HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ_Street_Modification_Justification_220127_v1LARS ANDERSEN & ASSOCIATES, INC.
CIVIL ENGINEERS • LAND SURVEYORS • PLANNERS
ADA COMPLIANCE • LEED ACCREDITED • STORM WATER QUALITY
4694 W JACQUELYN AVENUE
FRESNO, CA 93722
PH (559) 276-2790 FX (559) 276-0850
SCOTT A. MOMMER, PE, QSD
PRESIDENT
_______________________________
DANIEL J. ZOLDAK, PE, PLS
CASp, LEED AP, QSD/P
VICE PRESIDENT
The project site is adjacent to (2) Principal Arterial Roads: S Grady Way and Talbot Rd S. Grady is
classified as a 6-lane Principal Arterial and Talbot is classified as a 7-lane Principal Arterial. Per RMC 4-6-
060, Grady should have a minimum paved width of 76’ and Talbot should have a minimum paved width
of 83’. This letter is to justify the modification to this code to allow the street paved widths to remain as
is as part of the proposed project.
The current paved width of Grady varies from 77’ to approximately 56’, from the intersection
with Talbot moving Northeast. Talbot itself is similar in that its paved width varies from 85’ to
approximately 59’ as the road moves south from the intersection. It’s important to note, that although
the paved width does reduce to below the code standard, it meets said standard at the point of highest
traffic congestion: the signaled intersection. At the intersection, Grady provides 6 lanes and Talbot
provides 7 lanes, meeting the Code standard. Also, despite not meeting code entirely, both Grady and
Talbot meet comprehensive land use and community plan design for vehicular and pedestrian
circulation. As mentioned before, the current Grady and Talbot provide for ample vehicular access
through the area. Furthermore, the site frontages along said streets provides a continuous stretch of
sidewalk, dotted with plenty of trees and other landscape features, for convenient pedestrian travel.
Expanding the street widths per City code would also have adverse effects on the project site.
Expanding would impact existing improvements including stormwater structures, power poles, parking
area, and mature trees. Meeting an expanded Talbot would also require the expanding into a category
III Wetland area, located just South of the project site, as well as a heavily landscaped area used for
power pole placement just a bit more South.
For these reasons, it is our belief that Grady and Talbot do not require expansion and that
modification to City code is rightfully justified.