TITLE: Title
Consideration of Town Code Amendments Relating to Bike Lanes and On-Street Parking
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Board of Aldermen to consider four amendments to the Town Code relating to bike lanes and on-street parking.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Christina Moon, 919-918-7325, cmoon@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:cmoon@townofcarrboro.org>; Patricia McGuire, 919-918-7327, pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org>
INFORMATION: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Board of Aldermen to consider four amendments to provisions of Chapter 6 of the Town Code - Motor Vehicles and Traffic. The item was on the agenda for March 7th, but the Board postponed discussion at the request of a number of residents who were unable to attend the meeting since it coincided with spring break.
All four amendments were discussed in November 2016 by the Traffic and Parking Committee, the interdepartmental staff workgroup consisting of representatives from the Public Works, Police, Fire, Economic and Community Development and Planning departments. Staff has mailed notice to residents and property owners living within 100 feet of the road segments under consideration. Citizen response to the mailing, where applicable, is provided in italics after the brief description of the proposed amendment below.
Section 6-19(b)(q) - Parking Restrictions along Cobb Street
Provisions in the Town Code currently prohibit on-street parking along the north side of Cobb Street and restrict parking along the south side. Parking along the south side of Cobb is further limited by three existing driveways that are heavily used. The proposed amendment removes the prohibition for parking along a portion of the south side of Cobb Street allowing for some on-street parking along the western end of the street (Attachment A). The change was requested by business owners along Cobb Street. Staff has not received any additional citizen comment relating to this proposal.
Section 6-34(1)(g) - Bike Lanes on Hillsborough Road
Section 6-34 of the Town Code describes the location of bike lanes, five or six-foot, strips along the outside edge of certain roadway segments. Section 6-18(a)(14) of the Town Code prohibits parking in any bikeway referenced in 6-34, (with one noted exception), subject to appropriate signage. The provisions relating to bike lanes along Hillsborough Road currently end at Lorraine Street. The proposed amendment to the Town Code would extend bike lanes along both sides of Hillsborough Road to its intersection with Old Fayetteville Road consistent with the existing pavement markings (Attachment B). The amendment originated in response to a citizen asking whether guest vehicles could be parked in the bike lane on Hillsborough Road near Cates Farm Road, beyond the extent of the bike lanes described in the Town Code and thereby not subject to the standard prohibition for on-street parking along bike lanes. After receiving notice of the proposed amendment, staff received correspondence from two from residents; one requesting clarification, the other to voice support for the amendment.
Section 6-18(c) - Parking Restrictions along Broad Street
On-street parking on Broad Street is currently allowed only on the west side of the street; the existing sidewalk is on the east side. A resident living on the west side of the street has a low picket fence, with a gate that swings out, roughly centered along the front yard. Parking directly in front of the gate limits access to the home. Staff has visited the site, spoken with the property owner and reached out to neighboring residents. Acknowledging that parking is at a premium in the neighborhood, the best option seems to be the placement of a no-parking pavement marking directly in front of the gate-only. No additional prohibitions would be required. Staff has prepared an amendment that prohibits parking in front of the northern half of the gate (right side) (Attachment C). This approach leaves about fourteen feet between the gate opening and the driveway, slightly smaller than the Town’s compact parking space requirement of 15 feet by 8 feet, but larger than the 11 feet by 8 feet, which would have remained if the no parking area included both sides of the gate. At a recent information drop-in session, residents reported their concerted effort not to block their neighbor’s gate and expressed a preference for as little impact to existing on-street parking as possible (Attachment F)
Sections 6-18(a)(14), 6-19(b)(5), and 6-34(1)(j) - Bike Lanes on Pathway Drive
The purpose of this amendment is to update the Town Code provisions relating to Pathway Drive and to clarify that while bike lanes will remain in place, on-street parking is allowed on Pathway Drive except for a couple of hours in the morning and evening, Monday through Friday (Attachment D). Section 6-34 of the Town Code describes the location of bike lanes; Section 6-19 identifies the locations where on-street parking is permitted. The proposed Town Code amendment for Section 6-34(1)(j) adds the words “to its eastern terminus” at the end of the sentence. The additional language clarifies that the provisions for bike lanes extend along both sides of Pathway Drive from Cates Farm Road to its eastern end. The proposed amendment to Section 6-19(b)(5) makes it clear that on-street parking is allowed in the bike lanes along the same segment of road, except during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This is the existing exception to the no parking in bike lanes regulation provided for in 6-18(a)(14)--allowing on-street parking on Pathway Drive outside of the peak morning and evening commuting times. The proposed amendment also corrects the reference in 6-18(a)(14) from 6-34(j) to 6-34(1)(j). Staff has received correspondence from residents along Pathway Drive requesting the removal of the bike lanes to provide for on-street parking (Attachment E). The amendment clarifies the existing exception: on-street parking is allowed on Pathway Drive except during peak commuting times Monday through Friday. Bike lanes are required as part of the road classification standards for the subdivision approval, and contribute to the Town’s total mileage of bike lanes-bicycle facilities are an important element toward the Town becoming a gold level Bicycle Friendly Community.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: Adopting the amendments would involve some cost and time for Public Works staff to install new signage and pavement markings.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board of Aldermen consider the draft amendments provided in Attachments A through D.