish this would likely be in the order of $500,000 to $600,000 or more. The relocation/rerouting of Kittredge Road previously envisioned and outlined above represents a significant expenditure to accommodate the very light baffic volumes on Kittredge Road. For this reason, I have been exploring other possible ways W accommodate needs in a more cost effective way. This can be tion by securing a public easement to allow traffic now using Kittredge Road to travel through the existing commercial development owned by Stillndge, LLC. This development is located between Stillwater Avenue and Kittredge Road and Is currently occupled by the Sunrise Home and Hearth store. Its current access is on Stillwater Avenue and the existing parking lot extends nearly to Kittredge Road. While an easement to allow public travel through an existing development is a bit unconventional, it is not unprecedented. The same situation exists at the Shaw's Supermarket on Main Street. At that location, a section of Patten Street was discontinued and an easement was provided to allow traffic to pass through the site. The traffic volume generated by Shaws and the through traffic at that site are both considerably higher than at the Stillrldge/Kittredge Road laabon. I would also note that the recently — approved Widewaters (Home Depot) and WalMart projects both have easements to allow passage of through traffic and allow connectivity with adjacent parcels. I8 315 A public street right-of-way has three functions: To allow vehicular travel To allow pedestrian/bicycle travel To accommodate installation and maintenance of public utilities Upon discontinuance of the lower section of Kittredge Road we on retain an easement to accommodate public utility needs, as is frequently done when a street is discontinued. We can also retain an easement to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle travel. It Is always desirable to separate these movements from vehicular traffic if possible. Such an easement would also create a more direct route for users using the bicycle/pedestrian facility on Stillwater Avenue and headed to/from the City forest and other destinations on outer Kittredge Road. Accommodation of utility, bicycle, and pedestrian needs through the discontinuance process leaves only the need to provide for vehicular traffic. This can be accommodated by securing a public easement through the Shclddge she. As previously noted, traffic volume on Kittredge Road is very light. Recent observations indicate peak hour traffic volume to be on the order of 30 vehicles or perhaps slightly more. About a year ago I contacted Tom Ellis, who is the sole owner of Stillridge, LLC., to discuss the concept of a public easement through his site. Mr. Ellis was very receptive to the concept and has stated his Interest in helping the City on numerous occasions. In the ensuing months, we have developed agreement on an approach to implement the easement concept to allow traffic to pass through the Stillridge site between Stillwater Avenue and Kittredge Road. In exchange for the easement, the City would agree to do the following: 1) Reconfigure the existing entrance on Stillwater Avenue to provide better alignment with a public easement/travel route thmugh the southerly part of the existing parking lot (furthest away from the building). 2) Construct a new entrance connecting with Kittredge Road. 3) Overlay the lower half of the existing parking lot pavement, which includes the easement area. 4) Widen the southerly edge of the parking lot a few feet and reconfigure the existing parking layout slightly to provide no net loss of spaces. 5) Install some landscaping and Islands that have not yet been done. 6) Minor utility relocations to accommodate the revised parking layout. 7) Pay the impact fee associated with a proposed addition to his existing building. I would note that Mr. Ellis previously obtained site plan approval for this addition but it has lapsed — he will be resubmitting. The impact fee for the addition will need to be paid prior to its construction. 09 315 The estimated cost for items 1) through 6) is approximately $62,000 and the impact fee referenced in Item 7) is about $8,000, meaning the total cost to the City would be in the vicinity of $70,000. The City would maintain the area within the public easement, just as we would for a normal city street. Attached is a map showing the location of the proposed public easement connection, discontinuance of a portion of Kittredge Road, and the original Kittredge Road Relocation as proposed on the Official City Map. The proposed public easement outlined above would provide considerable savings - in the order of $500,000 on the short term. While traffic volumes should remain light on Kittredge Road for the foreseeable future and can be accommodated by the easement its potentially possible that volumes could become much greater at some point For that reason, I would recommend that the Kittredge Road Relocation shown on the Official City Map remain In place. However, if traffic volumes increase significantly in the future, it will be due to additional development. Any such development would be required to participate in the test: of a relocation of Kittredge Road, thereby reducing any future cost to the City compared to undertaking such a project now. In addition W flnanclal benefits associated vMh the easement concept, there are also environmental benefits. Relocation of Kittredge Road as shown on the Official Qty Map could produce some significant wetland impacts. Additionally, the easement approach, In conjunction with discontinuance of a section of Kittredge Road, would result in a net reduction of impervious area. This location iswithin the Penjajawoc Watershed, which is currently designated as impaired with respect to water quality. Avoidance of wetland impacts and reduction of impervious area are beneficial to the watershed. The proposed conveyance of a public easement and associated site changes will require Planning Hoard approval of a revised site plan for the Stillridge Development. The Council will consider an Order authoring acceptance of a public easement from Stillridge, which essentially endorses the proposed approach. The actual conveyance of the easement would not occur until the revised site plan Is approved. NMI a a i/ SBLLRIDGE. LCC DEW,ao.EM o � 8 PBOFWFD ��. WPKTREWEMMLL1 v PIWO0: BED PUBM EMEW FOR �(RIREDOE RORD�ECTpR aw�:�