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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05 - Bushong RoadMEMO TO FROM: MEETING DATE: SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION: iM HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER 1 OCTOBER 4, 2011 PARKING RESTRICTION ON BUSHONG ROAD FROM DOOLEY STREET TO CABLE CREEK DRIVE City Council consider adopting an ordinance amending the Grapevine Code of Ordinances Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23 -63, No Parking Zones, prohibiting stopping, standing and parking on the south side of Bushong Road from North Dooley Street to Cable Creek Drive and take any necessary action. BACKGROUND: With the annually increasing student enrollment at Silver Lake Elementary School, traffic congestion on and around the school property is an ongoing concern for parents and residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. Staff has received specific complaints from residents about vehicles parking along both sides of Bushong Road immediately east of its intersection with N. Dooley St. During several field visits, staff observed some parents parking in this area to walk their children to the school, while others were seen stopping to drop off children on Bushong Road. When the designated on -site drop -off area behind the school is full, this area provides a very convenient alternative drop -off because there is an existing crosswalk across Dooley Street, with crossing guard, on the north side of Bushong Road. For approximately 180 ft east from Dooley Street, Bushong Road has curb on both sides and is approximately 30 ft wide. If vehicles park on both sides of the road, as is often the case during school arrival and dismissal times, there is approximately 14 feet of pavement width remaining to accommodate two -way traffic. Given that this occurs up to the intersection at Dooley Street, where turning vehicles cannot see if oncoming traffic is present, this situation regularly results in conflicts between vehicles in same area where parents and children are exiting vehicles and significant pedestrian activity is present. It is not considered reasonable to try to force all school drop -off activity and parking from Bushong Road, given its convenient location to the front of the school building. Often times, congestion expands from schools into neighborhood streets during two periods in the school day. It is staffs intent to provide the minimum level of regulation deemed necessary to ensure that basic traffic flow can be maintained on Bushong Road while protecting pedestrians, allowing convenient school access and avoiding pushing the drop -off and pick up traffic into the surrounding neighborhoods. September 29, 2011 (9:30AM) Therefore, in consultation with the Police Department, it is recommended that stopping, standing and parking be prohibited on the south side of Bushong Road from Dooley Street to Cable Creek Drive, the first intersecting street to the east of Dooley Street. This will allow parking to continue on the north side, where it is adjacent to a newly rebuilt sidewalk and the staffed crosswalk, so those walking to or from vehicles will not have to cross Bushong Road. This parking limitation should reduce the issue of two -way traffic being obstructed at and near the Dooley Street intersection. Given the number of vehicles typically observed, it is not expected that parking east of Cable Creek Drive will occur in sufficient numbers to create an obstruction to two -way traffic flow. The property adjacent to the parking restriction consists of an undeveloped tract on the corner with Dooley Street and the fenced rear yards of single family homes with access from streets interior to the subdivision. No homes or businesses front directly on Bushong Road in this area, so there is no impact on adjoining properties. Staff recommends approval. 1p September 29, 2011 (9:30AM) ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE GRAPEVINE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 23 TRAFFIC, SECTION 23 -63 RELATIVE TO NO PARKING ZONES, RESTRICTED PARKING ZONES; AUTHORIZING THE ERECTION OF TRAFFIC REGULATION SIGNS; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE AND A SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE DEEMED COMMITTED EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH AN OFFENSE OCCURS OR CONTINUES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That Chapter 23, Section 23 -63, No Parking Zones, Restricted Parking Zones of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by adding the following: "Bushong Road, south side, no parking, stopping or standing from North Dooley Street to Cable Creek Drive." Section 2. That the City Manager, or his designee, is hereby authorized to have the proper traffic signs erected, constructed, and placed at such points along said highways, streets or alleys, or portions hereof under construction, maintenance or repair so that travelers will be reasonably notified of said traffic regulations. Section 3. That all ordinances or any parts thereof in conflict with the terms of this ordinance shall be and hereby are deemed repealed and of no force or effect; provided, however, that the ordinance or ordinances under which the cases currently filed and pending in the Municipal Court of the City of Grapevine, Texas, shall be deemed repealed only when all such cases filed and pending under such ordinance or ordinances have been disposed of by a final conviction or a finding not guilty or nolo contendere, or dismissal. Section 4. That any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and a separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. Section 5. That if any section, article, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or word in this ordinance, or application thereto any person or circumstances is held invalid or unconstitutional by a Court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance; and the City Council hereby declares it would have passed such remaining portions of the ordinance despite such invalidity, which remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect. Section 6. That the fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of Grapevine, Texas are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety, morals, peace and general welfare of the public creates an emergency which requires that this ordinance become effective from and after the date of its passage, and it is accordingly so ordained. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 4th day of October 2011. APPROVED: ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: ORD. N. 2