Title
South Capitol Neighborhood Association Comprehensive Plan Amendment - Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Move to approve that Maple Park Avenue, between Capitol Way S and Jefferson Street SE, remain designated as a Major Collector but that a new set of engineering standards be developed for Major Collectors in the South Capitol Historic District. The engineering standards should be developed in collaboration with the South Capitol Neighborhood Association through a public process and brought forward to the City Council for a final decision.
Report
Issue:
Whether the Planning Commission will make a written recommendation to City Council regarding the Comprehensive Plan Amendment proposed by the South Capitol Neighborhood Association to amend the Transportation 2030 Maps.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
Each year the Community Planning and Development Department sends notification of the annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment process to recognized neighborhoods in the City.
In 2016 the South Capitol Neighborhood Association submitted a preliminary application to amend the Transportation 2030 Maps by removing the Major Collector designation on Maple Park Avenue between Capitol Way S and Jefferson Street SE and designating it to a lower standard. Earlier in 2017, the City Council advanced the request to the final docket along with three other applications.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
This section of street has multiple parties of interest. Maintenance of street and median/park is shared between the State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services and the City of Olympia. Essentially, the City maintains the travel lanes and the state maintains the median, which is Maple Park. The street is primarily used by state employees to access the state’s main parking facility and the residents of the adjacent neighborhood. Intercity Transit runs bus service on the street and has four transit stops.
Maple Park Avenue is a unique, landscaped boulevard that is wholly within the nationally recognized historic south capitol neighborhood. It serves as the transition between the residential neighborhood and the State Capitol Campus.
The engineering standards the City applies to streets are based upon their classification. If a street is designated as a Major Collector, certain standards are applied. Redesignation of the street classification may not affect the way the street is used, however it will impact the standards and funding sources applied to the street.
Options:
1. Recommend the Transportation 2030 Maps be amended, as proposed by the South Capitol Neighborhood Association, by designating Maple Park Avenue as a Neighborhood Collector.
2. Recommend the Transportation 2030 Maps not be amended, but that a new set of engineering standards be developed for Major Collectors in the South Capitol Historic District. The engineering standards should be developed in collaboration with the South Capitol Neighborhood Association through a public process and brought forward to the City Council for a final decision.
3. Recommend the Transportation 2030 Map amendments be denied and retain the Major Collector designation on Maple Park Avenue.
Financial Impact:
If Maple Park Avenue is reclassified as a Neighborhood Collector rather than a Major Collector, the City would need to remove it from the Federal Aid Classification System. This means that the City would not be able to use Federal transportation funds on this street in the future.
Attachments:
Review Criteria
Application Packet
Intercity Transit Comments
Public Works Comments
Capitol Campus Map