HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Letter dated October 27, 1997 from Mark Jensen, concerns � L
719N L
October 27, 1997
Dear Mayor Larry Curtis, CLERK
CITY OF AMES,IOWA
I support the down zoning to R-2 of the three half blocks along Lincoln Way between Oak and
Russell. Building multi-unit apartments in this area would adversely impact the surrounding
neighborhood. My concerns include limited street parking, overuse of unimproved alleys, and the
specific traffic patterns of this area.
STREET PARKING On street parking in this area is already in short supply on the side streets of
Oak, Maple, Hazel and Russell. The parking on these streets is being used by currant residents
because they don't have enough space on their property to park. If additional housing is added to
this neighborhood, the number of cars needing a place to park is quickly going to exceed the
capacity of our parking. Multiple unit apartment buildings with three adults each would quickly
use the little available street parking on our side streets. State law allows three unrelated adults to
occupy one housing unit but the parking requirements for housing does not required three parking
spaces per unit. Excess renters' vehicles end up parked on side streets. Due to our present
limited parking on side streets, this will be a problem. Visitors will need to park on the side
streets because visitor parking is not required on-site.
ALLEY PROBLEMS Access to parking areas on the properties in these three half blocks is
limited by a narrow unimproved alley. The graveled area is only about ten feet wide. Three feet
on each side is grass and higher then the gravel area. Passing a car in the alley is a problem.
Large utility poles along the alleys are inside the alley bounders of 16 feet. Existing garages along
the alleys are blind spots for traffic. The houses and trees limit visibility for pedestrians and other
cars at alley entrances. The alleys are unimproved, narrow, and minimally maintained and are not
designed for usage by the number of cars a higher density housing projects would add to their
existing usage. Snow removal is a problem. Alley snow removal has the same priority as bike
paths.
NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC PATTERNS The neighborhood has no streets opening to the
East and west, one to the North, and the six street intersections on Lincolnway. This limits the
entry and egress of traffic to the neighborhood. Vehicles going to the properties along
Lincolnway must travel through the neighborhood streets and alley to reach these properties.
They can't go there directly from Lincolnway or sixth street. The DOT has not yet finished the
remodeling on the old St. Cecila building. There are one hundred and twenty-five parking places
that will be used by the DOT staff on that site when remodeling is finished. I believe this will
effect traffic when completed. This lot will not be useful for overflow parking.
Attached is a survey of parking for the three half blocks and adjacent streets. The areas with the
most rentals have the most cars. Cars associated with rentals on Lincoln Way can be found on
side streets, noted in bold. The larger the rental, the more cars associated with it.
Sincerely,
Mark Jensen, 1107 N2nd
Summary of Parking Survey
By Mark Jensen, 1107 N 2°
October 26, 1997
First block of Street North of Oak Maple Hazel Russell
Lincoln Way Sin le side Two sides Single side Two sides
#Vehicles regularly parking on 3 6 9 7
this block
#Vehicles parking once 2 5 11 8
Total#Vehicles using this 5 11 20 15
block for parking
The number of vehicles using the unimproved alley to access parking on properties on the
South half of the 1000 block of Lincoln Way
1007 Lincoln Way 12 regular 1 visitor 13 total 8 plex apartment
1021 Lincoln Way 5 regular 0 visitor 5 total
17 regular 1 visitor 18 Total
The number of vehicles using the unimproved alley to access parking on properties on the
South half of the 1100 block of Lincoln Way
109 Maple 3 regular 0 visitor 3 total
1107 Lincoln Way 2 regular 0 visitor 2 total
1111 Lincoln Way 1 regular 2 visitor 3 total
1117 Lincoln Way 2 regular 0 visitor 2 total
1121 Lincoln Way 5 regular 2 visitor 7 total
108 Hazel 2 regular 2 visitor 4 total
15 regular 6 visitor 21 Total
The number of vehicles using the unimproved alley to access parking on properties on the
South half of the 1200 block of Lincoln Way
1207 Lincoln Way 3 regular 0 visitor 3 total
1211 Lincoln Way 7 regular 4 visitor 11 total 6 plex apartment
1217 Lincoln Way 4 regular 1 visitor 5 total
1021 Lincoln W4y 2 regular 0 visitor 2 total
16 regular 5 visitor 21 Total
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