Title
Request for Letter of Support - TGM Grant - Park Place Urbanization Study
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
Support the Transportation Growth Management (TGM) Application for the Park Place Urbanization Study by authorizing submittal of the draft Letter of Support
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Public Works Department is seeking a Letter of Support from the Planning Commission for a grant application of the TGM program to complete an Urbanization Study of the existing Park Place Neighborhood. This study will provide guidance on the future design of roadways (such as road widening, bike lanes, and sidewalks) which will be improved over time by development. This study is similar to the Corridor Plan for the Linn/Leland/Meyers corridor.
BACKGROUND:
A majority of 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 how 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.
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 roads 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, Hiram, Swan, Front, Apperson, and Holcomb 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 Linn/Leland/Meyers, Molalla, Holcomb and concept plan networks in South End, Park Place, and Beavercreek (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 letters of support from the City Commission, Planning Commission, Park Place Neighborhood Association, Citizen Involvement Committee, and Development Stakeholders Group. We are requesting the Planning Commission authorize a Letter of Support from the Planning Commission for this grant application.
OPTIONS:
1. Approve the Letter of Support
2. Deny the Letter of Support
BUDGET IMPACT:
Amount: $50,000
FY(s): FY21
Funding Source: Transportation SDC Account #280-526-6006