ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA. County Board Agenda Item Meeting of February 23, 2019

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1 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of February 23, 2019 DATE: February 15, 2019 SUBJECT: Amendment to the Master Transportation Plan (MTP) Map to add a new section of North Kansas Street extending approximately 300 feet to the north from Washington Boulevard into the block bounded by Washington Boulevard, North Lincoln Street, 13th Street North and North Kirkwood Road. C. M. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached resolution to approve an amendment to the Master Transportation Plan (MTP) Map (see Figure 2) to add a new section of North Kansas Street north of Washington Boulevard. ISSUES: The Master Transportation Plan (MTP) Map is proposed to be amended to add a new section of North Kansas Street north of Washington Boulevard. SUMMARY: The proposed MTP Map amendment will: 1. Add a new street segment to the map extending north approximately 300 feet from Washington Boulevard to 12 th Road North. 2. Name the new street segment North Kansas Street. 3. Show the street with a split designation of the street typology with the southern portion of the street as an Urban Center Local non-arterial street and the northern portion of the street as a Shared Street non-arterial street. The proposed MTP Map changes are shown in Figure 1. The street is proposed to be constructed and dedicated to the County as part of a site plan proposal, SP#449 titled 3445 Washington Boulevard, that has been submitted for the properties owned by the American Legion (subject of a separate Board report). The site plan is within an area designated on the MTP Map as a location planned for new streets. County Manager: ##### County Attorney: ***** Staff: Richard Viola, DES Transportation Planning Bureau Robert Gibson, DES Development Services Bureau 24. D.

2 Figure 1: North Kansas Street Master Transportation Plan Map Amendment Along with the new street, the proposed site plan calls for the construction of a new seven (7) story 160-unit multifamily building with ground floor retail/commercial space. The ground floor retail/commercial space is proposed to support the continued operation of American Legion Post 139 at the site. The site plan proposes to construct the new segment of North Kansas Street along the western edge of the site to support the proposed development of the site. The new street would also support the planned development within the block bounded by Washington Boulevard, North Lincoln Street, 13th Street North and North Kirkwood Road, as well as vehicular and pedestrian circulation and access for the broader community. The development of the block, and new street, was envisioned as part of the Washington Boulevard & Kirkwood Road Special General Land Use Plan (GLUP) Study Plus and Concept Plan, approved by the County Board in November BACKGROUND: Proposed Site Plan #449 would construct a new residential building on land currently used as the home of American Legion Post 139. The development of the 1.29-acre site was initially envisioned as part of the Washington Boulevard & Kirkwood Road Special General Land Use Plan (GLUP) Study Plus and Concept Plan (Study Plus and Concept Plan) adopted by the County Board in The Study Plus and Concept Plan provides recommendations for the development of the block generally bound by Washington Boulevard, North Lincoln Street, 13th Street North, and North Kirkwood Road. The Study Plus and Concept Plan included study and recommendations for the desired future pedestrian and vehicular network of streets and public access ways within the area. These new streets and - 2 -

3 walkways were outlined as part of the Circulation and Public Space Concept Map (Figure 2) shown below: Figure 2: Circulation and Public Space Concept Map This framework for new streets was shown conceptually, providing a broad outline for how new streets and walkways should be provided to support the proposed development within the study area. Concurrently with the adoption of the Study Plus and Concept Plan, the County s MTP Map was updated identifying the area as an Areas Planned for New Streets as shown in an excerpt below. -3-

4 Figure 3: Master Transportation Plan Map (excerpt) Subject Area of New North Kansas Street Segment The specifics of new street locations and typologies were not determined as part of the Study Plus and Concept Plan. Rather they were envisioned to be identified concurrent with subsequent development proposals when a more detailed analysis of the existing conditions and proposed development would occur. The Study Plus and Concept Plan called for several new vehicle and pedestrian connections breaking up the block, supporting new development. These new connections were specifically recommended to be consistent with either the alley, Shared Street, or Pedestrian Priority Street Neighborhood Street typologies. Site Plan #449 proposes to construct a new street along the western portion of the site and to dedicate the street to the County. The typical cross-section of the street is shown below (Figure 4)

5 Figure 4: Proposed North Kansas Street Urban Center Local Typical Section Figure 5: Proposed North Kansas Street Shared Street Typical Section DISCUSSION: The Study Plus and Concept Plan identified potential new vehicle and pedestrian connections that would be needed to support the proposed development studied within the plan. These new connections were specifically recommended to be consistent with either the alley, Shared Street, or Pedestrian Priority Street Neighborhood Street typologies. The plan left the specifics of the street locations and typologies to be determined through the development process with the opportunity for more detailed analysis of a proposed development. This approach is consistent with past County practice for MTP amendments to add new street segments associated with site plan development proposals, it is also consistent with what was - 5 -

6 envisioned in the Study Plus and Concept Plan. The addition of North Kansas Street, extending from Washington Boulevard to 12 th Road North, is proposed to be constructed as part of the Site Plan #449. Based upon the need for vehicular, pedestrian and fire access to the proposed new building, staff recommends that the portion of the new North Kansas Street between Washington Boulevard and the building s parking garage entrance be classified as an Urban Center Local street. This classification will extend for the first approximately 200-feet north of Washington Boulevard. The new street section is planned to have a 47-foot wide typical section from the existing western property line to the proposed face-of-building. Within this section a dedicated travel way is proposed consisting of an asphalt roadway to provide both vehicular and fire access for the new building. The street section will also include dedicated on-street parking, street trees, and a 6-foot wide sidewalk. The roadway will be a public street that can provide access to the parcel immediately west when it redevelops. At that time, it is also anticipated that signal improvements will be constructed to include North Kansas Street within the traffic signal control along Washington Boulevard currently supporting the Founders Way driveway. Considering the design of this segment of North Kansas Street and its future signalization, Staff recommends this segment be identified on the MTP Map as an Urban Center Local street, contrary to the recommendations of the Study Plus and Concept Plan. North of the building s parking garage entrance, Staff recommends that North Kansas Street be identified on the MTP Map as a Shared Street, consistent with the recommendations of the Study Plus and Concept Plan (see Figure 5 for a typical section). For the approximate 100-foot long segment, from the project s parking garage entrance to 12 th Street North, vehicle traffic is expected to be extremely limited until the YMCA site to the north redevelops. Access between 12 th Street North and North Kansas Street is proposed to be limited to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency vehicle egress as recommended in the Study Plus and Concept Plan. To further the shared street nature of this segment, Site Plan #449 proposes changing the materiality of the street from asphalt to a concrete or asphalt paver. With the design and typical use changing along the length of the street, Staff supports the proposal to split the street classification on the MTP Map between Washington Boulevard and 12 th Street North. When redevelopment to the north of the American Legion Site occurs and the street network within the block is further built-out the classification of North Kansas Street my need to be reevaluated such that it matches its anticipated use. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: The proposed new street segment has been discussed during consideration of the proposed Site Plan #449 meetings of the Site Plan Review Committee held on November 13, 2018, December 10, 2018 and January 7, The Transportation Commission held a public hearing on the proposed MTP Map amendment at their February 7, 2019 meeting. The Commission voted 9 to 1 in favor of designating the entirety of North Kansas Street as a Shared Street type. Commissioners felt that the Shared Street type is - 6 -

7 more in accordance with the design guidance for new streets that is specified in the area s Study Plus and Concept Plan. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed MTP Amendment at their meeting on February 11, The Commission voted 9 to 1 in support of the staff recommendation to designate the southern portion of the new North Kansas Street as an Urban Center Local street, and to designate the street section to the north of the building s garage as a Shared Street type. Some commissioners expressed that the nature of the street between the traffic signal on Washington Boulevard and the building s garage would be primarily utilitarian in character and that it may be hazardous to mix pedestrians into the volume of motorized traffic in that segment. FISCAL IMPACT: There would be no fiscal impact from amending the MTP Map

8 RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN MAP WHEREAS, the County Board of Arlington County has been presented with a proposed amendment to the Master Transportation Plan (MTP) Map; a part of the County s Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to the MTP Map is shown on Figure 1, entitled North Kansas Street Master Transportation Plan Amendment, in the County Board Report dated February 1, 2019 and to this Resolution: and WHEREAS, the County Manager recommends that the proposed MTP Map amendment be approved and adopted by the County Board; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission after a duly advertised public hearing, recommends MTP Map amendment to the County Board: and WHEREAS, the County Board of Arlington County has considered the foregoing recommendation in light of purposes of the Master Transportation Plan (MTP) and the Comprehensive Plan, The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, and the Code of Virginia; and WHEREAS, on February 23, 2019, the County Board of Arlington County held a duly advertised public hearing on the proposed amendment to the MTP Map. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, based on the aforementioned recommendations, considerations, deliberations, and public comments, the County Board of Arlington County hereby approves and adopts the proposed amendment to the MTP Map attached to the Resolution as Figure