Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2025 02 13

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 10, 2024 Page6of8 Kari McDowell Schroeder, non-resident, conducted the applicant's traffic study. She said that the restricted connection option was viable. She explained the findings of the study, and noted that Griffith Street was covered in the most recent study. Moline asked whether there was a point at which a grid street network becomes small enough that it is no longer useful. Schroeder said yes, as eventually the intersections could become too frequent such that they would begin to impede the flow of traffic. It also depended on pedestrian walkshed. Moline asked whether the constricted access to this site could become problematic for a gridded street network. Schroeder said that the site would effectively act as one block due to the surrounding constraints like Highway 42 and the BNSF tracks. Bangs asked if they had enough info from past traffic studies to extrapolate the traffic produced by eliminating the Front Street connection. Schroeder said that she did not know. Bangs asked to confirm that the applicant would require a new traffic study to examine this option Schroeder said yes. Hunt asked whether bollards could be used for to allow for emergency vehicle and bike only access. Schroeder said yes, and noted that there was the possibility of using retractable bollards. Baskett asked if staff had given thought to possible street design regarding traffic calming. Fowlkes noted that the City had implemented traffic calming devices like speed humps that could also be implemented on Front Street. He added that the City was planning upgrades to the Highway 42 corridor that would aid in increasing vehicle capacity in the area around the development. There was an extended discussion about how traffic from the development could impact Highway 42, and how the Front Street connection would play into this. There was also further discussion about the scope of the traffic study, what kinds of trips were covered, and what future traffic movements and access points could look like, particularly with regard to left turns from Front Street onto South Boulder Road. Zuccaro suggested that the Commission continue the item as it appeared they were interested in seeing an updated traffic study before voting on the proposal. Moline said that he felt this was a really important issue, and that it would be incumbent on the Commission to review this study before they voted. Moline asked about the applicant's plans for vegetation, and whether they planned to retain any of the existing trees. He also asked for the applicant's views on the open space dedication.