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 ori...
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