AGENDA #11

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Consideration of Downtown Streetscape Construction Options

 

DATE:             February 11, 2002

 

Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to:

 

·        Develop detailed working drawings for Streetscape improvements to the south side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street from 108 (The Gap) east to Porthole Alley;

 

·        Discuss construction plans with affected property owners and merchants;

 

·        Utilize $98,000 of available Streetscape bond funds for the proposed construction; and

 

·        Schedule construction to begin in May of 2002.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On November 22, 1993, the Town Council approved the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan. Since that time, construction projects totaling 2396 linear feet have been completed by Public Works crews in accordance with the Master Plan.  These improvements have been constructed in sections, using in-house labor, during the summers of six of the last eight years.  In previous years, prior to construction of each section of Streetscape improvements, we have provided the Council with options detailing different locations where these improvements could be constructed.  This report provides options for Streetscape construction by Public Works crews in the summer of 2002.  We believe the options provided are needed projects, each of which is of a size that can be completed using in-house labor during the period between the University’s graduation in mid-May and the beginning of classes in late August.

 

In addition to improvements constructed by Public Works crews, over the last several years private developers have constructed several sections of Streetscape improvements in conjunction with new construction and the renovation of existing downtown buildings.  Attachment #1 is a map of the Streetscape study area indicating where improvements are complete and where construction is proposed for next year.

 

In 1996, $1,000,000 in Streets and Sidewalks bonds were approved for Streetscape improvements. To date, $500,000 of those bond funds have become available and $268,077 has been spent or encumbered for Streetscape construction, including $60,000 authorized by the Council in May 2000 for Streetscape improvements associated with the Orange County Skills Development Center on West Franklin Street. The contractor hired by Orange County started this work in mid-December and is scheduled to complete the project by April 15, 2002. 

 

The remaining balance from the currently available bond funds is $221,923, of which $98,000 is proposed in this report to be used for construction of the next phase of Streetscape.  The remaining $500,000 in bond funds are expected to become available later this year and additional expenditures are anticipated for street and pedestrian lighting improvements in the 100 block of East Franklin Street utilizing some of these funds.  We are currently preparing a report detailing options and related costs for these lighting improvements that we will provide to the Council for their consideration in the near future.

 

On December 11, 2000, the Town Council approved a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to schedule construction of Streetscape improvements on the east side of the 100 block of North Columbia Street and along a section of the south side of the 200 block of East Franklin Street.  These improvements were completed in the fall of 2001.  In January 2002, Public Works crews also reconstructed 60 linear feet of sidewalk on the north side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street just west of Amber Alley as part of a joint project with the adjacent building owner to replace the deteriorating glass block panels over the Rathskeller Restaurant.

 

DISCUSSION

 

In 1995, developers of Top of the Hill installed sidewalk improvements at the southeast corner of the intersection of Franklin and Columbia Streets.  In 1998, Public Works crews completed approximately 90 feet of Streetscape improvements on the south side of East Franklin Street east of Porthole Alley.  During 1999 and 2000, all of the north side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street was rebuilt from Henderson Street to North Columbia Street, with the exception of the recently completed 60’ section adjacent to the Rathskeller.

 

For the upcoming year, we recommend constructing improvements on the south side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street from The Gap to Porthole Alley. This section will complete Streetscape construction adjacent to commercial properties on both sides of the 100 and 200 blocks of East Franklin Street. The section is approximately 295 feet long and includes nine existing trees in raised planters, six business entrances, and 28 newspaper racks.  There is no adjacent on-street parking at this location; however a 100-foot loading zone serves the adjacent businesses.  Adjacent to the curb for approximately half the length of the area proposed for construction are irregular concrete steps.

 

Attachment #2 is a conceptual plan of the proposed improvements.  The plan includes installing an underground conduit bank to service future lighting improvements below a reconstructed sidewalk.  We propose constructing a concrete sidewalk section to cross Porthole Alley where there is currently asphalt to improve pedestrian safety.  The plan also includes reconstructing all of the raised brick planters and replacing two existing trees.  To improve access to and from the loading area, we propose safer steps and a concrete ramp between planters adjacent to the loading zone.

 

As with last year’s Streetscape project on North Columbia Street, this site provides an opportunity to consolidate multiple newspaper racks located in the public right-of-way.  As a part of the project, we propose purchasing modular newspaper racks for free publications and requiring that coin-operated racks be replaced with Town standard racks at designated locations.  Prior to beginning construction, we will provide the Town Council with the appropriate ordinance amendments needed to regulate newspaper racks at this location.

 

As indicated previously, the project is proposed to be constructed using in-house labor and therefore bond funds are used only to cover the cost of needed construction supplies and materials.  The total cost for these supplies and materials, including the cost of the proposed modular newspaper racks, is estimated to be $98,000.  

 

Advantages of this option include:

 

·        Very high visibility location;

·        Complements other recent improvements on East Franklin Street;

·        Improves the function and safety of the loading zone; and

·        Provides an opportunity to consider landscape improvements that would integrate newspaper racks into the Streetscape on East Franklin Street.

 

Disadvantages of this option include:

 

·        High pedestrian and delivery traffic will make construction logistics difficult; and

·        Grade changes at the curb present design/construction challenges.

 

Three other options for Streetscape projects have been presented in recent years. Conceptual plans and associated discussion are included in the attachments as follows:

 

1.      North side of the 500 and 600 blocks of West Franklin Street from Chapel Hill Tire to Crook’s Corner (Option #2 described on pages 10 and 14 in Attachment #3);

 

2.      North side of the 100 block of West Franklin Street from I Love New York Pizza to Church Street (Option #3 described on pages 11 and 15 in Attachment #3); and

3.      Courthouse Alley (Attachment #4).

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to:

 

·        Develop detailed working drawings for Streetscape improvements to the south side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street from 108 (The Gap) to Porthole Alley;

 

·        Discuss construction plans with affected property owners and merchants;

 

·        Utilize $98,000 of available Streetscape bond funds; and

 

·        Schedule construction to begin in May of 2002.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      Streetscape Improvements Map (p. 6).

2.      Conceptual plan for Streetscape improvements to the south side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street (p. 7).

3.      Memorandum to Council dated July 6, 1998, “Downtown Streetscape Construction Options”(p.8).

4.      Memorandum to Council dated January 25, 1999, “Possible Improvements to Courthouse Alley” (p.16).

 


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO PREPARE WORKING DRAWINGS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO the south side of East franklin Street from 108 East franklin street to porthole alley; Discuss construction plans with affected property owners and merchants; UTILIZE $98,000 OF AVAILABLE STREETSCAPE BOND FUNDS; and Schedule construction to begin in May of 2002 (2002-02-11/R-12)

 

WHEREAS, the Council adopted the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, $98,000 currently exists in bond funding to implement a portion of the Streetscape Master Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council has received a report from the Town Manager describing three alternative plans for possible construction by Town labor forces in 2002; and

 

WHEREAS, Town resources permit construction of only one of the three options within a summer construction period;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to prepare finished working drawings for improvements at the sites described as the first project presented in the preceding report, discuss these improvements with affected property owners and merchants, and proceed with construction in May of 2002.

 

This the 11th day of February, 2002.