PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Construction Services Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 126-346 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Braunfels to prohibit parking on both sides of Divine Way from the intersection with Fayette Drive southwesterly for approximately 165 feet.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 2
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Staff received a request from the Dove Crossing Homeowners’ Association (HOA) to prohibit parking on both sides of Divine Way southwest of the intersection with Fayette Drive due to concerns about sight distance from vehicles parking near the intersection. The requested “no parking” zone begins at Fayette Drive and encompasses the frontage of 2512 and 2450 Fayette Dr as well as the drainage easement behind the two properties.
Divine Way is a two-lane residential collector through the North Ranch Estates and Dove Crossing subdivisions that begins at Walnut Avenue and ends at Eagle Pass Drive. It provides connectivity via Eagle Pass Drive to Dove Crossing Drive, a minor collector thoroughfare that runs between West County Line Road and West Klein Road. Divine Way is stop-controlled at the intersection with Walnut Avenue, and there is an all-way stop at the intersection with N Ranch Estates Boulevard. The posted speed limit on Divine Way is 30 mph, and there are curbs and sidewalks along both sides.
As part of the evaluation of the request, city staff conducted a site visit in February 2026 to observe the parking activity. The pavement width on Divine Way was measured to be 36 feet. Vehicles were observed parked along Divine Way and adjacent to the side of 2512 Fayette Drive during the site visit.
A sight distance analysis for the intersection of Divine Way and Fayette Drive was completed in accordance with the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards. Code of Ordinances Section 114-5.3-1 (b) (8) provides requirements on landscape and screening materials permitted within the “sight triangle” at street intersections to provide visibility. This requirement is the development standard for street intersections and is met.
AASHTO standards are based on intersection control, turning maneuvers, and speed. In addition to landscape and screening materials, parked vehicles and roadside structures and hardware within the right-of-way may potentially obstruct the driver’s view. Based on the site visit and Google Maps (2026), parked vehicles on the east side of Divine Way southwest of Fayette Drive were within the sight triangle for northbound Fayette Drive. Parked vehicles appear to be from 2512 Fayette Drive. No parked vehicles were observed on the west side of Divine Way southwest of Fayette Drive.
Maintaining visibility and sight distance in urban areas, specifically in residential areas and downtown, is a challenge and a balance of maintaining parking and safety. Strict adherence to AASHTO sight distance standards at intersections is oftentimes impractical given considerations to on-street parking, vehicular activity, and adjacent land use. Additionally, on-street parking and activity typically slow traffic speeds, and this is the expectation in urban areas.
Curb ramp improvements along Divine Way were recently reconstructed as part of the 2023 Bond Citywide Street Improvements Capital Program, providing ADA-compliant directional ramps for crosswalks in line with accessibility requirements and best practices at multiple intersections. City ordinance and state law prohibit parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk. This new curb ramp improvement requires vehicles to park further away from Fayette Drive.
City staff is currently working with the HOA on a related request for traffic calming on Divine Way in the Dove Crossing subdivision. Many traffic calming elements also address sight distance concerns by slowing oncoming traffic and shifting vehicular traffic away from the curb, improving visibility. Removing on-street parking opens the full roadway width, which typically results in higher speeds. The city is working on obtaining a complete application and petition for traffic calming to begin the investigation. If received, data collection will likely occur when school resumes in the fall.
ISSUE:
The Dove Crossing HOA requested “no parking” zones along both sides of Divine Way from the intersection with Fayette Drive southwesterly for approximately 165 feet.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
N/A Economic Mobility N/A Enhanced Connectivity N/A Community Identity
N/A Organizational Excellence N/A Community Well-Being
FISCAL IMPACT:
Traffic control signs cost approximately $150 each. Sufficient funding is available in the FY 2026 Approved Streets and Drainage Budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board
The Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board unanimously recommended approval at their July 9, 2026, meeting.
Staff
Staff recommends installing a “no parking” zone on the east side of Divine Way from 20 feet of the curb ramp to the intersection of Fayette Drive, approximately 50 feet, and postponing the parking prohibition request until the traffic calming request has been investigated in accordance with the adopted Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy. The recommended “no parking” zone does not require an ordinance and may be authorized by the City Engineer following City ordinance and state law.