PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Jr., Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the second and final reading of an ordinance amending Section 126-346 of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances to establish a no parking zone on the south side of Elliot Knox Boulevard between South Peach Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
City of New Braunfels Police Department has identified a safety concern with vehicles parking along the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) right-of-way on the south side of Elliot Knox Boulevard (Business IH 35) in order to access the Comal Tubes property. Elliot Knox Boulevard is a two-lane roadway at Peach Avenue and transitions to a three-lane roadway at Magnolia Avenue. In front of Comal Tubes, Elliot Knox Boulevard is a five-lane roadway. It is classified as a minor arterial in the 2012 Regional Thoroughfare Plan and has a posted speed limit of 40 mph. Patrons of Comal Tubes have been observed by staff to be jumping the curb to park in the right-of-way and walking across Elliot Knox Boulevard which poses a safety hazard to both those pedestrians crossing and the vehicles in the roadway, and a maintenance concern with vehicles parking on an unimproved area. Staff recommends establishing this area as a no parking zone in the Code of Ordinances and installing appropriate signage. TxDOT is supportive of the ordinance, and the City will be responsible for the installation of the no parking zone.
Staff has received calls from residents in the homes adjacent to Comal Tubes with parking concerns related to customers during the summer this year and in previous years. Parking by permit has been suggested to address the resident concerns, but a completed form has not been received at this time.
This item was presented to the Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board at their meeting on July 8, 2021. The board directed staff to investigate the parking requirements for Comal Tubes and determine if they are met.
Engineering Division staff worked with the city’s Planning Division staff to determine the required parking for Comal Tubes as well as the amount of parking available on site. The required parking for tube rental businesses is one parking space for every 100 sq. ft. of building, including tube storage structures, or one space for every four tubes measured by the cubic area of the tube storage area, whichever is greater of the two. There are 40 spaces are provided on the subject property and based on the provided parking, they are restricted to renting a maximum of 144 tubes.
ISSUE:
Proposed parking restriction on Elliot Knox Boulevard across from Comal Tubes to ensure safety for pedestrians and drivers on Elliot Knox Boulevard in this area.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Traffic control signs cost approximately $150 each. Sufficient funding is available in the FY 2021 approved streets and drainage budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board
This item was considered and discussed by the Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board at their meeting on July 8, 2021. The board unanimously voted to recommend the creation of a new parking zone on the south side of Elliot Knox Boulevard between South Peach Avenue and Magnolia Avenue with the requirement that staff first investigate the parking requirements for Comal Tubes.
Staff
Staff recommends revising the city ordinance to establish a no parking zone on the south side of Elliot Knox Boulevard between South Peach Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.