Title
Resolution No. 20-17, Supporting the 2020 Transporation Growth Management (TGM) Grant Application for the Park Place Urbanization Study
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
Approve Resolution 20-17 in support for the Transportation Growth Management (TGM) Application for the Park Place Urbanization Study.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Oregon City Public Works Department is seeking City Commission approval of Resolution 20-17 in support for a grant application for the TGM Program to complete an Urbanization Study of the existing Park Place Neighborhood. This study will provide guidance to staff to improve roads over time by development such as Hunter Avenue, Hiram Avenue, Swan Avenue, Front Avenue, Apperson Boulevard, and Holcomb Boulevard concerning road widening, bike lanes, and sidewalks. This study is similar to the Linn Avenue, Leland Road, and Meyers Road Corridor Plan, 2015.
BACKGROUND:
The Park Place Neighborhood was annexed over 20 years ago from Clackamas County to Oregon City. In recent years, development has increased in the area causing a need for urbanization of the neighborhood due to the increase in density. The City is seeking an urbanization study to guide the City in how to build out the existing infrastructure to include wider roads, new sidewalks, and street lighting where and when appropriate. The citizens have sought additional amenities such as sidewalks and crosswalks from the City. The City anticipates that an urbanization study will provide proper and consistent design measures for the entire neighborhood. The design measures would be used incrementally with development as well as be a supplement to the TSP to guide the design of capital improvement projects within the area.
Over the last two decades, numerous subdivisions have been built mostly with new internal road networks not substantially affecting the existing roadways. In recent years, the types of developments that have been proposed or built within the Park Place Neighborhood have had substantial impacts on the local existing roads. The City Public Works Department has done its best to widen roads and add sidewalks to roadways like Hunter Avenue. However, with staff turnover and no plan, the efforts have been inconsistent. As the City sees additional development from small subdivisions to partitions with land still available on roads like Hunter Avenue, Hiram Avenue, Swan Avenue, Front Avenue, Apperson Boulevard, and Holcomb Boulevard, as well as rumblings of redevelopment of Clackamas County Housing Authority properties, the City would benefit from a plan that considers how to properly build out existing roads for driving, biking, and walking.
The City has experienced plans like these in the past which have greatly benefited corridors like the Linn Avenue, Leland Road and Meyers Road Corridor Plan, Molalla Avenue Boulevard and Bikeway Improvements Plan, the McLoughlin Boulevard Enhancement Plan, the Holcomb Boulevard Pedestrian Enhancement Plan, and concept plan networks in South End, Park Place, and Beavercreek Road (Thimble Creek). While other roadways like Central Point and Pease could benefit from a corridor plan or urbanization study, the majority of available land has already been developed in those corridors. The original Park Place Neighborhood is one of the last developable areas of the City that does not have a concept plan or corridor plan.
The City Public Works Department is recommending applying for a TGM Grant in the amount of $100,000 where the City would match with $50,000 from the Transportation SDC Fund. This funding has already been budgeted for Fiscal Year 2021. To apply for the grant, we are seeking a resolution of support from the City Commission, and letters of support from the Planning Commission, Park Place Neighborhood Association, Citizen Involvement Committee, and Development Stakeholders Group. We are requesting that the City Commission approve Resolution 20-17 in support of this grant application.
OPTIONS:
1. Approve Resolution 20-17 in support of the Transportation Growth Management (TGM) Application for the Park Place Urbanization Study.
2. Deny Resolution 20-17.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Amount: $50,000
FY(s): FY 2020-2021
Funding Source: Transportation SDC Fund