Title
Town Code Amendment Restricting On-Street Parking on Elm Street
PURPOSE: For the Town Council to consider an amendment to the Town Code to restrict on-street parking along Elm Street between West Weaver and Shelton streets to ensure sufficient width for fire apparatus and resident access to private driveways.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning, Fire and Rescue, and Public Works
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan __X_Other
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This agenda item speaks to the need for shared streets to accommodate emergency services, which can be challenging in the older sections of downtown Carrboro where the existing streets are narrow, and homes may have limited driveway space for parking. Regarding the Comprehensive Plan, the Fire Department’s goals and strategies are included in the Public Services & Communications Chapter and include a focus on safety and providing the community with the best possible services. Recommendations in the Transportation and Mobility Chapter speak to traffic calming and parking management.
Information
INFORMATION: Over the last few years, patrons visiting Pizzeria Mercado and the convenience store associated with the Marathon gas station have increasingly been parking along Elm Street from the intersection with West Weaver Street toward East Poplar Street. Elm Street has a 30-foot right-of-way, but the pavement width becomes more narrow (approximately 18-feet) as the street transitions from commercial uses to residential uses beginning just north of the Marathon property and Town staff have received calls from residents having difficulty maneuvering in and out of their driveways. Fire apparatus also has limited access during those times when vehicles are parked on the street.
Staff discussed on-street parking along Elm Street at the March 13th and May 8th Traffic and Parking Committee meetings and recommended prohibiting parking on the east side of Elm entirely (the side with the sidewalk) and restricting parking on the west side to the southern section of the street where the pavement is wider-- from Weaver Street to the point just north of the Marathan property.
Provisions relating to on-street parking are discussed in Chapter 6 of the Town Code, Article IV (Chapter-6---Motor-Vehicles-and-Traffic-PDF <https://www.carrboronc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/102/Chapter-6---Motor-Vehicles-and-Traffic-PDF?bidId=>). A draft amendment to the Town Code has been prepared (Attachment A). If adopted, a new Subsection 6-19(b)(1)(zz) would be added, prohibiting on-street parking on the east side of the Elm Street and limiting on-street parking on the west side of the intersection with Weaver Street to a certain point a little more than 200 linear feet north. No parking would be allowed on the west side of the street beyond that point.
Staff distributed informational doorknob hangers to alert residents along the street of the proposed Town Code amendment and of the Town Council meeting(s) when the matter has been scheduled for consideration. On May 28th, Town staff met with eight neighbors to discuss the proposed amendment and respond to feedback.
Residents suggested a couple additional options (2 & 3) to draft Town Code amendment with an interest in retaining some on-street parking for guests and/or service needs:
2. Allowing on-street parking along the west side of the street (the side without the sidewalk), and/or
3. Allowing on-street parking along the west side of the northern segment from East Poplar to Shelton.
The staff recommendation at this time is to proceed with the proposed Town Code amendment as originally drafted (Option 1) due to the safety concerns associated with emergency response/Fire Department access as noted below.
• Fire Trucks, including all projecting mirrors and equipment are approximately 10-feet wide, and need additional space on either side to maneuver; the Fire Code requires 20-feet of unobstructed clearance.
• The parking dimensions outlined in Section 15-293 of the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) include: 8.5 feet (W) by 18 feet (L) for regular spaces and 9.5 feet (W) by 21 feet (L) for parallel spaces.
• The existing commercial uses at the south end of the street, combined with the tendency for Farmers Market patrons to use Elm Street for overflow parking creates a unique situation from other residential streets in the neighborhood.
• The Town Code includes other restrictions for parking based on road width, proximity to an intersection, fire hydrant, driveway, etc. would limit the feasibility of creating meaningful on-street parking spaces with options 2 & 3.
• Once codified in the Town Code, no parking signs can be installed, the public made aware of the restriction and the Police can enforce.
It should be noted that the preparation of the new unified development ordinance (UDO) will include an evaluation of the street standards.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There are minimal staff impacts associated with updating the Town Code and fabricating and installing no-parking signs.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council adopt the draft Town Code amendment (Option 1) as provided in Attachment A.
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