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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/12/2009 SC minutes Director Deputy Director Glen R. Andler Sean P. Dorsey Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Mount Prospect Safety Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 12, 2009. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call: John Keane Chairman Chuck Bencic Commissioner Angel Campos Commissioner Robert Fisher Commissioner Fred Pampel Commissioner Carol Tortorello Commissioner Brian Furr Police Department Representative Buz Livingston Fire Department Representative Paul Bures Public Works Representative Matt Lawrie Traffic Engineer – Staff Liaison Absent: None Others in Attendance: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Tortorello, seconded by Commissioner Bencic, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Safety Commission held on September 14, 2009. The minutes were approved by a vote of 7-0. Commissioner Fisher and Mr. Bures abstained. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. Safety Commission Meeting Page 1 of 4 October 12, 2009 OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to discuss. NEW BUSINESS A) PROSPECT AVENUE PARKING STUDY – WILLIAM STREET TO EDWARD STREET 1) Background Information With the resurfacing of Prospect Avenue between Maple Street and Edward Street programmed for 2009, Staff has been evaluating on-street parking near Timber Lane Apartments for the past several months. During this time, we have recognized that the north side of Prospect Avenue between William Street and Edward Street is not being used by commuters. Through discussions with the Public Works and Community Development Departments, it was decided that commuter parking along this block was no longer necessary. It could rather more effectively be used for the benefit of the apartment complex and neighborhood. The management office of Timber Lane Apartments, the complex adjacent to the section of Prospect Avenue in question, was contacted to solicit their input. They welcomed a change as it would benefit their tenants. 2) Current Traffic Regulations 1. Parking is limited to two hours Monday–Friday 7:00am–6:00pm along the south side of Prospect Avenue between School Street and Edward Street. 2. Parking is prohibited at all times along both sides of Prospect Avenue between Edward Street and Mount Prospect Road. 3. Numbered commuter parking spaces are provided for a daily fee along the north side of Prospect Avenue between Maple Street and William Street. Commuter parking spaces used to be provided from Maple Street to Edward Street but the block between William Street and Edward Street recently has been converted to a 2-hour parking limit Monday–Friday 7:00am– 6:00pm. This change was made as part of the resurfacing of Prospect Avenue. 4. Parking is limited to two hours Monday–Friday 7:00am–6:00pm along the west side and prohibited along the east of William Street near Prospect Avenue. 5. There are no daytime parking restrictions along Edward Street near Prospect Avenue. 6. Parking is prohibited 2:00am–6:00am on all Village streets including Prospect Avenue. 3) Current Layout 1. Prospect Avenue is approximately 41’ wide (back-of-curb to back-of-curb). West of Edward Street on-street parking is provided on both sides with a single travel lane in each direction. East of Edward Street there is a landscaped median with a single travel lane in each direction. On-street parking is not permitted. 2. Until recently, commuter parking was provided to Edward Street ending with stall number 684. With the upcoming resurfacing of Prospect Avenue, curb extensions have been installed as a traffic calming measure to bring greater adherence to the stop signs at William Street and to reduce vehicle speeds. The new curb extensions have eliminated a total of 10 commuter parking spaces; numbers 656 to 662 and 685 to 687. 3. The south side of Prospect Avenue is posted with 2-hour parking signs to discourage commuter parking and long-term parking by apartment tenants. There are no pavement Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 of 4 October 12, 2009 markings to identify individual spaces. The curb extensions have eliminated a few 2-hour limit parking spaces near William Street and Edward Street but there still remains space for over 20 vehicles to park. 4. The north-south streets in the neighborhood are approximately 31’ wide (back-of-curb to back- of-curb). 4) Current Traffic Conditions 1. During a typical weekday, commuter parking extends to approximately stall number 640. This is 15 spaces from William Street. During Staff’s ongoing inspections over the past several months, commuter parking never reached William Street. Therefore, the available parking spaces on the north side of Prospect Avenue between William Street and Edward Street are unoccupied. 2. At any given time of the day, there are usually between two and eight vehicles parked along the south side of Prospect Avenue between William Street and Edward Street. 5) Issues 1. To discourage long-term parking by commuters looking for a free space, apartment tenants or nearby businesses, Staff believes limiting the hours of parking during the weekday is necessary. Since there are 2-hour parking limits throughout the area, to be consistent the same time restriction is appropriate for this area as well. When other recent sign changes were made as part of the resurfacing project, the commuter parking signs were removed and 2-hour parking signs were installed along this block. They have been in place for a couple of weeks without objection. 2. Staff has spoken with a representative of the management company who operates the Timber Lane Apartments regarding this issue. She welcomed the change and believes a 2-hour time limit is appropriate for the street. She felt a longer time limit or having no time limit would encourage commuters to park on the block. Her tenants have lived with the availability of two hour parking on the south side of Prospect Avenue for years and she does not believe there is a need for a longer parking limit on the north side. 3. There is currently not a large demand for on-street parking by the apartment complex. Over the years, only offering parking on the south side of the street has been sufficient. However, the property at the southwest corner of Prospect Avenue and Edward Street has been vacant for years. A developer has received Village approval to construct townhomes on the site but because of the current state of the economy the project has not moved forward. Should the townhomes or another type of residential development proceed at the site, there will be a greater demand for short-term, on-street parking on Prospect Avenue. Converting the north side of Prospect Avenue from commuter parking to neighborhood parking will provide an additional 20+ spaces and help in meeting this potential need. 4. The Village Code does not recognize the previously offered commuter parking spaces east of William Street. It stipulates the designated area as the north side of Prospect Avenue between Maple Street and William Street. Therefore, no ordinance needs to be repealed to eliminate the commuter parking spaces east of William Street. A new ordinance, however, would be necessary should parking limit signs such as a 2-hour parking limit formally replace the commuter parking spaces between William Street and Edward Street. 6) Recommendation The commuter parking spaces along the north side of Prospect Avenue between William Street and Edward Street have not been an efficient use of the area in recent years. Commuters have not been seen to park east of William Street and the area cannot be used by the neighborhood. Eliminating Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 of 4 October 12, 2009 ommuter parking and replacing the area with short-term parking would make available more on- street parking for the apartment tenants and neighborhood without impacting the demand for commuter spaces. Recommendation: Enact an ordinance that provides a 2-hour parking limit Monday–Friday 7:00am–6:00pm along the north side of Prospect Avenue between William Street and Edward Street. 7) Discussion Traffic Engineer Lawrie summarized the parking study performed by the Engineering Division along Prospect Avenue. He also mentioned that he has spoken with the management office at the Timber Lane Apartments and they support a 2-hour parking limit on both sides of Prospect Avenue along their frontage. Commissioner Fisher asked if Staff has received any additional feedback on the proposed parking change. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded that he has not. Chairman Keane asked Officer Furr if the Police Department does regular parking limit checks in the downtown and surrounding area. Officer Furr responded that an officer is assigned to make sure vehicles comply with the parking limits. Commissioner Pampel made a motion to approve a 2-hour parking limit Monday–Friday 7:00am– 6:00pm along the north side of Prospect Avenue between William Street and Edward Street. It was seconded by Commission Fisher. The motion was approved by a vote of 9-0. COMMISSION ISSUES There was some general discussion on a few issues including future business items, the traffic signal timing at the triangle intersection of Rand Road, Central Road & Mount Prospect Road, and the future resurfacing of Mount Prospect Road. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 9-0 to adjourn at 7:20 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Tortorello. Commissioner Pampel seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineering\traffic\safety_commission\recs&mins\oct09min.doc Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 of 4 October 12, 2009