AGENDA #4b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Request for 4-Way Stop Sign Installation on Scarlette Drive at its Intersection with Legion Road and On-Street Parking Restrictions Along Segments of Scarlette Drive and Legion Road
DATE: January 24, 2000
The following is in response to a request from residents of the Scarlette Drive neighborhood to install additional stop signs on Scarlette Drive at its intersection with Legion Road, creating a 4-way stop, and to restrict on-street parking along segments of Scarlett Drive and Legion Road. (Please refer to the attached map.)
The attached ordinance would authorize the installation of additional stop signs on Scarlette Drive at its intersection with Legion Road, creating a 4-way stop, and would restrict on-street parking on the north side of Scarlette Drive from Legion Road to Garden Street, on both sides of Scarlette Drive between Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road and Legion Road, and on both sides of Legion Road between Scarlette Drive and Standish Drive.
On November 10, 1999, Town staff met with representatives of the Orange Community Housing Corporation and residents of the Scarlette Drive neighborhood to discuss the Scarlette Drive Town Homes development. (Please refer to the attached November 16, 1999 Barnes memorandum.) The residents expressed concerns regarding traffic and potential on-street parking problems in their neighborhood. The residents stated that parking on both sides of Scarlette Drive restricts travel lane widths on the street, and they believe that future residents of this development may exacerbate this problem. The residents and the representatives of the Orange Community Housing Corporation also believe that a 4-way stop is needed at the Scarlette Drive/Legion Road intersection, and requested the Town to consider installing additional stop signs on Scarlette Drive at the Legion Road intersection to achieve this.
Scarlette Drive is a 27-foot wide paved road, back of curb to back of curb, from Legion Road to Garden Street, and 21-foot wide without curb and gutter between Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road and Legion Road. Scarlette Drive is designated as a “through” street at Legion Road, and vehicles traveling this road may continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Legion Road is a paved road without curb and gutter varying in width between 28 feet to 34 feet from Scarlette Drive to Standish Drive. Legion Road is designated as a “stop” street, and vehicles traveling this road are required to stop at the existing stop signs before continuing through the intersection at Scarlette Drive. (Please refer to the attached map.) On-street parking is permitted on both sides of Scarlette Drive and Legion Road at all times.
Staff reviewed the accident history for the Scarlette Drive/Legion Road intersection. Over the past three years, there was one recorded accident at the intersection on August 23, 1996. The accident records do not suggest a specific traffic safety problem at the intersection.
Town staff conducted field observations at various times on different days. They noted that parking on both sides of the Scarlett Drive reduces the width of the travel lanes and restricts the sight distance available at some driveways. It was noted that the section of Legion road between Scarlette Drive and Standish Drive does not have facilities to accommodate on-street parking. While observing the Scarlette Drive/Legion Road intersection, some drivers approaching the intersection on Scarlett Drive from Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road appeared to be uncertain as to who had the right-of-way and would stop at the intersection.
A survey form was distributed that described the placement of additional stop signs and proposed parking restrictions, and solicited comments from the neighborhood residents. Staff distributed 69 surveys, and 30 were returned. Of those returned, 26 supported the proposed stop signs, 3 opposed the installation, and 1 indicated no preference. Regarding the change in on-street parking regulations, 24 supported the proposed change, 3 opposed, and 3 indicated no preference
Based on our observations and the neighborhood survey results, we believe that restricting the on-street parking along Scarlette Drive and Legion Road to “No Parking” at anytime would address residents concerns and provide sufficient travel lane width for two-way traffic flow in these areas. We also believe that placing the additional stop signs on Scarlette Drive would address residents’ concerns regarding traffic flow through this intersection.
That the Council adopt the attached ordinance creating an all-stop condition at the Scarlette Drive/Legion Road intersection and changing on-street parking regulations along segments of Scarlette Drive and Legion Road to “No Parking” at anytime.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map (p. 4)
2. November 16, 1999 Barnes memorandum (p. 5)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21-13 AND 21-27 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING RIGHT-OF-WAY AND STOP REGULATIONS AND ON-STREET PARKING (2000-01-24/O-2)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-13(a) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop regulations” is hereby amended by deleting the following:
“Through Streets Stop Streets
Scarlette Drive Legion Road”
Section 2. Section 21-13(c) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop regulations” is amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:
“Intersection(s)
Section 3. Section 21-27 of the Town Code of Ordinances, “No parking as to particular streets.” is hereby amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:
Scarlette Drive Both Old Durham-Chapel Road Legion Road
Scarlette Drive North Legion Road Garden Street
Legion Road Both Scarlette Drive Standish Drive”
Section 4. This ordinance shall become effective March 1, 2000.
This the 24th day of January, 2000.