HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.d. Placement of Sidewalks in New Developments
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Work Session: December 12, 2016
AGENDA ITEM: Placement of Sidewalks in New
Developments
AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation
Director
AGENDA NO.
2.d.
ATTACHMENTS: Chart of Sidewalk Requirements,
Resource Page and US DOT Guidelines
APPROVED BY: ddj
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None, discussion only.
ISSUE
Per the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, the Parks and Recreation Commission is the assigned
advisory board to the City Council with regard to implementing the walk-bike network. Following the
review of the development plans for the Prestwick Place 13th Addition, you may recall that the City
directed the developer to install sidewalks on both sides of a neighborhood street instead one side, which
is our normal standard. It was requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission review our standards
for locating sidewalks in new neighborhoods. The current policy requires sidewalks, or sidewalk and trail
on both sides of designated arterial and collector streets and one side on local streets. The policy also
recognizes that in certain circumstances, the City may vary from the policy. Staff has requested in the past
additional sidewalks in areas with higher density and also adjoining commercial areas to allow
neighborhoods better pedestrian access.
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that we change our current standard. Currently we
require a sidewalk on one side of neighborhood streets with a review on a case by case basis. The
Commission is recommending that we change our current practice to a new standard that requires
sidewalk placement for local streets on both sides of the street plus a review on a case by case basis.
Staff feels that the current standards have served the City well and is recommending we keep our current
standard, which is a sidewalk on one side of all local streets and with review on a case by case basis. One
item shared with staff was that when the extra sidewalk was added to the Prestwick Place 13th Addition the
change resulted in an additional $100,000 to the project. It is assumed that the extra cost will be passed on
to the people buying lots in the development. Aside from the immediate costs of sidewalk installation,
there are financial implications for doubling the amount of sidewalks in the new developments. The
sidewalks are part of the public infrastructure and therefore there are long term maintenance and
replacement requirements the City will be taking on.
BACKGROUND
Listed below are the standards that we currently follow for locating trails and sidewalks in new
developments or redeveloping areas:
Road Type Types of Improvements (examples)
Local streets Sidewalk on one side of the road (also reviewed on a case by case basis)
Collectors Bituminous trail on one side and concrete sidewalk/or bituminous trail on
the other side (Shannon Parkway, Chippendale and Ave Connemara Trail)
Minor Arterials Bituminous trail on one side and concrete sidewalk/or bituminous trail on
the other side (County Highway 71, 46, 38 and 33)
Principal Arterials Bituminous trail on one side and concrete sidewalk/or bituminous trail on
the other side (Hwy 52, Hwy 55 and County Hwy 42)
Included in the packet is a chart that identifies what some other local communities require for sidewalks in
new developing neighborhoods.
The topic of the placement of sidewalks and trails in new subdivisions was discussed at the October Parks
and Recreation Commission meeting. The Commission asked that staff look at some of the standards
from other organizations. Staff looked into their request and has found the following “Great Resources”
page from the US Environmental Protection Agency (attached). This page lists a number of organizations
that either promote walkable communities or provide information for planning for pedestrian facilities.
The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) is one organization that provides guidelines on the
placement of sidewalks and trails. Attached is a table that identifies guidelines that they recommend for
new sidewalk installation. The City of Rosemount’s current practice of placing sidewalks and trails is very
similar to that of the US DOT. One difference is that the US DOT recommends additional sidewalks in
areas that have a more dense development, such as apartments or multi-family townhomes. The City looks
at these types of developments on a case by case basis.
SUMMARY
Staff feels that the current standards have served the City well and is recommending we keep our current
standards.
Staff would like for the City Council to review the standards and recommendation from the Parks and
Recreation and provide direction to staff.