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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05071991 - TC.2 TC . TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORSContra FROM: Transportation Committee ,..�' c DATE: April 29 , 1991 ��� ..�;�' County SUBJECT: Report Concerning Efforts to Mitigate the Impacts of the BART Extension Through Neighborhoods in North Concord. SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPT report concerning efforts to mitigate the impacts of the BART extension through neighborhoods in North Concord. FISCAL IMPACT None BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS On May 17, 1991, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Transportation' Committee a letter from Supervisor McPeak to the Contra Costa Transportation . Authority concerning options for mitigating the impacts of BART on the •North Concord/Holbrook Heights/Sun Terrace communities. This report provides an update on mitigation efforts since then. A series of meetings between BART, the City of Concord, the Transportation Authority and the community resulted in an agreement during the Fall of 1990. BART is currently drafting the agreement in written form. It calls for maintaining the basic alignment and profile as originally proposed with reconstruction of the existing linear park and of Port Chicago Highway. A visual design consultant has been hired (Amphion Environmental) and workshops were held in the community in mid-March. Additional workshops are planned for early May. A copy of the newsletter recently mailed to 2400 addresses is attached. In summary, a close working relationship has developed between BART, the City, the Transportation Authority and the community to resolve the environmental issues associated with the BART extension. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR XX RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD_ COMMITTEE APPROVETHER i 4S der Tom Torlakson ACTION Olt BOARD ON May 7, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A x UNANIMOUS (ABSENT II ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Community Development County Administrator ATTESTED I /99/ PHIL BA HELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY: Deputy Corridor GUIDELINES REVIEW February 1991 Issue No. 1 ej ' We Want to Hear From:You: Join.. ` Us at the First r � Community Vow �a Workshop/ A 's ., . _ '. , The CommunityWorksh'ops well -give Concord residents'an 'Y 7 �� . z opportunity to provide ideas and, suggestions for the visual design of the BART Extension along Port Port Chicago Highway Chicago Highway. Workshops ; Will Guide Port � will l held at key points in the Community Workshops visual design guidelines process. Chicago Highway Corridor Design The first workshop will be held at two different times for your Visual Design Highway/BART Extension Visual r convenience. Please auei�d 0;-Ec- Design Guidelines. Guidelines for fort of the workshops listed below.: Chicago Highway Will Sponsored by Bay Area Rapid Transit Address Community District (BART), the City of Concord, Saturday Design Issues and the Contra Costa Transportation I March 9, 1991 Authority (CCTA), the workshops are gam - 12 pm Making improvements to the designed to solicit important existing public transportation community input regarding key issues I OR related to the visual quality of the Thursday network is an important step in corridor. These issues will be March 14, 1991 addressing the East Bay's traffic 7 - 1.0 pm addressed in the visual design . problems. Steps are being guidelines being prepared by the Both workshops will be held at: taken to ensure that these design Consultant Team. The visual Holbrook Elementary School improvements will blend with design guidelines will contain 3333 Ronald Way, Concord the areas they serve. recommendations regarding specific design elements such as soundwalls, Residents in the Port Chicago visual barriers, safety barriers, Highway area will have an grading, landscaping, signage, INSIDE • . . opportunity to influence the design lighting, pedestrian overcrossings, Design Issues and visual character of the corridor, bikeways and pedestrian paths. The pages 2 and 3 including the planned BART extension guidelines will also describe the along Port Chicago Highway. These preferred type and color of materials Public Participation issues will be the topic of the to be used. These guidelines will be Opportunities upcoming community workshop incorporated into future development . . . pages 2 and 3 series for the Port Chicago plans in the corridor, including BART. "Buzzwords" Continued on back page . . . page 3 Join Us in Preparing An Overview ®f Pre the Visual Design Issues for Port Chocas g p Gui del nes.1 1 The followin topics will be addressed in the visu jPort Chicago Highway Corridor. Public Participation Program ; Overall Design Theme Provides Opportunities for Residents to Contribute Ideas In exploring different design Y styles, the consultant team will draw upon examples in the sur- If the Port Chicago Highway Corridor Visual QQ° rounding area. Should the Design Guidelines are to be a success, they must AAA A A design of the corridor have a take into account the needs and desires of the contemporary or period feeling? area's residents. The a community participation Should design elements take on a polished, park-like look program has been developed with this in mind. or a period mission style? Should the consultant team con- sider another style or combination of styles? We Want To Hear From You! The Port Chicago Highway BART Extension Visual Considerations Design Guidelines will address complex issues � Community residents and the using the most current transit technology and en- ba consultant team will address the vironmental impact assessments. But we still issue of visual intrusion, that is, need your input to make sure the Guidelines views from the BART trains and meet the needs of those who use the Corridor. of the BART trains. The consult ant team will illustrate how Citizens are encouraged to make their voices view impacts can be mitigated or lessened through a heard by attending the community workshops. series of design measures such as screening, plantings and sound walls. Community Workshops There will be two (2) sets of open workshops to Noise Considerations provide an opportunity for the community-at- The technical qualities of track- large to help identify issues and, later, review side acoustical barrier walls, as jproposed design alternatives. The workshops well as soundwalls on the edge will provide residents with a progress report on l� a [� of the right-of-way, are being es- the design guidelines development process and tablished to reduce noise levels offer an opportunity to discuss design issues near adjacent properties. With with the consultant team. (See panel on front the the help of community residents, the consultant team page for first workshop dates and locations.) will also address the visual character of these walls includ- ing height, character and color. Project Newsletter: Corridor Guidelines Review ; Safety and Security There will be a second issue of this newsletter -`a- j Both BART and the City of Con- published during the Design Guidelines develop ` r�j cord have specific security, f� �� safety and maintenance require- ment process to keep you informed about study �-1 progress and results. ments. The consultant team will study ways of complying � specific fencin lighting To ensure that you will receive future issues of with s P g, g g Corridor Guidelines Review, fill out and mail in and signage requirements while still preserving the the comment form inserted in this newsletter. desired visual quality along the corridor. i co i 7`' minary Visual Design Buzzw ® rt ® s ! Highway You may stumble across a whole array of planning terms during this process. Though none are very design guidelines which are being prepared for the complex, some may be unfamiliar to you. To help you cut through the jargon; here are some of the more commonly-used terms you will encounter: Refinement of Cross Sections Guidelines A written and pictoral document j ua The Port Chicago Highway cor- that establishes a design system or philosophy. The ridor varies in width from 100 Guidelines will be used during the actual design of feet to 140 feet as it extends the corridor. from the existing Concord BART station to the future North Con- cord/Martinez BART station near Highway 4. The consult- Alignment specific horizontal and vertical loca- ant team will identify and illustrate the varying corridor tion through a corridor in which public transit conditions and the associated design opportunities and facilities are proposed for construction. constraints. Residents and consultant team members together will develop a variety of design solutions which Cross Section A drawing slice taken across the will include a linear park, median strips and planting right-of-way that graphically depicts the relationship strips, and improvements to the west side. The between elements. workshops will address how the overall theme is achieved in these areas, and will focus on identifying the type of amenities and planting styles desired by residents. Crossings � The consultant team will study PORT CWCAGO-AT GRADE LONDRION specific design treatments at both the automobile overcross- ings at North 6th and Olivera Streets and the pedestrian over- Track-side Acoustical Barrier Walls crossing(s) over BART. Low sound walls adjacent to BART tracks to reduce Questions concerning pedestrian overcrossings include track noise. the number of crossings, their locations), and privacy is- sues relating to adjacent homeowners. The consultant Mitigation Measures Actions taken to team will also provide information regarding accessibility reduce or offset identified impacts on local areas. requirements in order to accommodate the needs of both disabled and non-disabled persons. Linear Park The linear park will be incor- porated on the east side of the Some issues in the corridor are beyond the scope of corridor right of way. Working the Design Guidelines Study. Below is an update on together, community residents two of these issues: and the consultant team will determine its overall character Vibration: BART is currently conducting tests simulat- and theme, discuss the location of the bike/pedestrian ing the levels of train vibration in adjacent residences path and identify other preferences pertaining to to determine the final design of the trackway for effec- amenities such as lighting, seating and plantings. The tive vibration control. consultant team will illustrate the opportunities and con- Noise: BART will install sound walls at the property straints associated with the linear park including safety, lines where feasible, prior to major BART construction. security, maintenance, vandalism and emergency access. Technical studies to determine minimum height ana density requirements of sound walls are nearing com- pletion. Community Workshops Will Guide Corridor Design Continued from page i Ensuring consistent and quality transportation projects occurring in identified a list of preliminary design design treatment along the BART line the corridor. issues which are presented on page 2 is of utmost importance to the Guidelines development services are and 3 of this newsletter and which Consultant Team, the community, being provided by the Consultant will be the focus of the first BART, CCTA, and the City of Concord. Team of Amphion Environmental, community workshop. This workshop Public Inc., an urban design/landscape and will be offered twice for your Role Participation Plays Key architectural firm with specialized convenience. (See front page for Roworkshop dates and location. transit experience, and Moore P ) In November, 1988, following the laeofano Goltsman, Inc., who will Ideas and suggestions from residents conclusion of the environmental be assisting with the public will be used to develop an overall impact report for the BART participation program. design theme for the corridor. This Pittsburgh Antioch Extension, the e theme will bresented at the The success of this program depends p BART Board of Directors approved an P•second workshop, where participants on the community's involvement. P P extension of BART from Concord into With active public participation and will be asked to confirm the theme east Contra Costa County. Shortly tions. The to d treatment support, the BART extension along anp thereafter, North Concord residents consultant will then incorporate these the Port Chicago Corridor will P formed the North Concord/Holbrook provide not only an effective solution into the draft design guidelines, BART Action Committee and joined to its transportation problems, but a which will be reviewed by a Steering with BART staff, the City of Concord, system that enhances the existing Port Committee consisting of and CCTA to provide community Chicago Highway corridor. representatives from the City of input for the project. To preserve the Concord, the community, the Contra visual quality of the corridor, the four Guidelines Preparation Process Costa Transit Authority, and BART. groups selected a consultant to assist in developing a set of visual design The guidelines process begins with a To ensure that you keep up-to-date guidelines. Once completed, these community workshop designed to with the design guidelines guidelines will be incorporated into identify residents' key design issues development process, please fill out final specifications for the BART and ideas for developing a design and return the attached mail-in extension, and for any other theme. The consultant team has comment form. Corridor GUI ELLS N ES E V 1E Corridor Guidelines Review is published as a public service to the residents of the Port Chicago Highway area. For questions regarding the visual design guidelines and the City of j Concord, please contact John Templeton, City Transportation Engineer, at (4 15) 67 1-33 1 1 (ext. 2278). For homeowner concerns, please contact Greg Olsen, at(4 15) 67 1-225 1. For questions regarding BART, please contact Molly Murphy, BART Community Relations Representative, at (41 5) 287-4854.