AGENDA #4e

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Designation of Fire Lane on Pharmacy Lane

 

DATE:             June 9, 2003

 

 

This report responds to a request from the University requesting establishment of a fire lane on Pharmacy Lane.  Attachment #1 is a copy of the request from the University.

 

The Manager recommends enactment of the attached ordinance that would establish a fire lane over the entire length and width of Pharmacy Lane.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

The Town staff received a request from the University requesting establishment of a fire lane on Pharmacy Lane. Attachment #2 is a map of the area in question.  The request includes the following comments and concerns:

·        Pharmacy Lane is a narrow street sometimes used for on-street parking.

·        Parked vehicles on Pharmacy Lane sometimes restrict access for fire protection and other emergency service vehicles.

 

Pharmacy Lane is a 19-foot wide paved road, 240 feet in length, extending south from McCauley Street. On-street parking is currently prohibited on the east side of the street. Pharmacy Lane provides access to a fraternity house and University buildings.

 

Our field observations indicate that access for emergency vehicles is sometimes restricted when vehicles are parked on Pharmacy Lane.  Staff from the Town Fire Department also reviewed the conditions and concurred that the best solution to the problem is to establish a fire lane over the entire length and width of Pharmacy Lane.

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Town Council enact the attached ordinance that would establish a fire lane over the entire length and width of Pharmacy Lane.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.                  Request from the University (p. 3).

2.         Area Map (p. 4).

 

 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2003-06-09/0-2)

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:

Section 1.         Section 21-20.2 of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Fire lanes.” is hereby amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:

“Name                                    Description                              Length             Width                

 

Pharmacy Lane             Beginning at a point in the          240 feet            All the paved area between center of McCauley Street                           the curb lines (19 feet)”

                                    to a point 240 feet southwardly

where Pharmacy Lane ends

                 

Section 2.  This ordinance shall become effective adoption.

This the 9th day of June, 2003.