PRESENTER: Presenter
Carly Farmer, Assistant City Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider a recommendation to amend Section 126-346 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Braunfels to revise no parking zones on Butcher Street.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1 & 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Staff received a request from a resident within the 800 block of Butcher Street to remove the no parking zone in front of their house. The resident requested this removal due to the inconvenience of not being able to park in front of their home and the fact that a school was not rebuilt after the previous New Braunfels ISD (NBISD) Ninth Grade Center located at 659 S Guenther Avenue was demolished.
Butcher Street is a local street located between S Academy Avenue and Business 35. Adjacent land use for Butcher Street mainly consists of single-family homes with some commercial and multifamily properties. Two NBISD properties also have access to Butcher Street: Carl Schurz Elementary School and the former Ninth Grade Center, now demolished. Butcher Street currently has parking restrictions on the south side of the street in between Magazine Avenue and Avenue A. The parking restrictions are all-hours from the intersection with Avenue A to the intersection with Willow Avenue and from the intersection with S Guenther Avenue westerly for a distance of 180 feet. The parking restrictions are only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on school days from the intersection with Guenther Avenue to the intersection with Magazine Avenue and from the intersection with Willow Avenue to a point 180 feet westerly from the intersection with S Guenther Avenue.
As part of the evaluation for the request, city staff performed site observations for school traffic. During school pick-up and drop-off for Carl Schurz Elementary School, vehicles were observed queueing and parking along W Coll Street and S Guenther Avenue. No vehicles were observed parking or queueing on Butcher Street. City staff inquired about the future of the NBISD property at 659 S Guenther Avenue and confirmed that no future schools are planned for the site in the next few years, so future parking and queueing behavior associated with a new school is not anticipated.
An engineering investigation and study were conducted to determine what parking restrictions are necessary on Butcher Street based on street safety and functionality. Based on street standards and general ordinances for on-street parking, three standard pavement width ranges are used to determine parking restriction conditions:
• Pavement width is less than 18 feet- parking restrictions on both sides of the street
• Pavement width is between 18 and 28 feet- parking restrictions on one side of the street
• Pavement width is at least 28 feet- no parking restrictions on the street
A field survey of pavement width was conducted for Butcher Street between Magazine Avenue and Avenue A. The pavement widths between Magazine Avenue and S Guenther Street were between 28 and 31 feet. The pavement widths between S Guenther Street and Avenue A ranged from 25 to 27 feet. Based on the measured pavement widths, it is recommended to remove all parking restrictions on Butcher Street between Magazine Avenue and S Guenther Avenue and maintain an all-hours parking restriction on one side of Butcher Street from S Guenther Avenue to Avenue A. The recommended no parking zone is proposed to remain on the south side of Butcher Street to be consistent with existing restrictions locations. Staff did not identify the need to continue any parking restrictions specific to school days or times.
The public hearing will be at a future City Council meeting and notices will be sent in advance of the meeting to all properties adjacent to the proposed parking changes.
ISSUE:
A resident on Butcher Street requested that the no parking zone in front of their home be removed.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Traffic control signs cost approximately $150 each. Sufficient funding is available in the FY 2025 Approved Streets and Drainage Budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends revising the parking ordinance to restrict parking on the south side of Butcher Street from the intersection with S Guenther Avenue to the intersection with Avenue A. The proposed no parking area is to be daily during all hours.