Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Garry Ford, City Engineer
Contact Info
(830) 221-4020 - gford@nbtexas.org
Subject Header
SUBJECT:
Title
Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance amending Section 126-354 of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances to create a new Parking by Permit Area O.
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BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
Council District: 6
This item was postponed from the February 11 City Council meeting.
Staff has received a request from multiple property owners along the 600-700 blocks of West Merriweather Street, the 600 block of Southeast Terrace, Tower Line, and the 1000-1300 blocks of Unicorn Avenue to create a new parking by permit area. The requested time for parking by permit is at all times and year-round. The requested area consists of single-family homes with the exception of businesses on the north side of Tower Line. The primary reason for the request is due to on-street parking from CBE Companies employees in the neighborhood.
A signed petition was received from the property owners and residents of single family homes requesting the creation of a new parking by permit area on the 600-700 blocks of West Merriweather Street, the 600 block of Southeast Terrace, Tower Line, and the 1000-1300 blocks of Unicorn Avenue at all times, year-round.
The proposed designated parking by permit area is a contiguous residential area and matches the schedule of existing parking by permit areas. Over two-thirds of the affected residents have submitted a signed statement of the following:
We the undersigned are residents and/or property owners of the proposed designated permit area described in this application. We understand that: (i) if this area is designated, certain restrictions will be placed upon on-street parking within the area; (ii) residents and/or residential property owners of the area will be entitled to obtain a limited number of parking permits exempting their vehicles from such parking restrictions, but if a resident and/or property owner owns a vehicle without having a permit displayed, that vehicle will be subject to the parking restrictions; (iii) parking permits will be issued for a term of one year and require replacement each year; (iv) the cost of issuing the annual parking permits will be paid by the residents and/or property owners.
At their meeting on January 10, 2019, the Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board discussed and recommended that the proposed time for the parking by permit area be revised to daily, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., instead of the year-round time that was requested. Representatives from the neighborhood agreed that this change would address the existing parking concerns.
Discussion between City Council, residents, and staff at the February 11, 2019 City Council meeting led to revisions to the proposed parking by permit area location to only include the residential properties along Unicorn Avenue in the proposed parking by permit area. The portion of the west side of Unicorn Avenue along commercial property is proposed to be a no parking, tow-away zone.
A public hearing on the application shall be conducted by City Council. Notices of the public hearing were mailed to all property owners (as shown on the latest tax roll) and residents who signed the petition within a 300 foot radius of the requested permit area prior to the February 11 meeting. Notices were mailed out again prior to the March 11 meeting to the same recipients.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Strategy 1: Support Vibrant Centers; Action 1.2: Create plans for neighborhoods and transitional areas to maintain quality of life.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Traffic control signs cost approximately $150 each. Sufficient funding is available in the FY18-19 approved Public Works budget.
Recommendation
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
The Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board approved the recommendation to City Council to amend Section 126-354 of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances to create a new Parking by Permit Area O with parking restrictions daily, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. by a vote of six in favor and one opposed at their meeting on January 10, 2019.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the creation of a new parking by permit area on the east side of Unicorn Avenue from 1135 Unicorn Avenue to 1383 Unicorn Avenue and on the west side of Unicorn Avenue from the property at 706 West Merriweather Street to 1384 Unicorn Avenue. Additionally, staff recommends the creation of a no parking, tow-away zone on the west side of Unicorn Avenue from the intersection with South Business 35 south for a distance of 760 feet.