HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 05 23 Informational 104 Market Square
COMMISSION AGENDA
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL X
ITEM 104
PUBLIC HEARING
REGULAR
MGR /DEPT
May 23, 2011
Meeting
Authorization
REQUEST: Public Works Department providing information to the City Commission
regarding the work plan to evaluate design and operational concerns at
Market Square in the Winter Springs Town Center.
SYNOPSIS:
Market Square is located in Tuskawilla Road on the north side of S.R. 434 in the
Winter Springs Town Center. The triangular shaped area was planned to be a
“window into Main Street,” but is not currently functioning as intended. Staff has
developed a work plan to evaluate design and operational concerns at Market
Square over the next 60 to 90 days and bring back alternatives for the City
Commission’s consideration.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Market Square is located in Tuskawilla Road on the north side of S.R. 434 in the Winter
Springs Town Center. The triangular shaped area that makes up Market Square includes
a fountain, landscaping, hardscaping, a wall/sign for the Town Center, and other
improvements (see aerial photo on the following page).
Market Square and the surrounding Tuskawilla Road improvements were completed in
2003. Since that time, a number of concerns have been identified, including but not
limited to:
Poor visibility of buildings fronting Tuskawilla Road
o
No linkage of Market Square to commercial activity in Building 1 (patio dining, etc.)
o
Possible need for a valet parking dropoff/pickup area
o
Pedestrian issues:
o
Only crosswalk is at tip of triangle
Other access points are mid-block across bypass lane, with steps down from
sidewalk
Not a desirable destination for pedestrians – small space, surrounded by traffic
lanes, limited amenities
In addition to the concerns listed above, Staff has observed and identified additional
engineering-related issues at this intersection, including:
May 23, 2011
Agenda Item #104
Page 2 of 4
Southbound Tuskawilla Road vehicles seeking to turn right on S.R. 434 are
o
occasionally missing the right turn bypass lane and turning right (illegally) at the S.R.
434 traffic signal.
Vehicles exiting McDonald’s seeking to go westbound on S.R. 434 are travelling
o
across Tuskawilla Road to the bypass lane, which creates the following concerns:
Awkward turning angle at tip of triangle
o
Headlights shining directly into patio dining area
o
Vehicles crossing double-yellow gore median
o
Poor sight distance for right turning vehicles in bypass lane due to Town Center
o
sign/landscaping
Southbound Tuskawilla Road:
o
Vehicle queue in southbound straight lane occasionally blocks access to left
o
turn storage lane
Vehicle queue in left turn storage lane occasionally exceeds capacity
o
Southbound Tuskawilla Road left turns onto eastbound S.R. 434 cannot be concurrent
o
with dual northbound Tuskawilla Road left turns onto westbound S.R. 434 due to
intersection geometry; this reduces the intersection level-of-service
Only access to Town Center frontage road is from right-turn bypass lane
o
Figure 1 – Aerial View of Market Square
Next Steps:
May 23, 2011
Agenda Item #104
Page 3 of 4
Figure 2 – Market Square from Original Town Center Master Plan
Staff has developed the following work plan to evaluate the above-listed concerns and
other issues related to Market Square:
Step 1 – Collect Stakeholder Input
This step includes conducting interviews with affected stakeholders, including nearby
businesses (owners and tenants), residents, City officials, and other interested parties.
Staff will also obtain input from Dover-Kohl, the City’s consultant who prepared the
original vision for Market Square.
Step 2 – Conduct Workshop with Stakeholders
After reviewing the stakeholder input, City Staff and consultant(s) will conduct a
workshop to discuss concerns and identify potential solutions. A local transportation
planning consultant will likely be utilized to facilitate the discussion.
Step 3 – Identify Alternatives
After the workshop, City Staff and consultant(s) will identify several alternatives and
prepare more detailed information on each alternative including advantages /
disadvantages, costs, constraints, and preliminary sketches.
Step 4 – Report to City Commission and Seek Direction for next Steps
Within 60 to 90 days, Staff will report back to the City Commission and present
alternatives for the Commission’s review, consideration, and direction.
May 23, 2011
Agenda Item #104
Page 4 of 4
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Market Square evaluation will primarily be conducted by City Staff, with the
additional input by a transportation planning consultant and the City’s Town Center consultant,
Dover-Kohl. The total consultant time is expected to be less than 30 hours and will be funded
using existing budgeted funds for consultant services.
COMMUNICATION EFFORTS:
This Agenda Item has been forwarded to the Mayor and City Commission; City
Manager; City Attorney/Staff; placed in Press Packets; placed in the City Hall (Lobby) City
Commission Meeting binder; and is available on the City’s Website, LaserFiche, and the City’s
Server. Additionally, information related to this Agenda Item has been sent to media/press
representatives who have requested Agendas/Agenda Item information, all Homeowner’s
Associations on file with the City, all individuals who have requested Agendas/Agenda Item
information, Department Directors; and also posted outside City Hall; posted inside City Hall
with additional copies available for the general public; and posted at five (5) different locations
around the City.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Commission review and accept the information in this
agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
COMMISSION AGENDA
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL X
ITEM 104
PUBLIC HEARING
REGULAR
MGR /DEPT
May 23, 2011
Meeting
Authorization
REQUEST: Public Works Department providing information to the City Commission
regarding the work plan to evaluate design and operational concerns at
Market Square in the Winter Springs Town Center.
SYNOPSIS:
Market Square is located in Tuskawilla Road on the north side of S.R. 434 in the
Winter Springs Town Center. The triangular shaped area was planned to be a
“window into Main Street,” but is not currently functioning as intended. Staff has
developed a work plan to evaluate design and operational concerns at Market
Square over the next 60 to 90 days and bring back alternatives for the City
Commission’s consideration.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Market Square is located in Tuskawilla Road on the north side of S.R. 434 in the Winter
Springs Town Center. The triangular shaped area that makes up Market Square includes
a fountain, landscaping, hardscaping, a wall/sign for the Town Center, and other
improvements (see aerial photo on the following page).
Market Square and the surrounding Tuskawilla Road improvements were completed in
2003. Since that time, a number of concerns have been identified, including but not
limited to:
Poor visibility of buildings fronting Tuskawilla Road
o
No linkage of Market Square to commercial activity in Building 1 (patio dining, etc.)
o
Possible need for a valet parking dropoff/pickup area
o
Pedestrian issues:
o
Only crosswalk is at tip of triangle
Other access points are mid-block across bypass lane, with steps down from
sidewalk
Not a desirable destination for pedestrians – small space, surrounded by traffic
lanes, limited amenities
In addition to the concerns listed above, Staff has observed and identified additional
engineering-related issues at this intersection, including:
May 23, 2011
Agenda Item #104
Page 2 of 4
Southbound Tuskawilla Road vehicles seeking to turn right on S.R. 434 are
o
occasionally missing the right turn bypass lane and turning right (illegally) at the S.R.
434 traffic signal.
Vehicles exiting McDonald’s seeking to go westbound on S.R. 434 are travelling
o
across Tuskawilla Road to the bypass lane, which creates the following concerns:
Awkward turning angle at tip of triangle
o
Headlights shining directly into patio dining area
o
Vehicles crossing double-yellow gore median
o
Poor sight distance for right turning vehicles in bypass lane due to Town Center
o
sign/landscaping
Southbound Tuskawilla Road:
o
Vehicle queue in southbound straight lane occasionally blocks access to left
o
turn storage lane
Vehicle queue in left turn storage lane occasionally exceeds capacity
o
Southbound Tuskawilla Road left turns onto eastbound S.R. 434 cannot be concurrent
o
with dual northbound Tuskawilla Road left turns onto westbound S.R. 434 due to
intersection geometry; this reduces the intersection level-of-service
Only access to Town Center frontage road is from right-turn bypass lane
o
Figure 1 – Aerial View of Market Square
Next Steps:
May 23, 2011
Agenda Item #104
Page 3 of 4
Figure 2 – Market Square from Original Town Center Master Plan
Staff has developed the following work plan to evaluate the above-listed concerns and
other issues related to Market Square:
Step 1 – Collect Stakeholder Input
This step includes conducting interviews with affected stakeholders, including nearby
businesses (owners and tenants), residents, City officials, and other interested parties.
Staff will also obtain input from Dover-Kohl, the City’s consultant who prepared the
original vision for Market Square.
Step 2 – Conduct Workshop with Stakeholders
After reviewing the stakeholder input, City Staff and consultant(s) will conduct a
workshop to discuss concerns and identify potential solutions. A local transportation
planning consultant will likely be utilized to facilitate the discussion.
Step 3 – Identify Alternatives
After the workshop, City Staff and consultant(s) will identify several alternatives and
prepare more detailed information on each alternative including advantages /
disadvantages, costs, constraints, and preliminary sketches.
Step 4 – Report to City Commission and Seek Direction for next Steps
Within 60 to 90 days, Staff will report back to the City Commission and present
alternatives for the Commission’s review, consideration, and direction.
May 23, 2011
Agenda Item #104
Page 4 of 4
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Market Square evaluation will primarily be conducted by City Staff, with the
additional input by a transportation planning consultant and the City’s Town Center consultant,
Dover-Kohl. The total consultant time is expected to be less than 30 hours and will be funded
using existing budgeted funds for consultant services.
COMMUNICATION EFFORTS:
This Agenda Item Has Been Electronically Forwarded To The Mayor And City
Commission, City Manager, City Attorney/Staff, And All eAlert/eCitizen Recipients, And Is
Available On The City’s Website, LaserFiche, And The City’s Server. Additionally, Portions Of
This Agenda Item Are Typed Verbatim On The Respective Meeting Agenda Which Has Also
Been Electronically Forwarded To The Individuals Noted Above; And Which Is Also Available
On The City’s Website, LaserFiche, And The City’s Server; Has Been Sent To City Staff,
Media/Press Representatives On File With The City, And All Individuals Who Have Requested
Such Information; And Has Been Posted Outside City Hall; Posted Inside City Hall With
Additional Copies Available For The General Public; And Posted At Five (5) Different
Locations Around The City. This Agenda Item Is Also Available To Any New Individual
Requestors. City Staff Is Always Willing To Discuss This Or Any Agenda Item With Any
Interested Individuals.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Commission review and accept the information in this
agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None