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Staff Report/Hwy Access & PUDPLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Planning Department 201 V Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 Phone: (406) 758-7940 Fax: (406) 758-7739 www.kalispell.com/plannin2 REPORT TO: Kalispell Mayor and City Council FROM: Sean Conrad, Senior Planner Myrt Webb, Interim City Manager SUBJECT: Cornerstone Community Church Access onto Highway 93 MEETING DATE: March 23, 2009 During the council's March 2nd meeting to consider the Cornerstone Community Church's zone change and PUD request, the council had several concerns about a proposed right-in/right-out access onto Highway 93. The council's concerns included: • Conflicts the approaches may have with the existing bike path • Adequate deceleration lane for southbound traffic to slow down as it enters the site • Traffic back up at the intersection of Highway 93 and Northridge Drive may cause traffic to back up in the right -out lane. This in turn could leave vehicles stopped on the bike path. The council tabled the proposed project to its March 23rd meeting and directed staff to discuss the above issues with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). The purpose of the discussion was to insure MDT was aware of the council's concerns and modify the approach, if necessary. Planning staff met representatives from the Kalispell MDT office on Thursday, March 5+h, to discuss the issues brought up by the council. The MDT approved this new right-in/right-out approach because it met all of MDT's requirements including: • Proper location in relation to other accesses along Highway 93 • Adequate site distance for both pedestrian and vehicles • The right-in/right-out turn movements eliminate conflicting turning movements on and off of Highway 93 • The right-in/right-out approach eliminates the existing full movement approach onto Highway 93 just north of the church A letter from James Freyholtz, Kalispell Area Traffic Engineer for MDT, dated March 9, 2009 reiterates the above reasons why the approach was permitted and is acceptable to MDT without any necessary design changes. In addition, there is already an approximately 11 foot paved shoulder along this section of Highway 93. Vehicles using this new right -in approach would use this shoulder to lower their speeds outside of the two travel lanes to safely make the right turn into the development. Planning staff also spoke with the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department regarding the two approaches crossing the bike path. The Department did not see an issue with the crossings. The Department felt that the narrow width of each entrance and exit approach (15 feet) as well as the small island where bicyclists or pedestrians could wait safely for traffic to pass by, was not detrimental to the function or safety of the bike path. The bike path and sidewalk systems throughout the city cross many streets and driveways similar to the proposed approach. The Department did recommend if the council is still concerned with the right-in/right-out approaches crossing the bike path, the council could consider having the developer install caution signs along the bike path both north and south of the approach. RECOMMENDATION: A motion to approve the zone change and planned unit development overlay zoning with the planning board's recommended conditions would be in order. FISCAL EFFECTS: Minor positive impacts once fully developed. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Council. Respectfully submitted, Sean Conrad Senior Planner Report compiled: March 11, 2009 c: Theresa White, Kalispell City Clerk Myrt ebb Interim City Manager Attachments: Letter from James Freyholtz, Kalispell MDT Office Approved Highway 93 Access detail Return to: Kalispell City Clerk PO Box 1997 Kalispell, MT 59903 REAL PROPERTY MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 1A, KALISPELL ADDITION i;. 15A LOCATED IN SECTIONiNORTH, RANGE 22 WEST, P.M.M., FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA (PREVIOUSLY ZONED CITY R-3 WRI V R 0I1 1 i� i , ., i►�. [ ATE. WHEREAS, the Cornerstone Community Church, the owner of the property described above, petitioned the City of Kalispell that the zoning classification attached to the above described tract of land be zoned B-1, Neighborhood Buffer District, with a Planned Unit Development overlay on approximately 3 acres of land, and WHEREAS, the property is located on the west side of Highway 93 at the intersection of Highway 93 and Northridge Drive, and WHEREAS, the petition of the Cornerstone Community Church was the subject of a report compiled by the Kalispell Planning Department, Staff Report #KZC-09-01/KPUD- 08-03, in which the Kalispell Planning Department evaluated the petition and recommended that the property as described above be zoned B-1, Neighborhood Buffer District with a Planned Unit Development overlay, pursuant to Kalispell City Code 72.21.030(2)(b), and WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Planning Board held a Public Hearing on the matter on February 10, 2009, and recommended that the zoning be City B-1, Neighborhood Buffer District with a Planned Unit Development overlay, pursuant to Kalispell City Code 72.21.030(2)(b), and WHEREAS, after considering all the evidence submitted on the proposal to zone the property as described B-1, Neighborhood Buffer District with a Planned Unit Development overlay, the City Council finds such zoning to be consistent with the Kalispell Growth Policy 2020 and adopts, based upon the criterion set forth in Section 76-3- 608, M.C.A., and State, Etc. v. Board of County Commissioners, Etc. 590 P2d 602, the findings of fact of KPD as set forth in Staff Report No. #K7-C-09-01/KPUD-08- 03. FOLLOWS:NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, AS SECTION I. Section 27.02.010, of the Official Zoning Map of the Kalispell Zoning Ordinance, (Ordinance No. 1460) is hereby amended by designating the property described above as B-1, Neighborhood Buffer District with a Planned Unit Development overlay on approximately 3 acres of land. SECTION I. The balance of Section 27.02.010, Official Zoning Map, City of Kalispell Zoning Ordinance not amended hereby shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION III. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after 30 days of its passage by the City Council. •. • •.,...t •: • 1 1t is t t• •El • , .' 1 ii' EIVINM Theresa White City Clerk Pamela B. Kennedy Mayor Planning Department 201 1" Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 Phone: (406) 758-7940 Fax: (406) 758-7739 www.kalispell.com/planning REPORT TO: Kalispell Mayor and City Council FROM: Tom Jentz, Director Myrt Webb, Interim City Manager SUBJECT: Cornerstone Community Church PUD MEETING DATE: March 23, 2009 If the council still has concerns with the safety of the Valley Bank - Highway 93 and Northridge intersection, the council may consider sending a letter to the Montana Department of Transportation requesting the Department take into account the following additional actions at this intersection: • Install left turn signals at the intersection of Highway 93 and Northridge to allow east and west bound traffic a protected left turn movement onto Highway 93 (requires MDT approval and installation) Require a designated deceleration/turn lane into the bank along Highway 93 shoulder using the existing parking lane on Highway 93. This lane could be signed a reduced speed. (Requires MDT approval as they are not requiring this at this time. Installation work would be completed by the Valley Bank), The council may consider taking the following actions to mitigate traffic concerns associated with the project and the intersection of Highway 93 and Northridge Drive: • Placing a stop at Northridge Drive and Parkway creating a 4-way stop to slow traffic down as it approaches the intersection of Highway 93 and Northridge Drive. (Requires city action) • Place pedestrian scale yield signs on the bike path at the "y" intersection into the bank where the access road crosses the bike path. (requires installation by Valley Bank as part of the PUD) • Install curb, gutter and boulevard along the south side of Northridge Drive along the Buffalo Hills Funeral Home. This would serve to define and restrict the access into the funeral home off of Northridge and thereby reduce the shortcut that traffic now uses to get onto Highway 93 south avoiding the Highway 93 - Northridge Drive intersection. Curb now extends up from the west along Northridge Drive and stops at the funeral home. (Requires city action and possible city expense to install). ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Council. Respectfully submitted, Tom Jentz MeWe�b Director Interim City Manager Report compiled: March 20, 2009 c: Theresa White, Kalispell City Clerk