HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 06/26/1995 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
JUNE 26,1995
PRESENT: PAUL MANN TOM BRUBAKER
JIM BENNETT ED WHITE
TIM CLARK JOHN BOND
DON WICKSTROM
Future Road Extension of 100th Avenue & SE 244th St.
Wickstrom stated that Council received a petition from the property owners regarding an
extension of 100th Ave to SE 240th from SE 244th St. Council referred this to the Public
Works Committee. Wickstrom said that at this point in time, there are no improvements
planned at this time for 100th Ave between SE 240th & SE 244th. �He said there is a plat
('Top of the Hill") adjacent to 244th; east of 100th that is being developed He noted that
Council has approved that plat and also approved its density from 7200 sq. ft lots down
to 5000 sq ft lots. The developer is doing their frontage improvement as a condition of
development of that plat. They are improving their frontage on SE 244th which then will
open SE 244th between 100th Ave & 104th (Benson). Wickstrom said they are also
required to construct a trail along the original alignment of 100th Ave from SE 244th north
to the end of the road adjacent to the East Hill Elementary School. Wickstrom said that
roads in this particular area are not something that we have" in the works" that we are
pursuing. They are developer oriented built type roads - as the property develops, they
build their frontage and the road gets built accordingly. Wickstrom said that 100th Ave
is an important north/south residential collector arterial. This particular pocket south of
240th and north of 248th, east of 94th and west of 104th is one of the highest density
single family residential areas in Kent. This is one of the areas chosen in the Comp Plan
to have high density single family residential lots. We need roads for good access thru the
area. 100th Ave is in our Comp Plan as a non-motorized route meaning there will be
bicycle lanes built in conjunction with that road.
Wickstrom said that right now there is no Committee action that will open the road. It will
be dependent upon the property owner that abuts the unimproved right-of-way. We
haven't had any inquiries from that property owner about development so we cannot
predict when this will happen. Wickstrom explained that this would follow the plat process
which involves a Hearing Examiner's determination; they hold a public hearing; we
determine conditions to be put on the development of the plat; those conditions are
1
reviewed and are made public at that meeting; at that time the Hearing Examiner takes \`
comments from all citizens. Once the Examiner makes a recommendation on the plat '
conditions, those plat conditions are then approved by Council at a formal meeting.
Wickstrom said that there are opportunities for citizens within the area to comment - they
are notified if they are within 200 feet of that development. Wickstrom said what we are
concerned about is, by not extending 100th to 240th this means all the traffic from this high
density area will go thru the other neighborhood streets or, force them thru congested
arterial intersections which could potentially cause safety problems.
Wickstrom stated that Public Works does not support this petition at this time mainly
because we see this area zoned as a high density single family residential area. He noted
the following points:
The extension would relieve other neighborhood streets from unnecessary traffic
burdens associated with eventual full development of this.
The extension would add unnecessary congestion to some of our key intersections
in this vicinity which could create some safety issues.
100th Ave SE has been and is identified as a neighborhood collector arterial with
the intent of tying 240th to 248th which are both minor arterials.
100th Ave SE is also classified as a primary route for non-motorized facilities in the
City's Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Over the past seven years as that area has
developed, 100th Ave has been developed as a collector arterial with the necessary width
and curb, gutter and sidewalks accordingly.
Lastly, we do have a Neighborhood Traffic Control Program that if the concerns of
the citizens raised do occur, we have a program in place to try to resolve those issues.
Wickstrom stated that this is the background on this issue relating to engineering.
Wickstrom again reiterated that the only thing happening on 100th Ave now, is the
construction of a path from 244th to the end of the existing road which is at the south
property line of the East Hill Elementary School. He said that Council could take action
now and say 100th Ave can never be opened or Council could wait until a plat is
developed adjacent to it.
At this time Mann requested that the memorandum submitted by Wickstrom to the
Committee be distributed to the interested parties at the meeting. Mann then opened the
meeting to questions from the citizens.
The property owners in attendance expressed their concerns with the extension of 100th
Ave noting that they had moved into a quiet residential neighborhood and the increase in
traffic on 100th Ave would be a detriment. They also expressed concerns for their children
2
walking to the East Hill Elementary School.
Wickstrom again went over the requirements of a plat being developed in their
neighborhood.
In response to a question from the audience regarding the criteria fc ,,#oad improvements,
Wickstrom said a developer needs to widen the south half of the road in order to handle
a lane of traffic. Regarding S. 244th St. -Wickstrom said that S. 2441his a condition of the
plat. The developer needs to complete those conditions in order tOU Id. Right now it is
being improved to the east boundary line of Canterbury. He'uvill have to construct
transitions on the south side of his north piece so that the traffic will t1oW thru there without
causing safety issues.
Ed White stated we really don't have many options available for futaft roads in the area.
If we cut people off, we would be committed to impacting roadways,,°tt are not designed
for that type of traffic. There would be a limitation on emergency veNde response as well
as severely curtailing the development potential on the property.
Tim Clark asked if there was a way to design S. 244th so it can provide access without
ever requiring 100th Ave to be extended. Wickstrom stated that designing it is not the
problem; the issue is how it fits into the overall traffic grid for the city. Everything to the
south has been developed to fit that-all the improvements down to 24$th have been built
and were predicated upon that extension thru there. y
Mann asked if something could be done regarding, what he feels is a mis-communication
issue between the public and city response to questions. Wickstrom stated that when we
are dealing with employees who are apt to change positions and without the same
employee, they may not have gathered the full knowledge of what's happening. However,
now we do have a Comprehensive Plan under the Growth Management which does
identify the major arterials. Clark asked about a "check off system". Mann asked if there
was a way thru the city's computer network where the inform loq could accessed.
Wickstrom stated that we are not yet that sophisticated with our cow,network system
and to do so will take considerable manpower.
Committee requested that the 100th Ave extension item be brought,back to the July 10th
Committee meeting for further discussion .
LID 330 SEGREGATION ASSESSMENT#6
Wickstrom explained that this property is in Van Doren's Landing and we need to adjust
the boundary to segregate the properties.
3
Committee unanimously recommended adoption of Resolution # for the a
segregation of Assessment#6 in LID 330.
METRICQM. INC.
Brubaker explained that this system works on an FCC unlicensed frequency and it creates
a grid network system which allows portable,computers to communicate with each other
without using a telephone line. Brubaker asked the Committee for authorization to enter
into a franchise agreement with a nominal one time fee; probably no franchise fee after
that; a franchise for a term of 5 years renewable for an additional 5 years. Metricom's
representative stated that they are offering a reduced rate for city access to the cities
where they have facilities in place.
Committee unanimously recommended that the Metricom Inc Franchise Ordinance be
presented for a first reading at the next Council meeting.
Meeting adjourned: 5:30 p.m.
4