City Council Minutes 2009 03 10 Joint Meeting

Home Browse Search

City Council/LRC Special Meeting Minutes March 10, 2009 Page 3 of 7 · Option 3 provides for all parking to be in the station area and would preclude retail development. This option includes a pedestrian underpass on South Street. Staff recommended Council consider approving Option 2a, which would maximize the land available for redevelopment, minimize the visual impact of parking, and allow the savings from land acquisition to be used for pedestrian improvement to the Highway 42 crossing. This option may not provide sufficient convenient parking to satisfy demand and will require effective parking management as well as cooperation with Lafayette and Boulder County to provide parking for uses other than associated with the ball fields. COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/CONCERNS Councilor Sackett expressed the importance of maintaining the bus lanes in close proximity of the station. He did not support parking east of Highway 42. Mayor Sisk reported the design options were presented to the Louisville Revitalization Commission. He requested their comments. Commissioner Hernandez asked if an equal amount of riders would come from the west side of the station. Mr. Quinn confirmed an equal amount of riders will come from the west. Commissioner Hernandez voiced his belief there are opportunities to have commuters and Sports Complex participants frequent the downtown area. He supported Option 2a. Commissioner Lathrop also supported Option 2a. He reported on walking the distance from the station to downtown. He felt Option 2a would bring people to downtown Louisville. Commissioner Jasiak supported the underpass to the urban renewal area with connections to the Sports Complex. She also felt it would support local downtown businesses and create a sense of place. Commissioner Reis supported Option 2a and felt it was manageable, and provided connectivity from the Sport Complex to the downtown area. Mayor Sisk stressed the importance of the City of Louisville making the decision on the design rather than RTD. He noted there will be a lot of traffic from east Boulder County. He noted the Post Office Site building would be instrumental in providing a parking area west of the rail station. He emphasized the importance of a pedestrian underpass to downtown.