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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7415 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7415 p.l �M+pTj'+ro �• d440Rr� To the Mayor and Members Of the City Council Septenber 26, 1989 �rEXP . Subject: REQUEST BY MRS. YELDA BATTAT FOR HEAD-IN PARKING AT 5936-38 CURZON AVENUE Mrs. Yelda Battat, owner of commercial property at 5936-38 Curzon Avenue, has requested approval to construct new head-in parking in front of her building. The 5900 Block of Curzon Avenue is between Camp Bowie Boulevard and Bryant Irvin Road North, with commercial development on both sides of the roadway. The south side has standard curb and gutter with parallel park- ing permitted adjacent to the curb. The north side is comprised of existing head-in parking in front of various businesses but not in front of Mrs. Battat's property. At this point Curzon is thirty-six-feet wide from the south curb to the north curb. Space is presently available for two vehicles to park parallel to the north curb in front of the subject property. Adequate room does exist for head-in parking to be constructed in front of her building, just as in front of the other businesses on the north side of this block. However, only three head-in parking spaces could be placed at this location (one more space than is presently available by parking parallel to the curb). Attachment A is a drawing which shows the three head-in parking spaces proposed by Mrs. Battat as compared to the existing two parallel parking spaces that are presently available for use. In March, 1964, the City Council approved a written Traffic Engineering policy which restricted head-in parking using public right-of-way because of a number of benefits to the general public. These benefits include greater safety and convenience for motorists and pedestrians, smoother flow of traffic, utilization of the full carrying capacity of the street and encouraging the development of adequate off-street parking areas. Under the policy, all existing head-in parking in connection with new building con- struction or major building remodeling was to be eliminated and all new head-in parking was prohibited. In 1976 public hearings and comparative studies were conducted by the Traffic Engineering Department which showed that accident rates along roadways with head-in parking were 3 to 5 times higher than equivalent facilities without head-in parking. On May 10, 1976, the City Council approved a Revised Zoning Ordinance which provided that: . .. at locations where head-in parking is existing and when vehicles using the parking area must use public right-of-way for maneuvering in and out of a parking space, the head-in parking shall be removed and curb shall be constructed at such time that the property changes usage, the building is remodeled, or when the street is reconstructed." On March 10, 1981 the City Council concurrently approved an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and an amendment to Chapter 22 of the City of Fort Worth Code "Motor Vehicles and Traffic." The action transferred the ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS • INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7215 p.2 a„" Septemnber 26, 1989 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council 1871 Subject: REQUEST BY MRS. YELDA BATTAT FOR HEAD-IN -., PARKING AT 5936-38 CURZON AVENUE provisions of head-in parking requirements from the Zoning Ordinance to the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Code. (See Attachment B) The new ordinance, how- ever, provided that existing head-in parking may remain on minor streets when certain conditions are met that do not jeopardize the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The ordinance provides for administrative approval of such deviations to the ordinance. These changes were approved by council to allow staff to authorize the continuation of head-in parking at locations where no undue hazard exists while continuing a strong program of prohibiting any new head-in parking and removing head-in parking on arterial and collector streets as property redevelops or as roadway facilities are reconstructed. Since the current City Code Section 22-175 prohibits new head-in parking and was implemented for the benefit of increased traffic safety to the general public, the Transportation and Public Works Department will deny Mrs. Battat 's request for new head-in parking. Additional information will be provided upon request. �g1as Harma City Manager DAI :d Attachments ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ~ CNJ 49 z CD Zzo cr IOD dh i6 cr cr CL � ' -MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC 000, Sec.22-175.Head-in parking prohibited. (a)All new head-in parking which requires a parked vehicle to use the public right-of-way for maneuvering in and out of a parking space is prohibited. Existing head-in parking shall be removed except on minor sweets as permitted by this section and stand-up curb shall be constructed at such time that the property adjacent to the laid-down curb changes usage, the building on the adjacent property is substantially remodeled or when the street is recon- structed.A minor street is defined as one that is not more than three thousand (3,000)feet long,has a speed not exceeding thirty (30) miles per hour, carries no more than one thousand two hundred (1,200) vehicles per day, and its traffic load is not expected to increase. Head-in parking may remain on a minor street if the following conditions are met: (1) The city traffic engineering determines that such parking will not create a traffic or pedestrian hazard. (2) A recessed parking area is constructed in such a manner that no part of a vehicle(approximately eighteen[18]feet long)parked perpendicular to the street extends into the 001h, street as defined by the curb line. (3) A paved pedestrian walkway not less then six(6)feet wide shall be constructed parallel to the curb line across the front of the parking area. Ihe six-foot walkway shall be con- nected on both ends,to the normal walk line with a paved walk not less than four(4)feet wide constructed perpen- dicular to the curb line. If the parking area and six-foot walkway extend beyond the normal property line, the adjacent property owner requesting the parking shall pro- vide a dedicated easement for public use.In the event that the existing head4n parking is located in such a manner that a parked vehicle clears the normal property line(ap- proximately ten[10)feet behind the curb),the requirement of the walkway in front of the parking area will be elimi- nated. (4) The construction of laid-down curb,pedestrian walks and paved head-in parking area shall be in accordance with standard City of Fort Worth specifications for driveways and sidewalks. (b)The decision of the city traffic manager may be appealed to the City Council. (Code 1964,126-102.2; Ord.No. $288, § 1.3-10-81) Attachment "B"