Calendar:
Monday, November 6
2:00 pm - Environment Committee Meeting, Room 280. AGENDA: Floodplain Management Ordinance Revisions
4:00 pm - Retreat Planning Committee, 15th Floor Large Conference Room
5:00 pm - Council Workshop, Room 267
7:30 pm - Citizens' Forum, Room 267
Wednesday, November 8
12:00 pm - Special MTC Meeting, Room 267
3:00 pm - Budget Committee Meeting, Room 270/271 AGENDA: Budget Reporting and Enterprise Funds; Capital Needs and Alternative Revenues.
Agenda Notes:
Agenda Item #5: Directed Vote Regarding Dixie River road - Shopton Road West Thoroughfare Plan Amendments
Staff Resource: Jim Humphrey, 704-336-3883 - jhumphrey@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Monday's agenda includes an item to direct Council member Mumford's vote on the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO) regarding the thoroughfare alignment for Dixie River Road and Shopton Road West. Staff is recommending he be directed to vote in support of the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) recommended alignment (Alignment 2C-1). Part of the TCC recommendation included a request that City staff consider revising connectivity standards when constructing private roads to require better access and interconnection of adjoining parcels.
City Council considered this issue in July and directed Council member Mumford to support Alignment 2C-1 and to continue working with Mr. McKee to try and find an alignment agreeable to him and other property owners. At the July MUMPO meeting, the MUMPO also directed staff to continue working with Mr. McKee and other property owners. Two more alignments were developed. They were called alignments 2C-6 and 2C-7. Alignment 2C-6 moves the road about 50' south and Alignment 2C-7 moves the road about 100' south from the location indicated in Alignment 2C-1. Staff met with Mr. McKee and other affected property owners.
At the September MUMPO meeting, property owners and their representatives discussed their respective points of view. The MUMPO directed the TCC to make another recommendation to them based upon land use goals, engineering and costs. They also requested that the Planning Commission staff and City Council specifically review all alignments, including the two that had been developed since the July City Council meeting. Since that time, the property owners have met several times but not reached agreement.
At the November 2nd TCC meeting, it was recommended that Alignment 2C-1 be approved by the MUMPO (all supported except the representative from Weddington, who stated that her Council directed her vote). The TCC's decision was based upon land use objectives articulated by Planning Commission staff. Some of the reasons stated were that: 1) Alignment 2C-1 better promotes a desirable development pattern across Steele Creek Road (NC 160); 2) more properties can be accessed by the new Dixie River Road and remnant parcels would be minimized; and 3) a rezoning petition has been approved that includes a mixed use center at the intersection of Steele Creek and New Dixie River Roads. There was no substantial difference in the alignments from an engineering standpoint. Updated cost estimates will be provided to City Council on Monday. The TCC recommendations also included a request for the City to review its policies regarding access provisions between private streets across private property as part of its subdivision and zoning ordinances.
Although all property owners or their representatives affected were invited to the November 2 TCC meeting and did not indicate attendance would be a problem, only representatives of Pappas Properties were present. They stated that they hoped that an alignment could be chosen to move the process forward. The TCC and City staff felt that it is important all property owners be given an opportunity to voice their opinions and suggested they do so at both the November 6 City Council meeting and at the November 15 MUMPO meeting. The property owners have been notified that this item will be on both agendas.
This proposed amendment to the Thoroughfare Plan also includes a realignment of Shopton Road West so that it will intersect Steele Creek Road just south of the current intersection of these two roads. This realignment will ultimately allow for more desirable traffic signal spacing along Steele Creek Road.
Information Items:
North Tryon Redevelopment Plan Update
Staff Resource: Richard Bargoil, 704-336-2142 - rbargoil@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On November 27, 2006 the City Council will be asked to approve a professional services contract for approximately $168,000 with Warren & Associates to prepare a Redevelopment Plan for the North Tryon Corridor between the Brookshire Freeway and Old Concord Road. The plan's purpose is to: 1) update land use and zoning, 2) determine public infrastructure improvements, 3) identify target parcels for redevelopment, and 4) define implementation strategies and potential development partners.
The study area is divided into two sections: Brookshire Freeway to Sugar Creek Road (Section 1) and Sugar Creek Road to Old Concord Road (Section 2). Development of the plan between Brookshire Freeway and Sugar Creek Road (Section 1) had been delayed until funding was available and until CATS made the decision on the preferred alignment for the Northeast corridor light rail line. The preferred alignment does not use North Tryon from Brookshire to Sugar Creek Road.
On June 28, 2006 the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) adopted a resolution approving the Preferred Option that provides for the Northeast alignment to follow the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) and eventually merging onto North Tryon at Old Concord Road. The MTC resolution provided for additional study of an alternative Sugar Creek/North Tryon Street Alignment that would run in the median of North Tryon Street from Sugar Creek Road to Old Concord Road. The Redevelopment Plan will allow the City to compare and evaluate the public infrastructure costs and economic impacts of the non-transit option versus the alternative Sugar Creek/North Tryon Street Alignment for Section 2 before making a final decision on the preferred alignment.
Warren & Associates (with subcontractors The LittleJohn Group, Kimley-Horn & Associates, and ColeJenest & Stone) was selected by an interdepartmental staff team that included staff from Economic Development, Planning, CATS and CDOT. The project is tentatively scheduled to begin in December 2006 and conclude by June 2007. The planning process will include a series of public meetings and will work closely with a group of stakeholders representing the North Tryon corridor. The project will be jointly funded by Economic Development, Planning and CDOT. Attached is a map of the study area.
Discovery Place Education Building Green Roof
Staff Resource: Steve Marlowe, 704-336-3225 - smarlowe@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Green Roof at Discovery Place is nearing completion and will be featured in trade publications during the next few months. Responding to both Council's "Safeguard the Environment" policy, and Engineering and Property Management's philosophy of testing and utilizing new technologies, the City's first green roof includes the following benefits:
- reduction of storm water run-off;
- decrease in "urban heat island effect";
- reduction of dust and smog levels;
- lower roof temperatures; and
- extended roof life.
Discovery Place was the perfect opportunity to experiment with this sustainable technology with its overall goals of science, technology and protection of the environment. The design and installation of this project will allow staff to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and maintenance requirements, as well as different arrangements of growing materials, organic matter, and vegetation species to determine which combinations flourish in Charlotte's urban climate. A media event will be held at Discovery Place on Friday, November 17. City Staff and Council are invited to attend.
Tobacco Usage Policy for City Employees
Staff Resource: Tim Mayes, 704-336-5702 - tmayes@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Staff has completed a review of the City's current policy regarding employee tobacco usage in City facilities and vehicles. The current administrative policy, approved by the City Manager in 1989, was implemented in recognition of an opinion of the United States Surgeon General that tobacco use was harmful to smokers and non-smokers. The purpose of the policy was to create a more healthful environment for employees and the public.
Staff believes that the following changes should be made to our current administrative policy:
- Tobacco usage (both burning and non-burning) should be prohibited in all City owned and leased vehicles where occupants can be enclosed, even if there is only one occupant.
- Key business executives should be authorized, in consideration of the operating needs of their business units, to enact additional policy provisions regulating employee tobacco usage. Such policy provisions would have to be approved by the City Manager before they are implemented.
- Designated areas for employee tobacco usage outside City-owned facilities should be clearly identified and should take into account the need to maintain a healthful environment for employees and the public.
In order to make the change prohibiting tobacco usage in enclosed vehicles, the City Council must vote to remove a reference in the current City Code related to smoking in City vehicles. An item will be on the November 27 Council agenda recommending removal of this reference. In addition to the policy changes, staff has increased tobacco cessation efforts by offering onsite cessation classes, providing nicotine replacement therapy options, offering a comprehensive tobacco cessation lifestyle management program and continuing to promote cessation resources to all employees.
Obstructions in the City's Rights of Way
Staff Resource: Doreen Szymanski, 704-336-7527 - dszymanski@ci.charlotte.nc.us
(CDOT) received a complaint regarding obstructions installed in the right-of-way on Lancelot Drive. CDOT staff took action in accordance with city ordinance to have the wooden bollards removed.
We have since been made aware that obstructions in the right-of-way are prevalent in this area and know this is true in many other neighborhoods as well. CDOT staff plans to meet next week to discuss a future course of action to address these safety hazards.
Also, we were contacted by a reporter for The Charlotte Observer regarding this matter. A story will run in Sunday's newspaper.
Charlotte Police Chief to Lead Major Cities Chiefs Association
Staff Resource: Julie Hill, 704-336-4098 - jhill@cmpd.org
Chief Darrel W. Stephens has been elected president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), a professional organization whose membership comprises the chief executives of the 63 most populous cities in the United States and Canada. Currently serving as vice-president, Chief Stephens will begin his two-year term January 1, 2007.
The association studies important issues facing metropolitan policing organizations and is a respected source of and advocate for best practices for the profession. One of Chief Stephens' goals for the coming year is strengthening MCC's role in influencing the critical link between national policy makers and local policing professionals.
