ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager, Director of Community Development and Director of Public Works with a Request to Concur with the Recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, Transportation Commission, and Staff to APPROVE a RESOLUTION Amending the COMPREHENSIVE PLAN to Include a Revised THOROUGHFARE PLAN AND MAP.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Thoroughfare Plan and Map is an essential component of future planning for every community and represents the future goals for transportation accommodations as found in the City Comprehensive Plan. The City of Peoria’s current Thoroughfare Plan was created with the 2001 Comprehensive Plan and is, therefore almost twenty years old. The City’s 2011 Comprehensive Plan includes a recommended update to the Thoroughfare Plan as a critical element, but because of staffing and budgetary issues, the City has not been able to update the plan. This update was made possible through a grant from the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. Hanson Professional Services was selected through a RFP process as the consultant on the project.
As private development typically follows public infrastructure, it is important to clearly outline where planned growth within the City of Peoria is focused over the next decade. In addition to showing current and proposed streets, the updated Thoroughfare Plan will also - for the first time - include alternative transportation corridors and accommodations, such as bike lanes, bike/walk trails, and other non-vehicular corridors. Also, this plan attempts to address the challenges of significant street network maintenance costs and stormwater runoff while setting the groundwork for a future that will include fewer personal vehicles and more shared vehicles, non-vehicular traffic, and eventually, autonomous transportation. The proposed Thoroughfare Plan has the following Goals:
1. Develop a transportation system for motorized, non-motorized vehicles, and pedestrians to ensure safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout Peoria.
2. Identify locations where existing street width and lane dedication can be modified to accomplish Goal 1 and to reduce long-term maintenance costs and negative environmental impact.
3. Ensure streets serve existing and proposed developments to the greatest extent possible.
4. Increase the development of traditional grid street systems to move traffic more efficiently while reducing the need for unnecessary vehicle movement or future traffic calming measures.
5. Create a logical street hierarchy that reduces unnecessary traffic in residential areas.
6. Implement the Complete Streets Ordinance adopted by the City Council in 2015. Specifically, to create streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users; in that pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities can safely move along and across a street.
The Thoroughfare Plan also includes the revised specifications for public streets that have occurred since 2002. These revisions include the narrowing of streets and rights-of-way and improvements to the quality of street construction and non-vehicular accommodation. The plan provides the framework for the re-classification of streets in Peoria to different designations to accommodate future downsizing or upgrading. Much like the designation of future transportation corridors, the re-classification of existing streets and other transportation corridors greatly assists in the future planning of the City.
The map is based entirely on the current IDOT classifications of area streets. Based on a review of the IDOT classification, City staff believe that several streets in Peoria are misclassified because they do not function as described in the IDOT classification system. For example, Moss Ave functions as a local street and should be classified as such. To remedy this situation, upon approval of this Plan, Staff will begin the process of petitioning IDOT for the re-classification of these streets. Streets to be re-classified include (but are not limited to), Moss Avenue, Perry Ave and Glendale Ave from Spring Street to Spaulding, and sections of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
The Planning & Zoning Commission found the request met the Findings of Fact and voted 7 to 0 to recommend approval, while the Transportation Commission voted 7 to 1 to recommend approval.
Please note that this is a long-range planning document (hence the attachment to the City Comprehensive Plan) and not a construction plan or CIP application. The classifications and specifications found in this document would serve as the starting point for road construction or re-construction going forward, but as with any construction project, detailed specifications would be developed based upon the facts at the time of construction.
Copies of the draft Plan and Map will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: One neighborhood request was fielded during the Planning & Zoning Commission hearing to change the designation on Glendale Ave and Perry Ave (I-74 toward the Northeast) from a Minor Collector to a Local Road. Staff agrees with this proposal and will petition IDOT for a classification change.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The amendment will be adopted and provide direction for the development of thoroughfares in the future.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The amendment will not be adopted.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
2. Beautiful Peoria
3. Grow Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development