Loading...
Approved Minutes - 1999-04-21 MINUTES OLD RIVER ROAD TASK FORCE -- WORK SESSION April 21, 1999 -- 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Lake Oswego City Hall - Human Resources Room Revised at the May 5, 1999 Meeting Members Present: Co-Chair, Sister Eileen Brown, Kelly Atwood, Stan Aschenbrenner, NRAB, David Dodds, Robinwood N.A. (Alternate), Michael Lammers, Marylhurst, Judy Dauble, Glenmorrie N.A.,Marsha Robertson, PRAB Staff Present: Ron Bunch, Long Range Planning Manager, David Ausherman, Fregonese Calthorpe Associates Others: Dick Porn, John Panichello, Priscilla Panichello Excused: Mike Anderson, Gordon Howard,Jamie Eligen The meeting was convened at 6:00 p.m. INTRODUCTION Sister Eileen Brown explained the purpose of the meeting as necessary to address more fully the issues raised at the April 4, 1999 Task Force meeting. This was necessary to begin to formulate a recommendation to the City Council and provide staff definitive direction for the May 5, 1999 meeting. She stated that at the last meeting there were expressed many things in common regarding the pathway. It is important to stress these common themes to be able to proceed in a positive direction. Also,there are some themes of disagreement, which also must be recognized. What she heard at the last meeting are as follows: • Safety for those who use the road is important. However, there was not a consensus regarding the construction of pathway separate from the road. It was expressed by at least two members of the committee that a separate pathway should be eliminated from consideration. It was expressed that other options should be considered such as using the existing 15 - 16 foot wide roadway. In this vein however the Council's charge statement to the task force was to align a pathway. The meaning of"align: was determined(clarified)to not engineer with the location of a pathway. The intent was to the general location of a path such as on the east or west side of the road. • Traffic needs to be managed, especially the speed of cars. This can be accomplished through the use of traffic management devices such as periodic pinch-points and speed bumps. There was not a consensus on the use of rumble strips because of noise. What were shown at the last meeting were 5 pinch-points about 1,000 feet apart with the prospect of using periodic speed bumps in-between. • The natural beauty and natural resource characteristics of the area must be protected. Especially important is the need to protect existing vegetation. In this regard, all improvements should be designed consistent with this theme. Well-designed and judicious signage is important. Excessive use of paint should also be avoided. Signage that is used should have specific themes, such as alerting those who use the road of speed limits, and the fact that this is a special recreation and slower speeds are necessary. • Closing the road is not an option, except perhaps for special events. • Drainage improvements(surface water management)are important as is repaving the road (pavement management)within its current width. Sister Eileen, asked the members to present express their views about the what the group has in common and to comment on the proposed design treatments of Old River Road in particular. David Dodds(Alternate for Duane Funk)presented written material (Attachment A) and expressed his fundamental opposition to any pedestrian improvements that would widen the road. He stated that the Task Force was directed to align a pathway,which was opposed by the neighborhood. This is because of the inflexibility of the City of Lake Oswego and its Transportation Plan. The appropriate solution would be to install 10— 12 speed bumps to control traffic, as was done on Old River Road in West Linn and leave the neighborhood alone. He continued that this Committee is example of the City Council's misplaced paternalism. The citizens were being treated like small children. The Task Force was a pathway siting committee,not a group to reach consensus on what's best for the area. He said he drafted portions of the West Linn Transportation Plan. Work that he did would prevent this kind of thing from happening. Written material from the West Linn Transportation Plan was presented(Attachment B). If the Task Force continued to support a pathway and some other parts of the proposal,he doesn't want to have anything to do with it. Further,he had reviewed his submitted material with Duane Funk and he agreed with this position. Sister Eileen asked David if he disagreed with all Task Force's mission, such as to make recommendations regarding traffic management,protecting the environmental quality of the area, improve the quality of the road and so forth,or if his opposition focused on the pathway. He stated his opposition was with the pathway and any action that would widen the road and is inconsistent with the wishes of the neighborhood. Stan Ashenbrenner pointed out that the Council's charge statement stated that the group was to,"undertake a study of issues and conditions which will now and in the future affect the road, and reach a consensus regarding the roads future character." The operative word is"future" and it should not be intended that all of these improvements are necessary now. Recommending a phased approach to apply a range of design solutions is entirely appropriate. Stan had to leave at 6:45 to attend another meeting. 2 Michael Lammers stressed that his area of concern was the frontage of the road along Marylhurst University. He felt that there should be less rather than more done on the road to establish a reasonable comfort/safety of those who use the road. In other words, instead of approaching the project with all of the improvements in place at once, the plan could ratchet, or phase into safety,with initial installation of traffic management of traffic management devices to see what they could do to address traffic concerns. There could a mixing and matching of improvements to address the traffic management(speed) issues over time. Ron Bunch was asked what the fire department feels about speed bumps/traffic management devices. He said that he had talked with the fire department about the they really don't like them for the following reasons: • They slow response times. This is really critical when trying to get to fire or medical emergency. A small delay can have severe consequences; • Speed bumps are hard on the fire department's equipment-- truck axles, drivelines, and frames. • Speed bumps makes it hard to transport injured persons--especially those with spinal injuries or when the paramedics are in the midst of procedures. They pose a risk. That said, the Department lives with speed bumps and in this circumstance said they would life with the situation if speed bumps and other traffic management devices were installed. The department also stated that,they have concerns with the pinch points because they could also slow response times, especially if a car stalls within one of them. However, in many ways the entire road, because it is so narrow is a one big pinch point. The fire department likes to have a minimum 24-foot wide local residential street and the pavement width on the road ranges from 15 feet to 18 feet. However, there are a lot of narrow residential streets in the area that the department stated that they had to cope with. Kelly Atwood stated that he had reviewed his plan with the Old River Road neighbors and that his group is opposed to pinch points. A place to get off the road is important. The road is narrow in many places and the pedestrian needs to be able to move off the road to let cars go by. Cars can't pass pedestrians or bicyclists because there is a double yellow line. At the very least a margin could be built. • Speed bumps are appropriate. • The double yellow line should be removed so cars can legally go around pedestrians. • Stop signs should be installed at the corner of Glenmorrie Drive and Old River Road to cause a complete stop. Rumble strips should be installed at this location to warn, remind drivers that a stop sign is coming up. The rumble strips are far enough away 3 from houses so as not to cause noise problems. • The pathway from George Rogers Park should be separated from the Road as was previously proposed. • A pathway is not feasible on Glenmorrie and should be dropped from consideration. It is not realistic. There are cars backing out on the road, and walking on the road on a foggy morning would be a risky proposition. • If a pathway is provided on the road, it should abut the road. A five - six foot wide paved strip should be provided to allow walkers to get out of the way of cars. In regard to separating the path from the road a broad white line would be appropriate. An example is the white line (and bumps) on Iron Mountain. However there should not be a lot of lines. • Pull-off parking should be prevented. Barriers need to be installed to prevent cars from parking. • Enforcement is important. However, education of area residents during the summer could also be effective. For example, when schools are out during the summer and older children come home from college flyers should be distributed to everyone along Old River Road to drive and walk safely. • Twenty-five (25) M.P.H. signs should be posted on both ends of the road. Marsha Robertson stated that drainage needs to be addressed along the road. Bad drainage poses problems for both pedestrians and drivers. There needs to be a designated area for walkers. In some areas it is hard to get out of the way of cars because the road is right next to the riverbank. Traffic control is needed and walkers need to be separated from the corner of Glenmorrie Drive and Old River Road. Enforcement and public education needs to be emphasized. David Dodds said that a pathway would be very hard to build along the road on the east side. There would be too much ecological disturbance. Besides, it some places, it would have to be so close to the bank that walkers would be in danger. Judy Dauble said that traffic needs to be controlled first before building a pathway. Traffic speed is the issue, not the conflict between pedestrians and automobiles. Speed bumps and pinch points are necessary. A phased treatment of the problem would be the best approach. Do traffic control first and then see if a problem still exists. It is likely that a pathway would not be necessary. Only some sections of the road could possibly accommodate a pathway. She said that the Glenmorrie neighborhood is not in favor of a path. There might be areas where a pedestrian could step off the road, such as an improved shoulder—maybe a couple of feet. She also added. 4 • Pedestrians needed to be protected at the Glenmorrie/Old River Road corner. Barriers that are proposed should be natural in character. • The neighborhood is in favor of natural solutions such as boulders instead of guardrails. • There should be a minimum amount of encroachment on private property. • There should be enforcement, but residents along residents along Old River Road are frustrated with speed enforcement. We can't rely on speed enforcement to slow traffic. Residents don't believe that traffic enforcement has been effective. • The neighborhood wants the road to be just as it is now. It is a natural asset and should not be disturbed by more asphalt. Perhaps the pathway could just as well go down the middle of the road. People walk down the middle of the road now. • Tree preservation should be emphasized over landscaping with native plant materials. Staff explained that there is lot that can be done to rehabilitate portions of the river's edge with native vegetation. There had been a lot of disturbance as evidenced by invasive plant species throughout the area. • The neighborhood is opposed to a pathway on Glenmorrie Drive. • The issue of teen drivers in the summer should be addressed. Sister Eileen stated that the development of Mary's Woods will result in a special clientele using the road. Their concern is the safety and security of this group. In essence this project will introduce more older people to the area. She hears the opposition to pinch points but perhaps a couple could be introduced to the area. In addition phasing in a range of improvements is a good idea—seeing what works first and delaying implementation of other design solutions. • Mary's Woods wishes to retain and enhance the natural setting and have retention/of the area's natural beauty as the core any design solution. • Traffic management(slowing cars down) is important such as speed bumps and pinch points. • Cars must be prevented from parking on the road through the use of barriers. The safety and security of adjacent property owners is essential. • Pedestrians, especially the aged and children,need to have refuge from traffic. Perhaps this can be accomplished through an extension of the street. It must be realized that the aged and children cannot move as fast. 5 Dick Porn was asked by Sister Eileen to present his views. He said that walking is the one of the preferred means of recreation by the persons they who live in continuing care retirement centers. Two-thirds of these people will be in their mid-seventies, healthy with modest sight and hearing loss. Safety and security is a prime issue. There will likely be about 500 people at 80—90 percent occupancy of the first phase of Mary's Woods. They will likely use the road during off-peak hours. Mary's woods plans to construct an internal pathways system and a pathway to get to the road. Mary's Woods has been conditioned by the City to provide a pathway along the road. The primary asset of Old River Road from this perspective is its natural setting. It provides connections to George Rogers and Mary S. Young Parks and with the increased number of older people on the road, there are safety issues that need to be addressed. Staff was asked to comment on how narrow the road could be. He stated that for a residential street the road was substandard. In some places the width was 15 feet at the narrows and 18— 19 feet at the widest. The fire department for example, wished that local residential streets by a minimum of 24 feet in width. However, the Department had learned to live with narrow streets in many places in town. David Dodds stated that he drives at 25 m.p.h. on the road and would have to be significantly impaired to hit someone. Staff stated that accidents occur with no one intending to cause them. It is essential that speeds be kept low because of walkers and recreational users because the lethality of a pedestrian being hit by car increases with speed. Sister Eileen stated that through this discussion that she heard strong areas of commonality that could be uses to direct staff to come back with refined design solutions. There was some discussion about in some areas the need to cross the road. An example was the use of"pedestrian table" as was done on Waluga Drive to connect West and East Waluga Park. Sister Eileen stressed that the primary area of disagreement was the pathway and that no consensus had been reached on whether to have a pathway, let alone its size and location. However, what seemed obvious is that most of the group did not see a need to have a pathway on Glenmorrie Drive. Staff stated that they had received correspondence from Richard Jacobson(Attachment C) expressing opposition to rumble strips because of noise. Further, Mr. Jacobson in a phone conversation had expressed his concern with being allowed to storing his canoe close to the road (down the bank) and within the right-of-way. Other correspondence was received from Gordon Howard outlining his organization's position on the proposed Findings, Design and Management solutions. The Task Force focused attention on the proposed findings, design and management 6 solutions for Old River Road. The following changes were made to the list. Bold indicates new language and stril indicates language to be deleted. The group intended this to guide staff in revising proposed design solutions. Where necessary A brief commentary follows each amendment. PROPOSED FINDINGS, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS TO GUIDE IMPROVMENTS TO OLD RIVER ROAD AND GLENMORRIE DRIVE CATEGORY 1: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY FINDING(S): 1. There is the-are potential significant and dangerous conflicts between automobiles, pedestrians and recreational users of Old River Road. Commentary: Judy Dauble stressed that the problem is with the speed of cars and the number of cars using the road, not the presence of pedestrians. However, it was acknowledged that unless something is done, there is at least the potential for conflict. , Commentary: A majority of the Committee did agree that a pathway on Glenmorrie Drive should not be considered at this time. It may be appropriate to address this issue later, if problems do occur, or if there is a demand to walk Glenmorrie. Therefore, reference to Glenmorrie Road was deleted. SOLUTIONS: Category 1, Traffic Management and Safety Design Measures 1. Install traffic management devices such as speed bumps, and one-way queuing (pinch downs) on Old River Road to ensure vehicle speeds are maintained at 25 M.P.H. or less on all parts of the road. 2. Separate vehicular and pedestrian/bike traffic at the intersection of Glenmorrie Drive, Old River Road and the George Rogers Park trail. 2. Stop signs should be installed at the sharp comer where Old River Road intersects with Glenmorrie Drive to make drivers think, stop and negotiate. If at some time in the future,stop signs are determined not have the desired effect, then rumble strips should considered as an additional measure. Commentary: Warning signs were deleted because slops signs were determined to be preferred alternative. Rumble strips are to be considered at a later date if necessary. 4. Monument entry signs at the Lake Oswego/West Linn City limits that inform people that they are entering a recreational area 5. length. The amount of new asphalt should be minimized. A walking pathway is appropriate only on some sections of the road. The preference is to provide the walker an opportunity to move out of the traffic lane when necessary. If it is necessary for pedestrians to cross the road, then the crossing should occur at pinch points on an elevated "pedestrian table." Commentary: The above statement recognizes the lack of consensus on the issue of a pathway. However it does acknowledge the need for pedestrians to get off the road if necessary. Further, the statement recognizes the condition of development approval for Marys Woods that a pathway be constructed along the road adjacent to the Sister's of the Holy Names property. 7. Pavement management(overlays) and drainage improvements are required in conjunction with installation of traffic management devices senstrustion and improvements to address pedestrian safety. 8. Tree preservation is essential and where possible, native landscaping particularly, tree planting should occur within the right-of-way and be sensitive to the views of area residents and walkers. was-deleted 10. Fix damaged and deteriorated guard rails and replace where possible with more aesthetic barriers consistent with the natural character of the area. Commentary: This statement recognizes the groups desire to improve the aesthetics of the area. Category 1, Traffic and Safety City Policy and Management Measures 1. Old River Road and its right-of-way should be designated as recreational resources, such as a linear walking park and managed to ensure the safety of recreational users and quality of life of area residents. 8 2. A law/regulation enforcement effort and ongoing public safety education effort should be developed and implemented germane to the road and the types of uses it receives, especially if it is designated as a recreational resource (linear park). Commentary: This statement reflects the group's discussion about neighborhood notice to drive safe on the road, especially during summer months. 3. Allow temporary closures for short special events. , time. Commentary: This statement reflects the decision that road closure should be a special event issue and the road should not be closed otherwise. CATEGORY 2: ENVIRONMENT AND AESTHETICS FINDING(S) 1. Glenmorrie Drive and especially Old River Road and their right-of-ways exist within a complex and highly regulated natural environment, including the Willamette River Greenway. Commentary: The group desires that the Willamette River Greenway be specifically referenced. 2. Aesthetics and environmental quality are very important to those who live along these roads and to all other users. SOLUTIONS Category 2, Environment and Aesthetics Design Solutions 1 . Maintain the "country lane quality/rural street quality of the road by ensuring that the amount of new hard surface (asphalt) for pathways is the minimum necessary to address the above conflicts between automobiles and other users. 2. Improve the appearance of the sewer pump station at the intersection of Glenmorrie and Old River Road. Category 2, Environment and Aesthetics City Policy and Management Measures 1. Ensure that all future improvements are designed consistent with the City's public improvement design guidelines and with all applicable City, state and federal regulations. 9 2. Work with all property owners, especially the major landholders, Sisters of the Holy Names and Marylhurst University to enhancement the natural resources of the Willamette River Greenway and protect native plants and wildlife. 3. Enforce the Municipal Code relating to the storage or vehicles, boats and equipment and other items within the public right-of-way. 4. Educate thepublic regarding livingand recreatingwithin the Willamette River g g Greenway. CATEGORY 3 - RECREATION AND SCENIC QUALITY FINDINGS 1 . Provide a park-like experience for walkers. , with special concern given to property owners' te-access-concerns about congregation and security. 2. The use of Old River Road changes character during different times of the day. During weekday a.m. and p.m. travel peak it is a potential hazard for pedestrians. During low traffic times it is a pleasant walking experience. 3. Parts of the right-of-way are also people's yards. Some landscape encroachments have occurred. SOLUTIONS: Category 3, Recreation and Scenic Quality Design Solutions 1. Design the-pathway all improvements and any associated amenities, if possible, to address neighborhood concerns about congregation and security. 2. Future maintenance and improvements to Old River and Glenmorrie Drive should seek to minimize disturbance of established yards and landscaping. 3. Do not install streetlights or other lighting along Old River Road. Category 3, Recreation and Scenic Quality City Policy and Management Measures 1. Many of the same City policy and management measures that are applicable to the above categories are also applicable to Category 3. CATEGORY- SECURITY FINDINGS 10 1. The ability to park on the road's shoulders poses security problems, because of drinking parties and a few burglaries. This situation also results in littering and destruction of natural resources because of fires and trampling. 2. In particular, car access to the wide spot at the Glenmorrie/Old River Road intersection, along the Sisters, of the Holy Names property, and at the West Linn City limits are problems. Commentary: All of the above locations need to be recognized as problem areas. 3. The presence of a large older population at the future Mary's Woods project(Sisters of the Holy Names) poses special security issues/concerns. SOLUTIONS: Category 4, Security Design Solutions 1. Install guardrails-er-other aesthetic barriers in locations to prevent parking along the road's shoulder in those locations identified to be problems. 2. Install Judiciously utilize signage that is aesthetic and creative that states laws are enforced pertaining to trespass, blocking driveways, dumping garbage, etc. 3. As above, designer all improvements and any associated amenities, if possible, to address neighborhood concerns about congregation and security. 4. Involve the neighborhoods in an active program to promote driving safety and to report any unauthorized access to private property. Commentary: The above recognizes the need for aesthetics and the role of the neighborhood in promoting public safety. Category 4, Recreation and Scenic Quality City Policy and Management Measures 1. Enforce the law at every opportunity to address security issues such as trespass. Commentary: Deletion of this statement is consistent with the group's position that the road not be closed. it