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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 1 PKG CAMINO REAL PK 2-4-91DATE: TO: FROM: JANUARY 29, 1991 WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: VEHICLE PARKING AT CAMINO REAL PARR RECOMMENDATION: Pleasure of the Council. NEW BUSINESS NO. 1 2-4-91 Inter - Com ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION 1. Continue existing policy: no on -street parking. 2. Designate temporary time-limited on -street parking, with no curb cuts. 3. Install curb cuts along the street for the designation of temporary time-limited parking. SUMMARY 1. Two points of view are held regarding the parking restrictions at Camino Real Park. Residents in the immediate neighborhood feel that parking should not be provided at the park. Some residents living in other neighborhoods throughout Tustin desire parking at the park, so they can take advantage of its recreation opportunities without having to walk any distance. 2. Traffic safety and congestion issues must be considered when weighing alternative solutions to the problem. 3. The Parks and Recreation Commission was unable to make a recommendation on this subject. BACKGROUND: In spring of 1990, the City Council directed staff to study the parking issue at Camino Real Park. Staff recommended the item be discussed by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Page 2 Vehicle Parking At Camino Real Park At the November 15, 1990 meeting the Commission considered issues relating to parking at Camino Real. This iter was continued to the January 17, 1991 meeting so that further study could be conducted on specific curb cut locations and so that homeowner's associations representing surrounding neighborhoods would have time to consider the issue. At the January Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, testimony was heard from seven citizens, including the two presidents representing the adjacent homeowners associations. The general consensus of the neighbors surrounding the park was that there should be no parking allowed for safety reasons. The Commission could not come to agreement on any of the alternatives, splitting the vote 3-3. Since Camino Real Park opened in the fall of 1989, the community has been concerned with the issues surrounding automobile parking at the park. When the park was designed, provisions for parking were not included for a number of reasons. This park was designed and the construction funded to serve the immediate neighborhood surrounding the park. This service area is seen as those homes within walking and/or bicycling distance from the park. To utilize funds earmarked for the construction of this park for parking would have reduced the amount of money available for recreation facilities on the site. Inclusion of a parking facility at Camino Real Park would also reduce the amount of open green space. It has been a park design goal to maximize the construction of recreation facilities at the City's neighborhood parks. In general, Tustin's neighborhood parks have not had parking included in their design and construction. Except for Centennial Park, the City's largest Neighborhood Park, and Peppertree Park, which shares parking facilities with the Senior Center, none of the City's neighborhood parks include parking facilities. While these parks have not been constructed with parking facilities, parking has been available through on -street parking. According to the Public Works Department, safety concerns relating to street widths, intersections, and the roadway curve on Parkcenter have caused the "no parking" designation along the street surrounding Camino Real Park. The Public Works Department recommends that on -street parking be provided only through the construction of curb cuts. The expense for construction of such facilities for just three cars is estimated at a range of $12,000 to $15,000. The curb cuts would also result in the loss of green open space. Tustin has one park, Columbus Tustin, that is designed for community -wide recreation activities. Since Tustin does not have neighborhood parks within safe walking or bicycling distance for Page 3 Vehicle Parking At Camino Real Park all residents, people have become accustomed to driving to parks. Currently, the City has been developing a plan to comply with South Coast Air Quality Management regulations regarding parking and traffic for the entire City. SCAQMD's goal is to reduce air pollution in the area. The SCAQMD has a variety of strategies to achieve this goal which include implementation of flex schedules, ride share incentives, auto use restrictions, van pool incentives, parking management and other methods to reduce traffic. Failure to implement these measures could result in heavy fines. The objective of the parking management program is to have local governments adopt ordinances or general plan amendments which would reduce transportation source emissions by inducing shifts in transportation modes. Suggested ways to achieve this include restricting residential parking to residents only, eliminating peak period on -street parking, eliminating on -street parking on key arterials and major traffic routes in congested areas, and implementing various fee structures for parking areas. All of these measures have the purpose of promoting other methods of transportation and reducing the dependency on automobiles. Encouraging use of automobiles by making parking convenient may be a policy for the Council to address in the future. Residents living in the neighborhood immediately surrounding the park support the parking restriction. They are concerned that allowing on -street parking at the park would increase traffic and congestion on the narrow streets in their neighborhoods. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES Several options are available to address the parking situation at Camino Real Park. A discussion of three alternatives follows: I. Install curb cuts along the street for the designation of temporary time-limited parking. A. ADVANTAGES: 1. Parking could be provided with minimal street congestion caused by curbside parking. 2. Time limited parking would ensure that automobiles are parked only during designated hours and that automobiles occupying the parking spaces belong to park visitors. 3. Curb cuts are consistent with the Public Works Department's preferred approach to solving - this concern. Page 4 Vehicle Parking At Camino Real Park 4. Curb cuts would make the park accessible to those driving to the park. B. DISADVANTAGES: 1. Installing the curb cuts is expensive. The cost for such facilities ranges from $12,000 to $15,000. This cost could increase if light poles or other street and park amenities must be relocated. 2. Usable space for recreation activities would be reduced. 3. This alternative is not consistent with neighborhood concerns that encouraging driving to the park will increase traffic on local public and private streets. II. Designate temporary time-limited on -street parking, with no curb cuts. A. ADVANTAGES: 1. On -street parking designation can be done quickly and inexpensively. 2. Time limitations would ensure that automobiles park only during designated hours and that parking spaces are used only by park visitors. 3. On -street parking would make the park accessible to those driving to the park. B. DISADVANTAGES: 1. This alternative is not consistent with neighborhood concerns that on -street parking adds to traffic congestion problems. 2. This alternative is not consistent with the Public Works Department concerns that on - street parking is hazardous. Page 5 Vehicle Parking At Camino Real Park III. No change in existing policy: no on -street parking. A. ADVANTAGES: 1. Neighborhood desires to restrict park usage to walk-up and bicycle traffic would be satisfied. 2. Traffic and congestion problems associated with parking would continue to be minimized. 3. This alternative would require no additional expenses. B. DISADVANTAGES: 1. Driving to Camino Real Park is discouraged. DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVES Install curb cuts along the street for designation of temporary/time-limit parking. This option provides parking at the park while minimizing concerns about congestion caused by on -street parking. It does not limit traffic within the neighborhood and may in fact increase traffic. This alternative does not address the neighborhood concerns about traffic which would be generated by community -wide use of the parks. This alternative would make parking available to people choosing to drive to the park. Designate Temporary/Time-Limited On -Street Parking This would address the issue or providing more recreation opportunities to the community in general. However, according to the Public Works Department, such parking cannot be provide safely. The alternative also could add to congestion and traffic concerns of the neighborhood. Page 6 Vehicle Parking At Camino Real Park No Change in Existing Parking This alternative would be consistent with the neighborhood concerns that the current parking restrictions help to control congestion and traffic. It is also consistent with the Public Works Department concerns that on -street parking not be allowed because of the roadway curve, street -widths, and the intersections. The alternative does not address the concerns of those in the community who feel that the parking restrictions limit their access to recreation opportunities. Susan M. Jones Recreation Superintendent A:CaminoPk.7CC Royee A White, Dikdctor CommUiiitj and Administrative Services