HomeMy WebLinkAbout31. 12-347 JUNE 26, 2012 12-347 ORDINANCE
FIRST READING
(CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN )
PURPOSE: APPROVE CLOSING A PORTION OF 7TH AVENUE —WEST OF
LILAC STREET
INITIATED BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND VELMEIR (APPLICANT)
(TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS DENIAL)
A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH CREATING SECTION 27A-10.3
OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO STREETS CLOSED TO
THROUGH TRAFFIC.
The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That Section 27A-10.3 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to
the General Requirements is hereby created to read as follows:
SECTION 27A-10.3 STREETS CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC
Bollards or other MUTCD approved traffic control devices shall be installed from the
northerly curb of 7th Avenue at a point 107 feet west of the centerline of Lilac Street,
in a straight line southerly to the southerly curb of 7th Avenue at a point 107 feet
west of the centerline of Lilac Street; and from the northerly curb of 7th Avenue at a
point 16 feet west of the centerline of Lilac Street, in a straight line in a
southeasterly direction to the southerly curb of 7th Avenue where it intersects with
the continuation of the centerline of Lilac Street. Vehicular traffic, excepting
emergency vehicles, shall not cross the above-described obstruction(s) on 7
Avenue. Vehicular traffic shall include automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds,
and the like, but shall not include bicycles, skateboards, and similar transportation
devices.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage and publication; relocation of the intersection of 7th Avenue and Koeller Street;
and installation of the appropriate traffic control devices as approved by the Board of Public
Works.
JUNE 26, 2012 12-347 ORDINANCE
FIRST READING CONT'D
SECTION 3. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh
enacted ordinance#12-XXX APPROVE CLOSING A PORTION OF 7TH AVENUE—WEST
OF LILAC STREET, on July 10, 2012. A new ordinance is created to allow the City to
designate streets closed to through traffic and closes a portion of 7th Avenue west of Lilac
Street to through traffic upon the relocation of the intersection of 7th Avenue with Koeller
Street and the installation of appropriate traffic control devices to prevent vehicular traffic
from using 7th Avenue as a through street between Westfield Street and Koeller Street.
The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215
Church Avenue and through the City's website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk's phone:
920/236-5011.
FA_F!).
Olt-KOJH
ON THE WATER
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director
DATE: June 20, 2012
RE: Item Defeated by the Traffic Review Board at their June 12, 2012 Meeting
A REQUEST TO CLOSE 7TH AVENUE BETWEEN A PROPOSED PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT DRIVEWAY, EAST OF KOELLER STREET, AND LILAC STREET.
This is a developer request.
7th Avenue is a local street with relatively low daily traffic volumes. According to their
application, the developer made this request in order to protect the residential neighbors from
commercial traffic that may result from the proposed development.
The Traffic Review Advisory Board has previously considered requests to close streets, most
recently a request to convert a portion of Elmwood Avenue to a pedestrian mall in December
2010. Street closures can be appropriate for a variety of reasons, such as helping reduce vehicle
conflicts, consolidating traffic more efficiently in the roadway network, or improving pedestrian
mobility. None of these reasons are present in this case. As a local street, 7th Avenue carries a
relatively light volume of traffic. No safety or congestion-related problems have been identified
on this street for which a street closure would be considered or necessary. Closing the street
could potentially introduce challenges for emergency response and street maintenance, as well as
reducing accessibility for local residents. It gives local traffic fewer alternate routes, which could
significantly increase delay in the event of lane closures due to traffic accidents, construction, or
similar activities. It also conflicts with the City's 2011 bicycle and pedestrian circulation plan,
which calls for a bicycle route to run on 7th Avenue from Koeller Street to Lilac Street, from
where it continues to the north.
A traffic impact analysis report prepared by the developer, and analyzed by staff for the Plan
Commission, currently shows 41 vehicles in the peak hour on this section of 7th Avenue. This is
projected to increase to 53 vehicles in the peak hour with the presence of the proposed
development.
DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (1-5)