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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-07 Correspondence L Submitted by Judy Pfohl February 7, 2023 U Iowa City City Council FEB 0 7 2023 Ci ' lowa, Dear City Council Members, Do Not Narrow Abbey Lane for the Sanitary Sewer Trunk Upgrade • We are concerned about the safety of neighborhood children,pedestrians and bicyclists • Wider intersections appear to be safer • Abbey Lane provides access to and parking for Kiwanis Park in addition to being a thoroughfare 6 Parking needs to be adequate for Kiwanis Park to flourish • The current configuration allows for smooth operations for pedestrians, bicycles and all manner of motor vehicles • All of the property owners adjacent to Abbey Lane are cognizant of the need for upgrading the Sanitary Sewer Trunk, but the majority of these people are concerned about potential adverse effects related to narrowing the street. • A more detailed discussion of our concerns follows We are writing as a group of neighbors with properties abutting Abbey Lane who are concerned about the impact of the proposed sanitary sewer renovation project. First, the residents understand the importance of upgrading the current sanitary sewer trunk to allow future development west of Highway 218. We are not opposed to this progress. On the other hand, it seems that there are two parts to this project and many citizens have reservations about the proposed narrowing of Abbey Lane when it is reconstructed after completion of the sanitary sewer project. Indeed, many were quite surprised to hear that the dimensions of the street were going to be changed. Many of us are aware of some of the history regarding Abbey Lane—specifically that it was originally laid out as a connector from Mormon Trek Boulevard to Sunset Street and that this plan was changed following the donation of land for Kiwanis Park. It is clear that a short street that terminates at the Park would no longer carry as much FEB 0 7 2023 City Clerk traffic; however, the nature of the traffic flow is now different. In the conneigtoftirEodetowa most vehicles would pass quickly through the area and onward to the goal without delay. With the current configuration, vehicles don't just pass through, but tend to park and stay for varying times, so the street can occasionally become somewhat congested. In essence the east end of Abbey Lane functions as a street and a parking lot. Certainly, there is a seasonal pattern to usage of Abbey Lane with picnics or parties at the shelter along with sports practice or Parks projects like concerts in warmer months. People that make use of the popular garden plots tend to park close by on Abbey Lane so that they can carry their tools and supplies to the gardens. On a daily basis, many people are using the trail for walking or jogging and many people walk their dogs in the park after they drive here. City planning documents mention the desirability of walkable neighborhoods surrounding a park. We have that to a degree and feel very fortunate for that. A few residents have independently noted the increased number of people that come to use the Park over the years and that seems to represent a positive assessment of the appeal of the Park. With regard to parking options for people using Kiwanis Park, there is also a small parking lot which provides eight spaces on the east side of the Park off of Teg Drive,but it seems that more people tend to park on Abbey Lane on the west side of the Park. For residents that live west of Kiwanis Park, access to the park may be quicker and easier than driving around the Park to the Teg Drive parking lot. With the current configuration at the east end of Abbey Lane, people that use the park will leave their car at the curb and when they return from their park activities, they will pull their car into a driveway to perform a three-point turn to turn around and leave via westbound Abbey Lane. If the street is narrowed by eight feet, it will become more challenging for many drivers to get turned around and there will likely be more fender benders. If No Parking signs are put up, it merely shifts the problem further up the street and will likely lead to more spillover parking especially on Burry Drive. No Parking signs at the east end of Abbey Lane may cause a hindrance to older people or families with younger children who now enjoy quick access to the picnic shelter from parking spaces. The current configuration does allow easy access to the park as well as egress. It also allows adequate on-street parking for intermittent events such as parties or family get togethers. Property owners are well aware of the benefits of adequate street parking that was present when we bought the properties. In addition to motor vehicle traffic, there is a substantial amount of bicycle traffic that utilizes Abbey Lane and Kiwanis Park to access the trail system and to travel to and from FEB 0 7 2023 City Clerk school and work as well as for leisure. These cyclists typically use the Abbey Lama City, Iowa roadway itself except for the last block just west of the park when they ride on driveway ramps and sidewalks to avoid the park gates at the east end of Kiwanis Park. A narrower street will bring these bicyclists into closer proximity to cars on the street with an increased danger of collision or injury. Residents also have concerns about worsening congestion and safety at the west end of Abbey Lane near the intersection with Mormon Trek Boulevard if the street is narrowed. Residents are concerned about risks associated with the presence of the school bus stop near that intersection and the observed tendency of southbound drivers on Mormon Trek to try to "shoot" into Abbey Lane to "beat"the oncoming northbound traffic on Mormon Trek. This style of driving seems to have increased recently at this intersection. Residents at the west end of Abbey Lane already sense that they are at some risk for close calls as drivers converge into this area from Mormon Trek and Dolen Place. Further compressing this space by narrowing Abbey Lane would likely increase the opportunity for problems. If parking is allowed in that area, it may also be difficult for larger vehicles such as school buses, garbage trucks or fire engines to negotiate the area if the street is narrowed. Again, the posting of No Parking signs will merely shift the parking problem to another part of the street. One of the perceived benefits of narrowing the street seems to be due in some part to reduced concrete costs. We were told that part of the project would include a four foot extension of driveways to reach the new edge of the street. There are 15 driveways on the south side of Abbey Lane and 8 on the north side. This amount of concrete could represent up to 20% of the concrete saved by narrowing the street from 36 feet to 28 feet. We also wonder if that 4 foot flat shelf of concrete will tend to collect water and ice since it would not match the existing grade of the driveways unless the elevation of the entire street is lowered or the driveway ramps are torn out and replaced with lesser grade change to reach the street. This would also engender extra labor and material costs for curb work related to 23 driveways. Another reason for narrowing the street that some have heard is the goal of reducing future deposits of used concrete into the landfill. Perhaps we could reduce that effect sooner by reducing the amount of concrete that is torn up for this project. Currently, the concrete on Abbey Lane has been poured in four sections across the width of the street. We would suggest that consideration be given to removal of a central section of old concrete for the placement of the new 30 inch sewer trunk. The lateral or outside lanes of concrete remain in reasonable condition and would be expected to last longer than the concrete on a more heavily traveled street. There may not be a need to remove all of the concrete from the northernmost portion of the street or a portion of the southernmost ribbon of concrete. Perhaps this can be accomplished without having to modify the existing driveways. Only disturbed areas of the street and curb would need to be replaced. It would also prevent having to move mailboxes, add eight feet of new dirt to backfill the areas where concrete was removed and create No Parking areas. Several residents have raised questions related to the impact of this project on our property taxes and have received some conflicting answers. This needs to be clarified. Signatures of the affected citizens that are concerned about the effects of narrowing Abbey Lane will be attached to the letter submitted to the City Council. There are a few more residents that would like to sign the petition but are currently out of town or unavailable. Thank you to the City Council and City Staff for your consideration and efforts. We also appreciate the communication from individuals involved in the project and we would also be happy to expedite this project. FEB 0 7 2023 City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa FEB 0 7 2023 Petition Regarding AbbeyLane SanitarySewer Trunk Update City Clerk P Iowa City, Iowa / 423 VOI/A1- ,g03 / 7t a.A Date / Name / Address 2 `J )c;2. � )IK 4 6(1_ Le 013 l% 14 firil I —c 33/ LA/A/6 A; PO 2 3i (A4ry 24(/)e 5 /703- g LS Attu k Ata ll % 0A 2 - - z3 Mcti\C_LL k d 2 I cl Woe/ -eve 6r1 s04 3 4bio ��w e V/4i IV 4714Skad ),301 AL h2 Lar -e FEB 0 7 2023 Petition Regarding City Clerk Abbey Lane Sanitary Sewer Trunk Update Iowa City, Iowa -27&/2-3 (/ jJ7 /wLt 2J S ey Date / Name / Address 01 (04a 3 -6 yviN 1 ms 0?` 10 A 0-2_2_, c2>, c L , Z o 1 3 -3)1.Q.wt�r 2 31 L\ Goy Lk J--oNi"R, Cl) ( /20Z--5 irreR. 213? '52z4 24 /2o Ui 2 Q'(7 ----------- 7 2 2e23 Juta4,—\( ,0-H,—t.J 2 q y1 6 1-h, EC 5123 ZA1 k° zz 11-bbeil Lilies-221 FEB 0 7 2023 Petition Regarding City Clerk Abbey Lane Sanitary Sewer Trunk Update lowa City, Iowa c*I5 c7--koitA pd—vv\A Abet Date / Name / Address 3\11-4, To: Iowa City Council February 7, 2023 Re: Input regarding Senior Center Facility Plans As you know, the Senior Center is assessing building restoration options. I want to provide some historical context for the original decision-making to locate the Senior Center at its current site that you may not otherwise receive. In 1981, Bette Meisel and I helped to open the Senior Center after considerable input and planning by the City of Iowa City, Johnson County Board of Supervisors and older community members. The location had been carefully studied and met two important goals of the City and Council of Elders, a representative advisory group. First, the Center would serve as another key "anchor" venue in the downtown area, along with the Public Library, Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, and the Ped Mall. These sites were envisioned as "destinations" for residents that would promote greater interaction of diverse citizens, facilitate and increase use of the city-supported services and local businesses, and spur the overall vitality of the downtown area. The transportation services, including the central municipal bus exchange, the SEATS agency, and planned parking ramps, all were seen as supporting the Senior Center and downtown revitalization. Importantly, housing for older adults, such as Ecumenical Towers and Capitol House, was being built in the downtown area (and still exists today) to further support the involvement, well-being and continued contributions of older folks to their community. The second goal of locating the Senior Center downtown, like the first, continues to be very relevant today. The location was intended to help keep older adults engaged in the larger community. Too often, they are segregated, isolated, and otherwise limited as full community participants. The visibility of active older adults in the downtown area challenges social stereotypes, and most importantly, contributes to the City's desired goals of inclusivity, citizen engagement, and a thriving community. Yes, the so-called "Greatest Generation" that Bette and I served is dwindling fast, and "Baby Boomers" are taking their place. What hasn't changed, in my view, are the original goals, potential, and vision that first brought this vibrant facility downtown. The Senior Center, in its present location, remains a contributing asset for all the historical reasons that I have mentioned, and that is why it should remain there. I would appreciate knowing your views. Lori Benz 2012 Dunlap Ct. Iowa City, IA FEB 0 7 2023 City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa