AGENDA #5c

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Request for a Median and Sign in the Arlen Park Drive Right-of-Way

DATE:            January 23, 2006

PURPOSE

The following report responds to a petition submitted by Mr. Tom Hanlon, on behalf of the Southern Village Homeowners Association, regarding construction of a raised the median island on Arlen Park Drive at its intersection with US 15-501 South.  The petition requests that median island provide a location to install an entranceway sign for the Arlen Park portion of the Southern Village development. Please see the attached aerial photo (Attachment 1).

We recommend that the Council take no action at this time on the petition from the Southern Village Homeowners Association regarding construction of a raised median island on Arlen Park Drive at its intersection with US 15-501 South.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

At its September 26, 2005 meeting, the Council received a petition from Mr. Tom Hanlon, on behalf of the Southern Village Homeowners Association, regarding construction of a raised median island on Arlen Park Drive at its intersection with US 15-501 South.  The petition requests that median island provide a location to install an entranceway sign for the Arlen Park portion of the Southern Village development. Please see the attached petition (Attachment 2).

The segment of Arlen Park Drive between US 15-501 to Edgewater Circle is 41 feet wide and approximately 280 feet in length.  Traffic at the US 15-501 intersection is controlled by a traffic signal, and traffic at the Edgewater Circle intersection is controlled by a 4-way stop.

Median

This segment of Arlen Park Drive is wide enough to provide for the installation of a median island. However, because of the short distance (280 feet) between existing traffic controls at the intersections noted above, the installation of a center median island on this short street segment would have no significant traffic calming effect. Therefore, we do not believe that the requested median installation within the public right-of-way of Arlen Park Drive is necessary to serve a public purpose.

Subdivision Sign

Chapel Hill’s Land Use Management Ordinance prohibits the installation of private signs within public rights-of-way. This prohibition includes subdivision signs such as the one proposed by the Southern Village Homeowners Association in its petition. Identification signs for private developments are typically located adjacent to the street and outside the public right-of-way.

Generally accepted traffic safety guidelines advise that public rights-of-way should be kept clear of non-essential obstructions and/or distractions to drivers.  In any case, encroachments permitted onto or adjacent to public street rights-of-way must not restrict driver or pedestrian sight lines.

Development identification signage is allowed at the Arlen Park Drive entrance to Southern Village. A ground sign is allowed.  It would need to be authorized with a permit from the Town and it must be located outside the public right-of-way.

CONCLUSION

The installation of a subdivision identification sign within a public street right-of-way is prohibited by the Land Use Management Ordinance. The Town could approve the installation of a raised median on Arlen Park Drive, as requested by the Southern Village Homeowners Association, if it serves a public purpose.  In this case, we do not believe that the proposed median would be an effective or necessary traffic calming device, nor would it serve another public purpose.

If the Homeowners Association wants to install only a raised median, we suggest that it develop design plans and submit them to the Town Manager for review and approval.  If a median is approved, the Homeowners Association would be responsible for construction in accordance with Town standards and approved plans.

Development identification signage is allowed at the Arlen Park Drive entrance to Southern Village.  A ground sign is allowed.  It would need to be authorized with a permit from the Town and it must be located outside the public right-of-way, on the private property owned by the Southern Village Homeowners Association.

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

That the Council take no action on the petition from the Southern Village Homeowners Association regarding construction of a raised median island on Arlen Park Drive at its intersection with US 15-501 South.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Aerial Photo (p. 3).

2. Petition (p. 4).