To: Members of the Public Works Commission
From: Ryan Germeroth, PE, Assistant Director of Castle Rock Public Works
Title
An Ordinance Amending the Castle Rock Municipal Code for:
• CRMC 15.42.010 Update of the Transportation Criteria Manual
• CRMC 17.42.080 - Revision of the Downtown Overlay District Regarding Downtown Sidewalk Widths
Body
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Executive Summary
CRMC 15.42.010 Update of the Transportation Criteria Manual
The Transportation Design Criteria Manual (TDCM) is the primary resource used by the development community and Town staff for the design and review of the Town’s public transportation infrastructure. The current version of the TDCM was adopted in 2018. In the past 4 years, multiple events have occurred or evolved that necessitate the update to the TDCM. The proposed TDCM update will provide new criteria for Subsurface Utility Engineering, Pavement Design, Downtown area specific regulations, and Wireless Communication Facilities. The draft ordinance to amend the Town’s Municipal Code is attached to this memo.
CRMC 17.42.080 - Revision of the Downtown Overlay District
The proposed TDCM has updated criteria for sidewalk widths in the Downtown Overlay District. The sidewalk width standard per the zoning overlay is 8 feet wide. The TDCM proposes sidewalk widths consistent with the Downtown Mobility Master Plan that was adopted in 2019. The draft ordinance to amend the Town’s Municipal Code is attached to this memo.
Discussion
CRMC 15.42.010 Update of the Transportation Criteria Manual
Town staff routinely reviews the criteria manuals to ensure they are consistent with the latest state, federal, and industry standards. The purpose of this is not only to stay compliant with any new legislation, but to provide transportation criteria that is keeping pace with stakeholders’ needs.
In the past 4 years, multiple events have occurred or evolved that have necessitated the update to the TDCM. The significant changes to the TDCM are as follows:
Downtown Criteria: The criteria added to the TDCM is consistent with the Downtown Mobility Master Plan that was approved in 2019. The typical new development standards do not apply very well to the Downtown area. The additions to the TDCM primarily address sidewalk widths, street lighting and pedestrian lighting for Downtown. The area defined for the Downtown criteria is consistent with the Downtown Overlay District as defined in the Municipal Code. Essentially, Downtown sidewalks may be 8 feet wide when they are detached from the street curb by a landscape area. When Downtown sidewalks are attached to the street curb, they are required to be a minimum of 10 feet wide. These standards apply to all redevelopment within the defined Downtown area as determined by the Town with respect to scale, surrounding development patterns, and right-of-way availability. These standards shall not apply to tenant finish permits or architectural façade revisions or where available width for the sidewalk is constrained by existing buildings, structures, mature desirable trees or comparable features. The draft ordinance to amend the Town’s Municipal Code is attached to this memo.
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon Devices: Design criteria is proposed for pedestrian-actuated flashing beacons for street crossings.
Subsurface Utility Engineering Criteria: Colorado has passed laws that require utility investigation at the design stage when the proposed work requires excavation and meets certain criteria. The proposed TDCM language specifies the plan submittal requirements for new designs that may potentially be in conflict with existing buried utilities and infrastructure.
Pavement Design Criteria: Town staff are proposing to adopt the Metropolitan Government Pavement Engineers Council (MGPEC) Pavement Design Standards with some exceptions/additions identified in the TDCM text. The benefits of adopting the MGPEC specifications include having a broader body of expertise and usage in developing and maintaining the specifications, having a standard format recognized by the road building industry, and having a set of specifications that focus on construction of low volume roads including subdivisions. Members of MGPEC include: Arapahoe County; City of Arvada; City of Aurora; Boulder County; City of Castle Pines; City of Cherry Hills Village; City and County of Denver; Douglas County; City of Federal Heights; City of Fort Morgan; Grand County; City of Littleton; City of Longmont; Town of Parker; City of Thornton; City of Westminster; City of Wheat Ridge
Wireless Communication Facilities: The Town has begun receiving submittals for Small Cell Sites. These are primarily small cell towers/streetlights that will be located in the Town right-of-way. The additions to the TDCM specifically address the criteria for these types of installations.
In addition to the significant changes, Town staff have also made lesser additions and deletions to the 2018 manual. These changes are primarily to criteria in areas like sidewalk design, curb ramp design, drainage features, sight distance, horizontal / vertical curves, traffic signal / lighting design, sign / marking changes, traffic impact analysis criteria, bike facility design, an update to the variance approval process, and updated definitions. The minor changes and the significant revisions are highlighted in the attached draft “TDCM with Proposed Revisions” Attachment A. The version of the TDCM for adoption can be found in Attachment B.
CRMC 17.42.080 - Revision of the Downtown Overlay District
The proposed TDCM has updated criteria for sidewalk widths located in the Downtown Overlay District. The current sidewalk width standard per the zoning overlay is 8 feet wide. The TDCM proposes sidewalk widths consistent with the Downtown Mobility Master Plan that was adopted in 2019. The proposed code revision will direct users to the TDCM, instead of specifying a specific width.
Notification and Outreach
The TDCM was last updated in 2018. Since that time, staff has been documenting questions and comments from internal and external stakeholders for consideration of inclusion in the TDCM update. The comments were vetted in multiple meetings with Public Works, CR Water, and Development Services staff, checked against the latest standards, and compared to accepted practices in other jurisdictions.
In addition, in September 2022, Town Staff electronically mailed the proposed TDCM revisions to approximately 650 stakeholders of the Town, consisting of developers and engineering consultants. Economic Development Council member, Douglas County, neighboring jurisdictions and asphalt industry professionals were also sent the notification.
The review period for providing comments concluded October 12th, 2022. Town staff received 3 external responses, listed below:
1) Regarding the proposed Subsurface Utility Engineering criteria: An engineering representative stated (paraphrased): It looks like the requirements all follow ASCE standards and abide by the state law. This is exciting news and I expect many other Colorado cities and counties to follow suit as the ASCE has updated their SUE standards this year to hold all entities accountable with regards to abiding by the Colorado law.
2) Regarding the elimination of stormwater inlets for standard medians: An engineering representative stated: I like that the catch curb & storm inlets on median islands was removed.
3) Regarding streetlights specifications: Core Electric provided new specifications for Town street lights.
On November 10th, 2022, Town staff attended the Alliance Meeting for the Downtown Development Authority-Downtown Merchants Association meeting to specifically discuss the proposed revisions to the Downtown sidewalk criteria. The Alliance was supportive of the proposed revisions, although the group was interested in the TDCM criteria address situations where increasing the sidewalk width is not practicable due to physical constraints like buildings, structures or mature desirable trees. The Town accommodated these concerns in the criteria text by stating the new criteria is not applicable in these certain constrained situations.
In December 2022, Town Staff electronically mailed a revised TDCM draft that included revisions resulting from the September outreach, internal staff comments and the DDA-DMA Alliance comments to the approximately 650 stakeholders of the Town, consisting of developers, engineering consultants. The review period for providing comments concluded January 10, 2023. Town staff did not receive any external comments.
Budget Impact
There is not direct impact to the Town’s budget. It is anticipated that the MGPEC Pavement Design Criteria will result in street paving with a lower life cycle cost which could be a significant savings for the pavement maintenance program.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Commission recommend that Town Council approve:
1) CRMC 15.42.010 - Update of the Transportation Design Criteria Manual
2) CRMC 17.42.080 - Revision of the Downtown Overlay District
Proposed Motion
“I move to recommend Town Council approve the Ordinance as introduced by title”
“I move to recommend Town Council approve the Ordinance as introduced by title, with the following conditions:
(list conditions)”
“I move to continue this item to the Public Works Commission meeting on (date) to allow additional time to (List information needed)”
Attachments
Ordinance
Attachment A: Draft TDCM - Revisions Highlighted
Attachment B: Final Draft TDCM for adoption