City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 6, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Final Passage of an Ordinance to amend and reordain Division 1 (Parking Meter Zones) of Article G (Parking Meters) of Chapter 8 (Parking and Traffic Regulations) of Title 5 (Transportation and Environmental Services) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of a proposed ordinance to update the Parking Meter Zones Division of the City Code to add three new metered blocks in the Hoffman Town Center.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council hold the public hearing and adopt the ordinance on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
BACKGROUND: In 2016, the Hoffman Family LLC received approval to subdivide their property (the Hoffman Town Center) and dedicate two private streets (Swamp Fox Road and Mandeville Lane) to the City. The applicant upgraded both streets to current City standards and they were officially accepted by the City as public streets earlier this year. Additionally, within the last year, two new developments (Eisenhower East Blocks 4/5 and Block 6A) were approved along Mandeville Lane that will include a significant amount of ground floor retail. As part of these development approvals, the developers will be improving the streetscape along Mandeville Lane by widening sidewalks and creating a parking lane. The developer of Blocks 4/5 will also be constructing new on-street spaces on Mill Road as part of the proposed road diet on this block. The developers have proposed meters for these new parking spaces on Mandeville Lane and Mill Road and are required to pay for and install meters with their new construction.
Currently, the City Code lists the specific blocks that are approved for meters. This amendment updates the City Code to include these three new blocks under Parking Meter Zone 3, which is provided in Attachment 2.
DISCUSSION: Given the existing and future retail nature of the Town Center and the role of the on-street parking on these streets, staff is recommending that the on-street parking spaces on Swamp Fox Road, Mandeville Lane, and Mill Road be approved for parking meters. Metered parking was anticipated on Mandeville Lane and Mill Road as part of the development approvals. On Swamp Fox Road, there are existing spaces in front of the movie theater and across the street that are currently signed as an emergency vehicle easement area. Discussions with the Fire Department have confirmed that the actual spaces are not needed for the fire lane and can be used for general parking. Given the proximity of these parking spaces to the Eisenhower Metro Station and a number of office buildings, some management of the spaces is necessary. Meters on this street would be consistent with existing parking management in nearby Carlyle and planned parking management on Mandeville Lane and Mill Road.
The amendment to the Parking Meter section of the City Code would add these three blocks under parking meter zone 3, which covers the existing meters in Carlyle and Eisenhower East. The time restrictions (2 hours, 8AM to 9PM, Monday to Saturday) and parking rates ($1.75 per hour) would be consistent with existing metered blocks. The proposed ordinance language is included in Attachment 1.
The Traffic and Parking Board reviewed the proposal to add meters on these three blocks and the associated amendment to the City Code to add these locations under Parking Meter Zone 3 at their April 23, 2018 meeting and voted to recommend approval to the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact of this ordinance is minor. The meters on Mill Road and Mandeville Lane will be paid for by the developers for Blocks 4/5 and 6A and installed after construction of those two developments are complete. Three meters are needed to cover the parking spaces on Swamp Fox Road. These will be provided with the replacement meters that are budgeted for Carlyle and tentatively scheduled to be installed Summer 2018. The cost to operate and maintain the meters (approximately $1,000 per meter annually) will be the City’s responsibility but will likely be covered by the revenue generated at these meters. The new metered blocks will be enforced by parking enforcement staff consistent with enforcement on other metered blocks. However, the parking enforcement unit is currently in the process of filling existing vacancies and training the new staff. Regular enforcement of these blocks may not be feasible until new enforcement officers are trained and in the field.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Ordinance for updates to the Parking Meter Zones Division
Attachment 3: Map of new meter locations
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
James Banks, City Attorney
Joanna Anderson, Deputy City Attorney
Dori Martin, Assistant City Attorney
Michael Brown, Chief, Alexandria Police Department
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, Transportation, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Katye North, Principal Planner, Transportation Planning, T&ES