TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council
FROM: Eva Cutro, Community Development Director
Paul Michaud, Senior Planner
DATE: April 28, 2017
CONTACT:
Staff Contact Paul Michaud, 480-348-3574
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AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Discussion of Paradise Valley Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan
Body
UPDATE
The Town Council last received an update on the Paradise Valley Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (the “Master Plan”) at the meeting of February 23, 2017. During this meeting, the Town Council suggested preparing a statement of direction to the Planning Commission for the Master Plan. Also, it was suggested that the Town Council desired to have more opportunity to review the draft plan.
Points brought up during the February 2017 Council meeting included the following:
• Focus on the connectivity of pedestrian facilities. Preference is to avoid more urban elements (such as concrete, pavement, striping and signage) in favor of more rural or less intense facilities to provide safety of pedestrians and avoidance of conflicts with vehicles and bicycles.
• Address mitigation of conflicts. These conflicts include a plan that will foster the creation of a non-confrontational environment, the discouragement of cut-through travel, corridor design that eases unsafe conditions between different modes of travel, the abatement of unintended nuisances, and the accommodation of storm water passage.
• Review all mapped bicycle routes to determine the enhancement or modification suitable for that stretch.
• Avoid signage in an effort to maintain the semi-rural character and natural beauty of the Town’s streetscapes. Signage that may be required should be the minimum amount necessary and in character with the area.
• Ensure that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and the Visually Significant Corridors Plan complement each other.
• Identify probable cost estimates for improvements that provide adequate detail to assess the nature of the improvement. To consider identifying these potential improvements over a short, medium, and long-range time frame.
• Where practicable, prioritization of non-motorized facility projects should first address existing deficiencies with motorized facilities such as traffic congestion and roadway repairs.
STUDY SESSION
Staff and the consultant have prepared the attached draft statement of direction for review during the April 27, 2017 study session. This draft statement follows the typical formatting which may or may not be warranted in this particular instance, but is a starting point for discussion.
The presentation prepared for this upcoming study session provides both a summary of points and a detailed review of most of the identified corridors in the draft plan. The summary includes identification of different user types, overview of the proposed bicycle facility map in the draft plan, and overview of the proposed pedestrian facility map in the draft plan. If necessary, the detailed corridors look at the General Plan, existing condition, and proposed improvements at a corridor level as a further aid for Town Council to give direction to the Planning Commission. It is anticipated that changes to the draft plan will occur based on this direction and further Planning Commission input.
KEY QUESTIONS
Possible key questions the town Council may wish to consider at the upcoming study session include the following:
• What level of accommodation is appropriate for bikes?
• What level of accommodation is appropriate for pedestrians?
• Does the plan address necessary policy and program implementation strategies?
• What is the next step in the process?
Attachments
1. Draft Statement of Direction
2. Presentation
Available documents, including summaries on completed public engagement events, are available at <https://planpv.mysidewalk.com> and at <http://www.paradisevalleyaz.gov/555/Bicycle-Pedestrian-Master-Plan>