HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Council Action form dated March 4, 1997 Item # C,726
Date: March 4 , 1997
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: PARKING PROHIBITIONS ON CRYSTAL STREET
BACKGROUND:
In January, City staff was contacted by property owners along Crystal Street to assist with
alleviating the parking problem on the street. It has been reported that the on-street
parking along both sides of Crystal Street east of Opal Drive is heavily utilized, especially
during night time periods. According to complainants, this created problems since it
restricted the available street width for traffic movements. One of the most mentioned
problem locations was the curve along Crystal Street east of Opal Drive. With the parking
along both sides of streets, residents report that there was a lack of maneuvering width to
turn safely since there was only width for a one-lane flow. Also, they have reported that
this is a hazardous location when adverse street conditions are present (ice/snow), with or
without parking. On at least two occasions during the past few months, motorists have lost
control around the curve and have driven into yards.
After reviewing the situation, staff believes that parking prohibitions should be designated
along both sides of Crystal Street at curve locations, and along one side of the street at
other locations to improve safety. This would provide adequate width on Crystal Street for
a two-way flow, though still continue to maintain on-street parking areas for residential use.
After reviewing the street and area development, it was believed that parking prohibitions
should be designated along the north and east sides of Crystal Street. Shown on the
attached diagram are the proposed parking prohibitions.
Parking prohibitions should also be designated on Crystal Street to accommodate the
additional traffic volumes along the street. With the recent Crystal Street construction that
provided a direct connection from South Duff Avenue to Diamond Street, traffic volumes
have increased significantly in the past year. (This provided an alternative access to South
Duff for residents in the Country Gables Addition in this northeast section.) According to
recent counts, the traffic volume on Crystal Street has increased to 1,100 vehicles per day
(vpd). In comparison, residential streets typically have a 300 - 750 vpd. It should be noted
that traffic volumes will increase on Crystal Street since the Country Gables 8th and 9th
Addition are not fully developed.
Proposed parking prohibitions along Crystal Street are also consistent with the City's
practice of designating prohibitions on new City streets. Staff had concluded in a 1993
study that parking prohibitions are necessary on any new subdivision streets that are 27'
and 31' wide. With these widths, parking prohibitions are needed to provide a two-way
traffic flow. With parking present on both sides of the street, the available street width for
traffic is reduced to 15', or one lane of travel. When this parking is present, it not only
creates a hazardous situation for traffic, but also restricts access to emergency vehicles.
CAF - Parking Prohibition - Crystal Street
March 4, 1997
Page 2
In order to evaluate this proposed prohibition, staff notified all property owners along
Crystal Street from South Duff Avenue to Ruby Circle concerning the measure. Of the five
responses received concerning the measure, only one respondent, Morris Greenfield, 319
Crystal Street, opposed the measure. Since he utilizes the on-street parking along the
street, he believed that the prohibition would effectively reduce the number of available
spaces and provide inconveniences. From the responses received before and after the
notices were sent, it is apparent that most residents support this measure. However,
several were uncertain if they wanted to have parking prohibited on the north or south side
of Crystal Street. It was understood that if problems arose, parking changes could be
proposed.
ALTERNATIVES:
1 . Designate parking prohibitions along the north and east sections of Crystal Street
from Duff Avenue to north of Ruby Circle. This measure would also include prohibiting
parking on both sides of Crystal Street along curved sections of the street.
2. Do nothing.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative
number 1 , thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance designating parking
prohibitions along the north and east sections of Crystal Street from Duff Avenue to north
of Ruby Circle. This measure would also include prohibiting parking on both sides of
Crystal Street along curved sections of the street.
COUNCIL ACTION:
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