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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence PLANNER 1/19/2010 1 . . L1MBIRD Andrew From: Sent: To: Subject: L1MBIRD Andrew Tuesday, January 19, 2010 11:20 AM FIELDS Phil RE: Annexation of 19th Street - Response to Notice of Public Hearing Thanks Phil. Springfield staff will continue a dialogue with Lane County Transportation on the status of 19th Street at such time as the annexed Jackson property develops. However, at this point there are no development proposals for this property. Andy Umbird City of Springfield From: FIELDS Phil [mailto:PhiI.Fields@co.lane.or.us] Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 11:10 AM To: UMBIRD Andrew Cc: BAJRACHARYA Shashi; BERNARD Mark A; BARRY Celia; PETSCH John S; LEMHOUSE Brad; RANDALL Darrell L Subject: Annexation of 19th Street - Response to Notice of Public Hearing Comments from Lane County Transportation Planning: Thank you for providing notice of the public hearing and for consideration of our comments regarding annexation of North 19th Street. The City of Springfield is proposing to annex a portion of N. 19th Street, a Public Road (also called a "Local Access Road" or LAR) that is within the Springfield Urban Growth Boundary. Lane County is generally supportive of the transition to urbanization of LARs, due to the County's limited authority to improve them pursuant to ORS 368.031, which states; "A local access road that is outside a city is subject to the exercise of jurisdiction by a county governing body in the same manner as a county road except as follows: (1) A county and its officers, employees or agents are not liable for failure to improve the local access road or keep it in repair. (2) A county governing body shall spend county moneys on the local access road only if it determines that the work is an emergency or if: (a) The county road official recommends the expenditure; (b) The public use of the road justifies the expenditure proposed; and (c) The county governing body enacts an order or resolution authorizing the work and designating the work to be either a single project or a continuing program." There is no formal process for transferring jurisdiction of a public road to a city, so jurisdiction of 1 9th Street will automatically transfer to Springfield upon annexation. It is unlikely the County will ever be able to prioritize any portion of N. 19th for improvement due to its LAR status, limited funds, and other priorities. Therefore, this proposal raises some concerns regarding the connectivity of the segment to the south that is not proposed for annexation. A previous development proposal called for development of the Jackson property with a 30-lot subdivision, with improvement of only the adjacent section of 19th Street to urban standards. That plan left approximately 350 feet of unimproved LAR between the south end of the proposed improvements and Yolanda Avenue, a Lane County facility that has been fully improved to urban standards. Once this connection is developed, it will likely significantly increase daily traffic on the unimproved section. There will also be a lack of transition between the section that will be improved and the unimproved portion, and there are no curb returns at the south end at the intersection with Yolanda, only a standard driveway approach. Essentially the segment that is not proposed for annexation is currently functioning like a driveway and will be handling a significantly increased level of traffic, which in turn, unfairly increases the maintenance responsibilities of the adjacent property owners. Lane County would support a proposal that annexes and transfers jurisdiction of North 19th Street in its entirety, in order for the City to be sole authority for land use and the public right-of-way, and to require adequate road improvements on 1 Dat~i neceived:_~t&,o Planner: AL t" " \ " the entire length of North 19th Streettsent that, we request that barriers be erel adjacent to the southern terminus of the segment of North 19th Street to be annexed, until such time as it is fully improved, assuming alternative access is available to properties to the north, A Lane County Facility Permit is required for placement of facilities within the right-of-way of Hayden Bridge Stub, Facilities and development includes, but is not limited to, road improvements, sidewalks, new or reconstructed driveway or road approach intersections, utility placements, excavation, clearing, grading, culvert placement or replacement, storm water facilities, or any other facility, thing, or appurtenance [LC 15.205(1 )], Please contact 541-682-6902 or visit hllp:llwww.lanecountv,orQ/Roads/ROWPermits,htmfor information about facility permits, Phil Fields Lane County .Transportation Planning 3040 N, Delta Hwy, Eugene, OR 97408-1696 541-682-6976 Dhil,fieldslWco,lane,or.us 2 Datell"i.eCeived:_L~1//)olb Planner: AL 't'