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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200083 South Broadway Hotel Correspondance (2) Department of Public Safety Traffic Maintenance Division January 11th, 2021 To: Susan Barden, Principle Planner From: Andrew Krupski, Traffic Maintenance Manager RE: APP. #20200083 SOUTH BROADWAY HOTEL, 176 South Broadway The following observations and comments are offered regarding the most recent parking lot design change submission by the Project Applicant, and other Site Plan considerations. The Department Staff have also reviewed the Planning Board meeting video date February 4, 2021 for a better understanding of the project issues. We understand that the Project Developer is offering an alternative design for the proposed parking lot in terms of the Gurtler Lane driveway connection, due to issues with the proposed closing and conveyance of the unnamed alley that is being identified as Thirsty Owl Alley. The alternate plan calls for: 1. Leaving the Thirsty Owl Alley as it currently exists 2. Removes the two proposed vehicle driveway connections between the Thirsty Owl Alley and the hotel project parking lot 3. Removes the proposed widening of Gurtler Lane,which was intended to accommodate two- way traffic between the site driveway and Lincoln Avenue 4. Reduces the proposed Gurtler Lane Driveway connection to a one lane driveway that will be gated off for limited access during special situation. It is our understanding that during predesign discussions the Planning Department indicated a desire to create a street connection for Todd Street,which currently dead ends at a private driveway.This brought about the previous parking lot design and a Public Access Easement need. During the discussion phase, the concept of using the Thirsty Owl Alley to connect between the hotel parking lot and Lincoln Avenue was floated; however this concept was not supported by the Department of Public Safety due to the alley's lack of alignment with Whitney Place,which led to the proposed use of Gurtler Lane. What is unclear is how the recent design change affects the desire to create a connection between Todd Street and Lincoln Avenue, or the need for the Public Access Easement? It is our understanding that the project traffic engineering firm CME recommended the driveway connection with Gurtler Lane and included the proposed driveway in their project traffic impact analysis. We believe the proposed design change requires a letter on file from CME that amends their original recommendation and provides their assessment of how this change affects their findings. The Traffic Department does not believe additional traffic analysis is required as the anticipated vehicle trip generation is well below the 100 trips threshold that would require traffic analysis of the adjacent streets and intersections, however that assessment should be made by the applicant's engineer. In terms of the proposed changes to the parking lot design, we are primarily concerned with the Gurtler Lane driveway connection.The Department Staff fully supports the need for two access driveways, even if one of the driveways is gate controlled for special needs only. This is especially essential should there be a need to close the main driveway, such as a need to close Todd Street. The Department is however concerned with the proposed design of the gated driveway connecting to Gurtler Lane, which the Property Owner and not the City will control when this gate is opened. Because the Property Owner can open the gate at will, the section of Gurtler Lane between Lincoln Avenue and the hotel driveway as well as the driveway itself need to be improved to safely accommodate two-way traffic and provide any needed traffic controls, such as stop signs. Please note; the previous design that included the Todd Street connection could potentially foster an undesirable condition of allowing cut-through-traffic by motorist trying to avoid the South Broadway northbound traffic delay. This cut-through-traffic would also likely travel at unacceptable speed through the parking lot in an effort to make up for lost time experienced on South Broadway.This type of situation has been an ongoing problem for the driveway on the south side of the Solon and the Thirsty Owl Alley. Other items 1. During the February 4th meeting the Planning Board discussed the marked on-street parking spaces along the north side of Todd Street and the Public Safety Department comments.The Staff comments stated that the Department does not maintain on-street parking pavement markings with the exception of Accessible Parking Spaces and Load Zones, and therefore it makes little sense to require Developers install these markings if the City is not going to maintain them.The realty is the Department has very limited budget resources and staffing to maintain all of the pavement markings in the city and cannot maintain the on-street parking pavement markings the Planning Board is requiring Developers install. The projects Design Representative indicated that these pavement markings are somehow essential to the hotel operations, and suggested that the Property Owner enter into a Maintenance Agreement with the City to maintain the pavement markings. Such an agreement would be acceptable. A copy of the Maintenance Agreement needs to be provided to the Department of Public Safety. It should be understood that the proposed Bulb-out pavement markings in these areas are not enforceable should a vehicle park on them.These restricted areas need to include a NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER sign with arrow pointing in the direction of the restriction. 2. The proposed traffic signs for the One-way driveway that exits onto Todd Street is not consistent with the MUTCD requirements section 26.40 for a Tee type intersection. The use of DO NOT ENTER signs are intended for when traffic is directly facing the one-way street or as a supplemental sign for the required ONE WAY signs. 3. Under the list of recommendation noted in the project Traffic Study Report, the Engineer recommends that a STATE LAW DO NOT BLOCK SIDE ROAD NYR9-4 sign be installed on South Broadway facing northbound traffic before Todd Street. This recommended sign does not appear to have been included on the Site Plan.