CITY of RAPID CITY

Agenda Item Summary

Public Works Committee Meeting Date:   February 9, 2016

City Council Meeting Date: February 16, 2016

Staff Contact: Dan Kools - Project Engineer

Petitioner: William Koser – BTK Land, LLC

Location: 2850 Lien Street.  Lot A of Michael Subdivision, Section 34, T2N, R7E, BHM, Rapid City, Pennington County, SD. 

Agenda Title:

Request from William Koser – BTK Land, LLC for a Variance to Waive the Requirement to Install Sidewalk  per City Ordinance 12.08.060 Along Deadwood Avenue and Lien Street,  Lot A of Michael Subdivision, Section 34, T2N, R7E, Rapid City.

Summary:

            A request was received in the Engineering Office on 1/27/16 requesting the requirement to install sidewalk along  Deadwood Avenue and Lien Street per City of Rapid City Ordinance 12.08.060 be waived. A 5’ sidewalk is required to be constructed along Deadwood Avenue and Lien Street at the time of building permit, with the property having approximately 135 feet of frontage along Deadwood Avenue and 645 feet of frontage along Lien Street. The requested variance will allow for construction of a small engine repair shop on the property without the installation of sidewalk in the adjacent right-of-way.  City Building Permit No. 15-1828 was issued on 8/24/2015.  Adjacent Deadwood Avenue is a principal four-lane arterial street with a dedicated turn lane with no sidewalk and an urban street section with curb & gutter and storm sewer to accommodate drainage.   Adjacent Lien Street is a proposed minor two-lane arterial street with no sidewalk and an urban street section with curb & gutter and storm sewer to accommodate drainage.  There are currently no pedestrian access routes in either the Deadwood Avenue or Lien Street rights-of-way.

          In late 2014/early 2015 the City’s Long Range Planning Division completed a Walk Audit throughout various portions of the City to access current conditions and seek areas that could use improvements.  In the study, the Deadwood Avenue area was identified as a location within Rapid City in need of sidewalks.  There are portions of Deadwood Ave. that have a dirt path that has been worn down from pedestrians and bicyclists. 

          There are two options for sidewalk; install the sidewalk 1 foot inside the right-of-way or install curb side sidewalk.  The approved building permit plans show sidewalk 1 foot inside the right-of-way. 

Based upon the results of the City’s Walk Audit and that sidewalk is shown on the approved building permit plans, Public Works recommends denial of the sidewalk variance request for both Deadwood Avenue and Lien Street.  The Rapid City Council has the authority to order in sidewalk at any time, should sidewalk in this area become necessary.

Funding Source & Fiscal Impact (if applicable):

Recommendation:

Action: Choose an item. Deny.

City Council Options:

Approve, approve with a waiver of right to protest, or deny.

Attachments & Links:

Variance Request

Location Map