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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes__________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 1 March 7, 2017 PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES March 7, 2017 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Ed Bowen, Jeffrey Thoms, Thomas Fojtik, John Hinz, Steve Cummings, Kathleen Propp, John Kiefer, Robert Vajgrt, Karl Nollenberger EXCUSED: none STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Chairperson Fojtik called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of February 21, 2017 were approved as presented. (Propp/Thoms) I. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON OREGON/JACKSON STREET BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION ALTERNATIVES Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works, discussed the background of this project and stated that a study had been done to evaluate the deficiencies of the existing bridge however no alternative plan has been selected at this time. He discussed local objectives and the number of times this bridge opens per year as well as the necessity to accommodate the riverwalk on both sides of the bridge. He reviewed alternative A which was the no build option which would be no cost to the city. Alternative B which was the rehabilitation option would entail rebuilding parts of the existing bridge and would have a 25 to 30 year life expectancy and would result in the bridge being closed for one year. Alternative C1 which was for full reconstruction was discussed which will entail more navigable clearance as the bridge will be elevated. This option would also include realigning Division Street to connect with Marion Road which would require the acquisition of the Chamber of Commerce building. He also discussed the effects it would have on the accesses to the businesses in this area. He reviewed alternative E which would also increase the navigable clearance as it had higher elevation however Division Street would remain as is as well as the access to Beckets Restaurant. Alternative F was reviewed which was an on-alignment reconstruction with the riverwalk on both sides going underneath the bridge structure and would close the existing driveway to Beckets and relocate it. Alternative J1 was an off-alignment reconstruction which would also have raised clearance and will reduce the closure time for the bridge as it would only be closed for one year rather than two. This option would also have both riverwalks underneath the bridge structure and realignment of Division Street with Marion Road. Alternative J2 was an off-alignment reconstruction with raised clearance with both riverwalks underneath the bridge structure and Division Street being reconstructed to end in a cul-de-sac and the Chamber of Commerce building being preserved. He explained that the next step was to have the Common Council provide a preference to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, (DOT), on March 28th and that this was the fifth board or commission to review the item and provide a __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 2 March 7, 2017 recommendation to the Council. They hope to start design plans this year with construction planned to start in August of 2022. Mr. Borsuk commented that it was indicated that the Wisconsin Street bridge opens 400 times less than Oregon Street and asked to confirm that information. Mr. Gohde confirmed that this was correct. Mr. Borsuk then questioned how many times does the Oregon Street bridge open and for how long each time. Mr. Gohde responded that he did not have this information however the DOT could provide that at a later date. Mr. Hinz inquired if the Chamber of Commerce was agreeable to the relocation of their facility. Mr. Gohde responded that he did not know. Mr. Hinz then inquired about the costs for maintenance and staffing for each option. Mr. Gohde responded that the comparison summary contains costs for the Wisconsin Street bridge which is $120,000 per year for labor, utility costs and repairs. Ms. Propp questioned if the Wisconsin Street bridge would have the same clearance as the raised alternative for Oregon/Jackson Street. Mr. Gohde responded that the Wisconsin Street bridge is 2.2 feet higher than the Oregon/Jackson Street existing structure. Ms. Propp then questioned if the new bridge would be about the same height. Mr. Gohde responded it would be the same or a foot greater than the Wisconsin Street bridge. Ms. Propp stated that she liked the Wisconsin Street bridge structure and questioned what the costs would be to do the same style on the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge. Mr. Gohde responded that he did not know however the state does not contribute to these types of costs. Mr. Cummings stated that the County takes care of the staffing and maintenance costs and that he felt that they have to see what the proposed structure was going to look like and that a rendering would be necessary to make a recommendation. Mr. Gohde indicated that the state is still working on the renderings and they could be available by the March 21st meeting. He discussed the ownership aspect of the structure and stated that the __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 3 March 7, 2017 County currently maintains the bridge but once it is reconstructed. it will be the City’s responsibility for all maintenance costs. Mr. Thoms questioned if the C1 alternative would be higher than the current bridge and discussed the center span and location of the 23 foot elevation. Mr. Gohde displayed on the map where the elevation would occur and discussed the current and reconstructed degrees of the slope of the bridge. Mr. Thoms stated that he had concerns with being able to stop in bad weather if the slope was too great. Mr. Gohde indicated that there would be no difference between the slopes on the bridge than an approach entering Highway 41. Mr. Thoms then questioned how far to the left and right would the structure drop to below 23 feet in elevation. Mr. Gohde responded that he did not know the total distance. Mr. Thoms inquired about the purpose of coming off Division Street with the addition of the cul- de-sac. Mr. Gohde explained the reasoning for this feature and that the private businesses in this vicinity need access to their properties. Mr. Thoms questioned if the DOT had a preference in the alternatives that were provided. Mr. Gohde responded that they have not indicated a preference and would make the final decision with the City’s local input. Mr. Thoms then questioned if the Oshkosh Police and Fire Departments have issues with closing Division Street to through traffic. Mr. Gohde replied that Pearl Avenue will be the alternate street and that access to the businesses on Division Street will come from Pearl Avenue and that there was no concerns voiced by the Police or Fire Departments. Board discussion ensued on the height of the Wisconsin Street bridge compared to the alternatives for the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge as well as the alternatives that included the feature of having the riverwalk extend underneath the bridge. Mr. Bowen discussed the realignment of Division Street to match up with Marion Road that is included on the C-1 and off-alignment alternatives and questioned if there was anything that __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 4 March 7, 2017 would prevent the City from handling this connection without constructing the off-alignment alternative or if this was to save down time of the bridge during construction. Mr. Gohde responded that the difference was the construction timeline. Mr. Bowen discussed that alternatives E and F did not include the Marion Road/Division Street realignment and questioned if this could still be accomplished outside of the bridge reconstruction project. Mr. Gohde indicated that this project has been brought forward in the past and was not supported however the City could do it with the desire and budget and this feature was beyond the scope of this project. Peter Lang, 2300 White Swan Drive, discussed that he has development interest in the Oregon Street and W. 6th Avenue area and that he does not like the off alignment alternative and had concerns regarding the raised surface as it would allow lights to be shining onto 3rd story windows within the development. He further discussed the off access alternative and the ability to maximize development along the riverwalk as impeding the area for development would shrink the dollars on the tax base if less area was available and his concerns with fixed increments. Mr. Borsuk discussed the alternative for the high level fixed C-1 option with the underneath access for the riverwalk and that the best north/south street through Oshkosh is Jackson and Oregon Street and the ability to traverse this route 24 hours a day is important. He further discussed having no streets going into businesses in this area as we do near the Oshkosh Avenue bridge as he felt this was creating congestion issues. Ms. Propp stated that she did not like alternative C-1 as she felt it would look out of place. She further stated that the cost is greater but will be worth it to go with alternative F or J1. Mr. Hinz stated that the C-1 alternative was his preference and that the height will be about 12 feet which is not that big of a difference and it would provide long term constant access which he felt would be beneficial. Mr. Thoms commented that he preferred alternative C-1 or F but without seeing a rendering of what it would look like, it was hard to say. He further commented that the structure would not be higher than the gatehouse on the Wisconsin Street bridge but he also had concerns with what it would look like. He discussed that access for emergency vehicles was important and that the city will have to provide the costs for aesthetic features which is also a factor to consider. He felt the C- 1 alternative was more feasible and will increase the use of the road but that we should look at more than one alternative. Mr. Cummings discussed that bridges were a focal point of communities and that it has to be aesthetically pleasing however he felt we need to see renderings before making a recommendation. He felt that we should be very cautious in this decision as it is located in the center of the city and would be in place for many years to come. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 5 March 7, 2017 Mr. Vajgrt discussed his years of service in the Oshkosh Fire Department and that previously there were more train tracks than bridges without fire stations in all areas of the city. He stated that they never had a problem with getting to a scene due to either the railroad tracks or the bridges and discussed the procedures followed for emergency services. Mr. Bowen stated that he could not support any of the alternatives provided however alternative F may be acceptable. He did not like the intersection of Division Street and Marion Road and that the plans provided made it hard to tell what we are looking at and that a rendering would help with making a recommendation. Mr. Gohde suggested that the Commission could defer voting on this item until the next meeting and hopefully we will have a rendering that can be reviewed at that time. Motion by Thoms to lay over the recommendation of an alternative for the reconstruction of the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge until the next meeting. Seconded by Borsuk. Mr. Thoms stated that it would also help to know the development plans for the west side of Oregon Street as the alternative chosen could reduce the developable area on the site. Mr. Borsuk questioned if one week will be enough time for the Common Council to make a decision. Mr. Cummings replied he would rather do it right and take more time making the decision as it wouldn’t be prudent to rush into a decision that is this important to the community, Ms. Propp stated that she would support deferring the vote until the next meeting. She felt it would be nice to realign Division Street. Motion carried 9-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:58 pm. (Vajgrt/Borsuk) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services