Title
Discussion of Riverwalk Emergency Access Project - Guidance
Body
Action Required:
Agenda Vote
Description:
At the October 21, 2009 Community Development and Transportation Committee Meeting, staff was asked to look at Subdivisions with only one entrance. Eight (8) neighborhoods were identified by Community Development. All of these neighborhoods were built before Section 19.2.4 Access was adopted into our City Code preventing neighborhoods from being built without inter-parcel access (See attached memo).
The Riverwalk Condominium complex was identified as the first priority of the eight since the entrance to the complex can become impassible by vehicular traffic when the Chattahoochee River spills over its banks during intense storm events. The entrance can remain closed for several days depending on the time it takes the river to recede, which creates a public safety concern. This situation has happened three times this year. Also, the recent cold weather and ice situation hindered residents from safe ingress and egress of Riverwalk.
The City has received a request from the homeowners association to reconstruct an old access road from the top of the hill down to River View Trail, an internal circulation road, to be utilized by Public Safety and emergency response personnel equipment during times when Azalea Drive is flooded or is otherwise impassable. It currently does not meet City standards and would not support an emergency response vehicle.
The Homeowners Association Representative on November 24, 2009, indicated that the access was approved in 1984 as emergency access when the development was approved by the City and to amend the plat to make access a public road would require the signature of 90 homeowners which they believe is untenable. The current concept is to name the property "River Walk Trail" and to sign it for "Emergency Vehicle Access Only" with lockable bollards at both ends. Staff has requested their signature on the original easement without amendment and the Homeowners Association Board has agreed to sign the agreement.
The proposed Riverwalk Emergency Access Project will extend from River View Trail to Jones Drive. The access drive will be 14 feet wide and approximately 422 feet in length. The scope includes rough grading of the area, including establishing some minor drainage improvements, 8" graded aggregate base course, 2" asphaltic "B" binder course, 11/2" asphaltic surface course and a basic gate. A fence corner may need to be relocated as a result of these improvements.
Staff can contact our on-call consultants to obtain quotes for survey services. We anticipate the quotes to be in the $5,000 range and should take about thirty (30) days to complete.
Once the survey is complete, the City's engineering staff will prepare minimal construction documents and let the project for construction.
As for environmental impacts, we are allowed to build "trails" within the river corridor.
Comments:
The cost estimate is approximately $60,000 to construct this drive. Funds in the amount of $198,020.31 are available in the Road Safety account to complete this project. Staff would also need to look at the associated easements and agreements with the HOA in order to proceed with this action.