Agenda Item Title:
Request from Fisk Land Surveying and Consulting Engineering on behalf of Via Sat, Inc. for a Variance to Waive the Requirement to Install Sidewalk per City Ordinance 12.08.060 Along Concourse Drive adjacent to 1401 Concourse Drive, Rapid City.
Origination Group:
Public Works Committee
Origination Meeting Date:
05/31/2016
City Council Hearing Date:
06/06/2016
Petitioner:
Fisk Land Surveying & Consulting Engineers for ViaSat, Inc.
Staff Contact:
Nicole Lecy, Project Engineer
Location:
1401 Concourse Drive, Rapid City, Pennington County, SD.
Agenda Item Summary:
A request was received in the Engineering Office on 5/10/2016 requesting the requirement to install sidewalk along Concourse Drive per City of Rapid City Ordinance 12.08.060 be waived. A 5’ property line sidewalk is required to be constructed along this street at the time of building permit, with the property having approximately 200’ of street frontage. The requested variance will allow for a communications dish antenna to be built without the installation of sidewalk in the adjacent right-of-way.
Adjacent Concourse Drive is a minor arterial street with 30’ of pavement with curb and gutter. Currently the majority of the lots along Concourse Drive have a building constructed on them and do not have public sidewalk constructed in the adjacent right-of-way. The nearest public sidewalk is located approximately 800’ to the south along Concourse Drive. The Rapid City Council does have the authority to order in sidewalk at any time. City Staff has received complaints from citizens regarding lack of sidewalk in industrial business parks, such as the Concourse Drive area, from employees of industrial businesses that like to walk during breaks indicating that there is no protected sidewalk corridor for them to walk on. Also, there does not appear to be any topographic constraints or utility conflicts that would complicate the installation of sidewalk. As Concourse Drive is an arterial street in an industrial area, higher travel speeds are anticipated and it is important to provide pedestrians a corridor away from traffic.
The City does have a shared use path (10’ wide path) identified in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to be located along the drainage located in the rear of lot. At this time the City does not have any plans to construct this path.
Staff did recommend approval of a sidewalk variance request at 1501 Concourse Drive in 2014, located just south of 1401 Concourse Drive. However with recent complaints about lack of sidewalks in industrial areas, Staff is recommending denial of this request.
Funding Source & Fiscal Impact (if applicable):
| Funding | Cost Center |
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Recommendations:
Origination Recommendation Action:
Reject