City Council Meeting Date: July 17, 2018
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider Driveway Modification for Witt Brothers on the Division and Seventh Street Reconstruction Project.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council consider a Motion for the proposed design modification for Witt Brothers Driveway off Seventh Street related to the Division and Seventh Street Reconstruction Project.
Summary Report:
The City, through the project development process, engaged the public and reviewed options that brought forward the proposed design improvement for this project. The design concept prepared by Toole Design Group was approved by the City Council on December 5, 2017 (Attachment 1). From there, the final plans were created for the project and a final streetscape rendering was prepared by SEH, the design consultant (Attachment 2).
In the final design, Witt Brother’s driveway off Seventh Street is proposed as 21 feet wide. The existing driveway width off Seventh Street prior to construction was 33 feet wide. The property owner has concerns with the proposed width of the new driveway. The only way to widen the driveway is to eliminate one of the parking stalls. So, instead of three stalls between Witt Brothers and Napa, there would be two parking stalls. (Note: the accessible aisle for a handicap stall shown in the streetscape plan from SEH is now provided offsite at the businesses).
Staff is looking for Council direction on eliminating the parking stall on the south side of Seventh Street, particularly in consideration of the effort to balance multiple project goals. The public street parking stall that would be removed with the proposed change is primarily used by Witt Brothers for their customers. This will add 9 feet to the driveway width bringing it to a total width of 30 feet wide.
Alternative Options:
No changes could be made and the driveway could remain as proposed at 20 feet. The driveway off Seventh Street is in addition to the driveways off Division Street.
Staff is supportive of either option.
Financial Impacts:
Cost impacts are minimal.