Agenda Item #10: Economic Development Strategic Framework 2005 to 2010
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn 704-432-1396
Attached is a copy of the Economic Development Strategic Framework 2005-2010 which will be discussed at the July 25 Council meeting.
Agenda Item #27: Arena Event Transportation Management Contract
Staff Resource: Bill Finger, 704-336-3900
On Monday's agenda, Council will be asked to approve a contract to implement the Transportation Management Plan for the new Arena.
The Charlotte Department of Transportation, along with the Police Department, has been working with a consultant to develop a Transportation Management Plan for the new Arena. The actual plan will be an ongoing effort that will be adapted for each unique event and respond to construction and other events in the Center City. A draft informational report has been developed about the elements of the plan. The report is complete in many ways, but is awaiting some remaining information, including the final versions of the Transit Plan, Group Bus Plan, and the Bobcats' Click-N-Park program. The draft report is attached for your information.
For each event, the plan calls for traffic cones, barricades and special signs to be placed in the street to improve safety and capacity for pedestrians and to facilitate the safe operation taxi, bus, limo and handicapped access. Item number 27 on the agenda for Monday night is the contract for placing and removing these cones, barricades and signs for the 120 events expected during the first year of Arena operation.
Information Items
Fairyland Daycare - 2415 and 2423 Eastway Drive
Staff Resources, Keith MacVean, 704-336-5738 and Bob Hagemann, 704-336-2651
Earlier this month, Mr. Fred Bettin sent an e-mail to the Council in which he raised a number of issues and questions regarding the development of two daycare facilities on adjacent lots located on Eastway Drive. Engineering & Property Management previously responded to the engineering and land development issues via e-mail. This is in response to the zoning matters. We understand that the Charlotte Observer will run an article on this situation later this week.
Following is a chronology of key events.
- June 16, 2003 - The two Eastway properties ("Properties") were included in a Planning Commission-initiated corrective rezoning petition based on the Eastside Strategy Plan - the proposal is to rezone the Properties from R-22MF to R-8
- September 15, 2003 - Planning Commission proposed removing Properties from petition based on conversations with property owner that site will be developed as a daycare center
- October 29, 2003 - Zoning Committee unanimously recommended excluding the Properties from the R-8 corrective rezoning petition
- November 11, 2003 - owner of Properties filed rezoning petition (2004-019) for Institutional (CD) for a single large daycare facility
- May 17, 2004 - City Council denies Petition 2004-019
- May 18, 2004 - Planning Commission files corrective rezoning petition (2004-086) to rezone Properties from R-22MF to R-8
- September 7, 2004 - plans submitted to Building Standards for two daycare facilities on the Properties
- October 18, 2004 - City Council approves 2004-086 rezoning Properties to R-8
- March 4, 2005 - Building Standards issues building permits for two daycare facilities on the Properties
Significantly, daycare facilities are permitted in an R-22MF zoning district, but with a limit of 79 children. Daycare facilities are not a permitted use under R-8 zoning.
Although Council rezoned the Properties to R-8 before building permits were issued, it is the City's pattern and practice to "grandfather" site plans filed before a rezoning under the zoning in effect at the time of initial site plan application. That is what was done here.
In addition, then Zoning Administrator Robert Brandon concluded that, under the R-22MF zoning requirements, the Properties could be developed and operated as proposed, with up to 79 children on each lot. While that decision, like other decisions of the Zoning Administrator, could have been appealed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, it appears that the time to challenge the decision has now passed.
Woodlawn Bike Lane/Water Main Project
Staff Resource: Sonji Mosley, 704-336-3214
A neighborhood meeting is being organized by property owners along Woodlawn Road to object to the proposed location of utility poles for the Woodlawn Bike lane/Water Main project. The project is currently in real estate acquisition and is scheduled to begin construction in January 2006. This project is part of the South Corridor Infrastructure Program and is one of three projects being prepared to be bid as one construction package to save money and to coordinate traffic control.
City staff held public meetings for the project in conjunction with other CIP projects closely related it. Newsletters have been sent to update property owners of the project. The concern of the property owners are the tree impacts due to the proposed relocation of utility poles. The poles are to be one foot behind the proposed location of the new sidewalk. Trees being removed due to the 15 foot clearance limitations that are required by Duke Power to relocate their overhead power lines. The residents are seeking alternatives that would suggest placing the utility poles within the proposed 2 foot planting strip.
Staff has worked through the plans with NCDOT, Duke Power and other utilities in early design. Because Woodlawn Road is a State maintained facility, NCDOT is requiring that these poles be relocated behind the sidewalk as a part of the City's agreement with them. Costs for burying the lines underground were beyond the budget set for the project. Shifting the current pole location would be a tremendous detriment to the other SCIP projects being built concurrently with the Woodlawn Bike Lane/Water Main project as it would alter utility alignment set for the projects.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, July 26th at 6:15 pm at Grace Methodist Church (715 E. Woodlawn Road). Staff will attend to give an overview of the project and provide details of the current alternative to the utility locations. We are prepared to look at landscaping options in order to mitigate the tree impacts. Real estate acquisition is expected to be complete by the end of August which will allow for very little time for changes to utilities. Staff is prepared to proceed through the power of imminent domain in order to meet the demands of the schedule.
