TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Quality Services for a Quality Community

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1 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Quality Services for a Quality Community MEMBERS John Swords, Chair Rory Neuner, Vice Chair Thomas Baumann Erich Ditschman Andy Draheim Troy Fassbender Daphne O'Regan Diana Twede City Council Liaison Shanna Draheim Staff Liaison Steven Roach (517) City of East Lansing 1800 E. State Road East Lansing, MI (517) MEETING MINUTES March 20, :00 P.M. 54-B District Courtroom Linden Street East Lansing, MI ROLL CALL: Commissioners present: John Swords, Rory Neuner, Thomas Baumann, Andy Draheim, Troy Fassbender, Daphne O'Regan, Diana Twede Commissioners absent: Erich Ditschman APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Agenda approved unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 27, 2017: Minutes approved unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE: Caleb Lucas, MSU PhD student forwarded an requesting that the Commission support the Downtown Lifestyle District proposal. Mr. Lucas feels the project is a great opportunity to expand and improve the downtown and an important step in attracting public to the downtown area. COMMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE COMMISSION: None AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA TOPICS: Erik Altmann, City Council member Mr. Altmann addressed a couple of amendments to the residential permit parking (RPP) ordinance. Following the adoption of the recent RPP in the Chesterfield Hills Neighborhood, concerns were raised regarding the hassle of obtaining temporary permits and Council tried to be responsive and address this concern. He added the ordinance was changed so a stack of temporary permits could be obtained by residents to cut down on the number of trips to/from City Hall. Secondly, Council is looking into the possible increase in the number of guest permits available to residents. The current ordinance and requirements is a great tool to have in areas where traffic parking may be an issue.

2 BUSINESS AGENDA DISCUSSION OF DOWNTOWN LIFESTYLE DISTRICT TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY Roach stated the proposed development of Lot 1, referred to as the Downtown Lifestyle District would consist of 300 units of market rate apartments, 100 units of age 55 and older apartments, 22,000 square feet of anchor retail and 24,000 square feet of specialty retail, in addition to a 600 stall parking garage. The garage would service the development and replace existing on site public parking. The proposed build out date is the spring of The traffic study, completed by Kimley Horn of Michigan, Inc., acknowledged that the scale of the development would add approximately 2,500 new trips to the surrounding street network. Upon review of the traffic Synchro files, all studied intersections are expected to experience negligible increases in traffic congestion created by the development. The consultant did not recommend any new mitigation measures to the surrounding area. Bicycle improvements with the project include the addition of bike lanes on Albert Ave. between Abbot Rd. and Grove St., as well as several bicycle parking areas throughout the development. Roach added that the City has contacted and discussed with the consultant the need of volume balancing of turning movement data and peak hour factor corrections as both will have an impact on the analysis results of the intersections. Roach closed by stating that the consultant would re-evaluate the proximity of the site drive approach in relation to the Abbot/Albert intersection and that the traffic study be reviewed by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Twede stated changes to the turning movement capability at the Grand River/MAC intersection could help alleviate some of the congestion in the surrounding area. Roach stated there were no plans at this time to revise the turning movements at this intersection. MDOT will be reviewing the study and this request can be forwarded. O'Regan commented on the analysis as it pertained to the Park District development and traffic patterns and how the projection of pedestrian trip data was determined with this study. Roach stated the study took into account the proposed surrounding developments of the Park District project along with the 300 Grand River development. Analysis from each of the traffic studies was included in this study. Roach introduced Tim Sjogren of Kimley Horn, who was available for comments pertaining to this project and the TIS. Sjogren stated pedestrian analysis was incorporated into the study based on a cycle basis. How you determine the number is based on the type of development and the number of trips that can be expected based on the modeling of the traffic software. Baumann asked for comments in regards to the drive approach proximity to the Abbot/Albert intersection and analysis brought forward from the third party review completed by DLZ. City of East Lansing Transportation Commission Minutes 4/18/2017 Page 2 of 6

3 Sjogren stated the development includes the placement of wider sidewalk and appropriate traffic calming measures as motorists exit the parking garage. Draheim stated as a community, how are we determining the availability of parking in the downtown area, so we are avoiding the issue of over development and unnecessary garage space. Neuner stated the Parking Requirements Committee has discussed parking requirements for the commercial use areas of downtown. A recommendation was previously provided by the committee to cut the number of parking space requirements in half. Current requirements of parking availability has been a factor of the number of beds to be provided in housing projects. The item is before Council, but it's unknown if there has been any consideration at this time. Twede agreed the amount of parking and proposed parking for downtown is high in numbers. Swords suggested any recommendations on this TIS should include language and consideration of the recommendations by the Parking Requirements Committee. Draheim forwarded a motion to approve the Downtown Lifestyle District Traffic Impact Study as presented with the qualifications and additional items of review raised by Staff and the DLZ third party review. The following concerns are a point of emphasis: the perceived overabundance in the number of parking spaces and garages downtown, cut through traffic concerns to Delta Street that originate from the Abbot Road/Albert Avenue intersection and potential turning movement conflicts around the site with the proposed drive approach location given the proximity to the Abbot and Albert intersection. Twede Seconded. Vote 7-0, motion approved unanimously. DISCUSSION OF THE CRESENWOOD ROAD RPP PETITION IN THE CHESTERFIELD HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD Roach summarized the process followed to date, having received the petition for Cresenwood Road in December 2016 and having gone through the public hearing process at the Transportation Commission level on January 23, A recommendation was provided by the Commission to City Council, who held their public hearing on this item on February 28, During this meeting, this item was not approved and sent back to the Transportation Commission by City Council for further discussion. The motion from the Commission lacked specific criteria consistent with Ordinance 1370, Sec , subsection 10. Swords opened the floor to public comment. City of East Lansing Transportation Commission Minutes 4/18/2017 Page 3 of 6

4 Peter Foster-Fishman, 1046 Cresenwood Road Mr. Foster-Fishman spoke on the changes to the original ordinance and appreciates the revised Ordinance 1370, which allows residents to request an amendment to areas of the RPP. He added that 70% of the residents on the block of Cresenwood between Kensington and Chesterfield Parkway signed the petition and are in favor of two hour parking. He closed by adding the issue with having to travel to City Hall whenever passes are needed. No further comments, public comment was closed. Baumann stated the petition submitted met the standards of the ordinance requirements. Part of the overall process outlined in this ordinance does not make sense, based on a percentage of how parking by permit gets placed or removed. This majority process creates an oscillating affect. You have a portion of a street approving subject matter but then another not in favor. The petition followed the standards of the Ordinance 1370 as did the Commission process. Removing limitations of parking in this particular case was not expected to have an adverse effect on the surrounding streets. Roach suggested allowing the City Attorney who was available for comment to clarify the ordinance language for the group, prior to further discussion. Yeadon stated he was available to provide procedural recommendations with regards to Ordinance Once the Commission makes a recommendation with regards to current agenda items, the Commission shall vote. If there is a difference of opinions based on comment heard from the public, the Commission needs to determine what is credible. Yeadon proceeded to specifically read the ordinance language under Sec , subsection 10. Each portion of the ordinance shall be addressed, in regards to a determination whether current parking restrictions are no longer justified for a significant portion of residents, followed by whether or not a plan change will not adversely affect other residents or the intent and purpose of the permit parking area. Based on findings of both these parts of the ordinance, the Commission shall make a recommendation to City Council. This specific language was lacking in the record following the January 23, 2017 Transportation Commission public hearing. O'Regan asked why this is back before the Commission when the previous recommendation backed the requirements of Ordinance This was found to be very upsetting as a group. Yeadon stated the recommendation was not clear and Council could not approve any changes to the RPP. Swords suggested discussing the three points the City Attorney discussed per the ordinance requirements and recommending the item back to City Council. Further discussion among the Commission members followed, that took into account the public comments heard during the public hearing as well as those comments provided by the City Attorney. City of East Lansing Transportation Commission Minutes 4/18/2017 Page 4 of 6

5 Draheim forwarded a motion that the Transportation Commission found that the proposed changes to the Cresenwood Road RPP are no longer justified and that the plan change will not adversely affect other residents or the intent and purpose of the permit parking area. Furthermore, the Transportation Commission recommends City Council approve the proposed RPP changes to Cresenwood Road. Further discussion was held among the Commission members focusing on the public comments heard during the January 23rd public hearing. Based on the vast majority of those who spoke in favor of the petition and the fact that the Brody Complex construction has since been completed, the Commission feels the appropriate recommendation is to approve the Cresenwood Road RPP petition. Twede Seconded. Vote 7-0, motion approved unanimously. DISCUSSION OF THE CHESTERFIELD PARKWAY RPP PETITION IN THE CHESTERFIELD HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD Roach summarized the process followed to date, having received the petition for Chesterfield Parkway in November 2016 and having gone through the public hearing process at the Transportation Commission level on January 23, A recommendation was provided by the Commission to City Council, who held their public hearing on this item on February 28, During this meeting, this item was not approved and sent back to the Transportation Commission by City Council for further discussion. The motion from the Commission lacked specific criteria consistent with Ordinance 1370, Sec , subsection 10. There was no public comment on this item. Following the explanation of the City Attorney regarding Ordinance 1370, the Commission took the following course of action. Draheim forwarded a motion that the Transportation Commission found that the proposed removal of the RPP to the block of Chesterfield Parkway meets the ordinance requirements and the RPP is no longer justified. The plan change will not adversely affect other residents or the intent and purpose of the permit parking area. Furthermore, the Transportation Commission recommends City Council approve the proposed RPP changes to Chesterfield Parkway. Further discussion was held among the Commission members focusing on the public comments heard during the January 23rd public hearing. Based on the vast majority of those who spoke in favor of the petition and the fact that the Brody Complex construction has since been completed, the Commission feels the appropriate recommendation is to approve the Chesterfield Parkway RPP petition. Neuner Seconded. Vote 7-0, motion approved unanimously. City of East Lansing Transportation Commission Minutes 4/18/2017 Page 5 of 6

6 DISCUSSION OF 2017 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION STRATEGIC PLANNING See attached priority setting list, containing levels 1-4. Discussions were held among the Commission members regarding prioritization and combing some of the items listed. Draheim stated he will compile comments and revise this document, to further discuss next month. No further action was taken. STAFF UPDATE Roach stated street and sidewalk project development is ongoing. Areas of street improvements will be within the Glencairn Neighborhood and sidewalk placement on Lake Lansing Road, Abbot Road and Coleman Road. COMMISSION MEMBER CONCERNS Swords asked about paint markings found on the streets of the Chesterfield Hills Neighborhood. Roach stated there is ongoing assessment work of the sewer lines within portions of the neighborhood. The paint marks are miss dig locations of existing utilities for the contractor to follow while in the field. ITEMS FOR THE APRIL 17, 2017 MEETING: Discussion of 2017 Transportation Commission strategic planning There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 P.M. JOHN SWORDS, CHAIR STEVEN ROACH, SECRETARY City of East Lansing Transportation Commission Minutes 4/18/2017 Page 6 of 6