TAMRMS#: B06
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Bylaw 1/2019 - Closure of Portion of Coal Mine Road (1st Reading)
Presented by: Tracy Tsui, Planner
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
1. That Bylaw 1/2019, being a Bylaw to close a portion of Coal Mine Road at Eastgate Way / Eastgate Way North, be read a first time.
2. That a non-statutory Public Hearing to allow persons claiming to be affected prejudicially by the bylaw, or their agents, to be heard by the Council, be scheduled for January 7, 2019.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
The purpose of this report is to outline the proposed road closure of a portion of Coal Mine Road, specifically at the intersection of Eastgate Way / Eastgate Way North, at the request of Council.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY
Strategic Priority #3: Building a Transportation Network: Integrated transportation systems.
Administration Activity 3.6: Develop the Transportation Safety Plan and recommend implementation of initiatives to minimize risk of injury or fatality on City roadways.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION
On November 5, 2018, Council passed the following motion:
CM-18-073
That administration initiate the closure of Coal Mine Road at Eastgate Way N and have this completed by January 31, 2019, subject to Council passing the required road closure
bylaw.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Location
A portion of Coal Mine Road located east of Eastgate Way North within the Erin Ridge North neighbourhood, is proposed for closure. The road has been identified as an interim connecting road within the Erin Ridge North Area Structure Plan (ASP). Please refer to the attachments entitled: Bylaw 1/2019, Location Map, and Aerial Map.
The proposed road closure is part of Road Plan 032 3372 (Coal Mine Road) and part of Government Road Allowance. The area is districted as Low Density Residential (R1) Land Use District.
History
During a 2010 Erin Ridge North ASP amendment (Bylaw 33/2009), the Erin Ridge North ASP was approved to move forward with a staged closure portions of Coal Mine Road. During deliberations of the Bylaw amendment and proposed closure, considerations were identified to include alternative east-west connections.
As development progressed for the community of Erin Ridge North, expansion of the road network did not coincide, and there was no further east-west connection completed. An access was maintained from Coal Mine Road to Eastgate Way / Eastgate Way North which traffic has continued to utilize to travel east-west through the north east area of the City and Sturgeon County.
The road network within the proposed closure area consists of local roadways, with a priority function of providing access to homes. The intent of Eastgate Way, Eastgate Way North and adjoining roadways is not to serve as a connector or for vehicle volumes beyond the needs of the local residents / visitors.
Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Program
The trigger for proposing the closure of Coal Mine Road, where it intersects with Eastgate Way, arises from work in support of the Neighbourhood Traffic Calming program in the communities of Erin Ridge and Erin Ridge North. During the Traffic Calming public engagement, concerns were raised about traffic on the local roadways of Edgewater Terrace and Eastgate Way, particularly the volumes of traffic that residents believed to be much higher than such residential neighbourhoods ought to have, as well as vehicle speeds on these roadways. During investigation into these public concerns, it was recorded that on Edgewater Terrace North (northbound), approximately 37% of vehicle traffic was using the route as a short-cut between Coal Mine Road or Range Road 253 (a gravel road into Sturgeon County) and other St. Albert destinations, and on Eastgate Way (southbound), approximately 26% of the vehicles were using the route as a similar short-cut.
In response to these public concerns and the above cited traffic data, a closure was proposed for a small part of Coal Mine Road that would have the effect of eliminating access from either Range Road (RR) 253 or Coal Mine Road into the Erin Ridge communities. North-south movement would be maintained, providing the opportunity for vehicles to travel from RR 253 to Bellerose Drive, which is a major collector intended for larger volumes of traffic. Direct vehicle access from Eastgate Way to either RR 253 or Coal Mine Road would no longer be allowed.
Transportation Analysis
A detailed transportation analysis is currently being completed to evaluate the impacts of the road closure. Completion of this analysis is anticipated before the non-statutory public hearing scheduled on January 7, 2019.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
In accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), Section 22(2), proposed road closures must be advertised.
The proposed road closure were circulated on November 14, 2018, to internal and external stakeholders, which include the Sturgeon Public School Division, Christ Community Church, and St. Albert Creative Preschool. Comments are due on December 5, 2018.
A non-statutory public hearing is proposed for January 7, 2019, and notice of it will be completed through the City website, Citylights advertisements (on December 22 and 29, 2018), along with a notification letter about the public hearing sent to property owners that may be impacted by the proposed road closure. Please refer to the attachment entitled: Notification Map.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
None at this time; however, pending final approval of the closure, physical barriers and signage will be required for placement in the field to close the existing roadway, at an estimated cost of $2,500. Funding for the road closure would be from the approved 2018 Neighbourhood Traffic Calming program funds.
Legal / Risk:
The proposed Non-Statutory Public Hearing is for the purpose of compliance with Section 22(4) of the MGA which states “Before passing a bylaw closing a road, a person who claims to be affected prejudicially by the bylaw or that person’s agent must be given an opportunity to be heard by the council.”
Program or Service:
The proposed road closure aligns to the Neighbourhood Traffic Calming program and supports the mitigation of negative residential impacts of short-cutting traffic through local roadways of the communities of Erin Ridge and Erin Ridge North.
Organizational:
None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternatives could be considered:
Alternative 1. Do not approve Bylaw 1/2019. The results of this alternative would be that the roadway is not closed, and access remains from Coal Mine Road to the communities of Erin Ridge and Erin Ridge North.
Report Date: December 3, 2018
Author(s): Dean Schick, Transportation Manager, and Tracy Tsui, Planner
Committee/Department: Engineering
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Chief People Officer: Michelle Bonnici
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble