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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/04/2003 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 027, 2003, AUTHORI AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 11 DATE: March 4, 2003 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL FROM: Ron Mills Dean Klingner SUBJECT : Second Reading of Ordinance No. 027, 2003, Authorizing the Acquisition by Eminent Domain Proceedings of Certain Lands Necessary for the Construction of Public Improvements in Connection with the North College Improvements Project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The project components include addition of sidewalks, off-street bike lanes, a trail connection, access improvements, center medians, curb and gutter, drainage improvements, signal improvements, lighting improvements and roadway reconstruction on North College Avenue from Jefferson to approximately 300 feet north of the Burlington Northern Railroad crossing. To utilize the State funding it is required that the project be advertised for bid and that all right of way be acquired prior to June 30, 2003. The Eminent Domain process requires several months between filing with the courts and receiving possession of the property. Therefore, in the event that Eminent Domain needed to be used, it was critical this ordinance be in place to limit any possible delays. Ordinance No. 027, 2003, was unanimously adopted on First Reading on February 18, 2003. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 18 DATE: February 18, 2003 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL Ron Mills STAFF: Dean Klingner SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 027, 2003, Authorizing the Acquisition by Eminent Domain Proceedings of Certain Lands Necessary for the Construction of Public Improvements in Connection with the North College Improvements Project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption o CeO i ce o i t Readin FINANCIAL IMPACT: Property acquisition costs will be covered by available project funds, even if condemnation is required. M1 P y EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The project components include addition of sidewalks, off-street bike lanes, a trail connection, access improvements, center medians, curb and gutter, drainage improvements, signal improvements, lighting impr me s d r y o on on North College Avenue from Jefferson to approximate300 fe north t ling Northern Railroad crossing. This Ordinance does not begin t e Eminent Domain process; it simply allows staff to use the process if absolutely necessary following good faith negotiations. Staff is hopeful that all acquisitions will be accomplished by agreement. To utilize the State funding it is required that the project be advertised for bid and that all right of way be acquired prior to June 30, 2003. The Eminent Domain process requires several months between filing with the courts and receiving possession of the property. Therefore, in the event that Eminent Domain needs to be used, it is critical that this ordinance be in place to limit any possible delays. DATE: e ruary 16, 2003 Z ITEM NUMBER: ZS Staff will follow the same acquisition process as that used on the South Taft Hill Projects: a. Order appraisals for the affected properties from a MAI certified appraiser. b. Provide each property owner with the opportunity to meet on-site with the appraiser. C. Mail and/or hand deliver Letters of Intent to the owners with written offers based on the appraisals received. d. Negotiate in good faith to reach mutually acceptable agreements. e. Inform the owners that they always have the right to consult with their own appraiser and/or attorney at any time in the process. BACKGROUND: The first phase of the No Colleg pr pryffrorn unded by a combination of Building Community Choices tits an the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). CDOT is providing two types of funding for the North College project, including Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) grant funds and roadway resurfacing funds. The ballot language describing the project reads as follows: "This is a four phase project to improve the safety of pedestrians and vehicles on North College Avenue. Phase I will focus on the 1/ to 112 mile north of Jefferson Street. Anticipated improvements may include: (1) drainage improvements; (2) widening roadway to provide better and safer facilities for bicycles and pedestrians; (3) const to a ns r - e c ol1 nd/or(4) improving to full arterial street st LardsiUdo c b tte nd sidewalk. Planning, design, right-of--way anr oject cost y also be included." The City of Fort Collins and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) along with consulting team of Felsburg Holt & Ullevig have been working to finalize the engineering phase of the North College Improvement Project. This project includes the portion of North College Avenue (US287) from the Jefferson Street (SH14)/Maple Street intersection on the south to Poudre River on the north. In addition, CDOT has added maintenance funding to the project so that roadway maintenance can be completed along Jefferson and Riverside (SH14) from North College (US287) to Mulberry (SH14). The roadway maintenance improvements include asphalt mill and overlay of the roadway oncr imp me 'n t 'ntersections. The design has been developed in accordance rth th 28 H A e agement Plan. The design is based upon inp to th o n gathere om public open house events as well as individual meetings with local business/property owners. The final design includes the following elements: • Single southbound left turn lane from North College to Jefferson • Free flow right turn lane from westbound Jefferson to northbound College • Raised, landscaped medians along the length of the corridor • Future removal of the northbound left turn from College to Cherry street, however this change can be phased in over time as traffic conditions warrant—it is not needed with the first phase of this project DATE: ITEM NUMBER: • Double left turn lanes eastbound at the Cherry Street/North College intersection • Extensive bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including enhanced crosswalks, on and off-street bikeways, 90' crossings of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroad tracks, direct access to the Poudre River Trail • Gateway enhancements along the corridor including hardscape and landscape features Final design and right-of-way acquisition are scheduled to be completed by early summer 2003 and construction is scheduled to start in summer 2003.