HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2a: Resolution 6834 - Gold Line Arcadia Parking StructureSTAFF REPORT
Development Services Department
DATE: May 15, 2012
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director 2
Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 6834 REQUESTING THE METRO GOLD LINE FOOTHILL
CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE GOLD LINE
ARCADIA STATION PARKING STRUCTURE TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE
EXPANSION OF UP TO 800 PARKING SPACES AS PROJECTED IN THE
FULL BUILD ALTERNATIVE DOCUMENTED IN THE 2007 FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND SUBSEQUENT SUPPLEMENTAL
EIR
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
As part of recent discussions regarding Downtown Arcadia and the Gold Line, the City Council
has raised questions concerning the planned parking structure to be built by the Metro Gold
Line Foothill Construction Authority (Authority) associated with the Arcadia light rail station.
The City Council has expressed concerns over the number of parking spaces planned in the
structure and the possibility that it may be difficult to expand the number of parking spaces
following initial construction. The Council directed Staff to prepare a Resolution to present to
the Authority to request that measures be put in place to provide the projected number of
parking spaces in the Arcadia parking structure when they are necessary.
DISCUSSION
The 2007 Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Gold Line Foothill Extension project
states that the Arcadia parking structure would include "approximately 300 spaces (on
opening day) on two levels and the property could incorporate a transit/passenger drop off
and a pedestrian plaza as well." As the project has come closer to construction, Staff has
worked extensively with the Authority in the development of plans for all of the elements of the
Gold Line Station area. In fact, at the April 17 City Council meeting, the City Council was
presented with the "baseline" parking structure footprint, elevator tower, and elevations, and
the City Council approved several "betterments" to the appearance of the parking structure.
The structure being planned now has 300 parking spaces in a two level configuration. In
addition, plans are currently being completed to develop the transit/passenger interface and
Resolution No. 6834
Gold Line Parking Structure
Page 2
the pedestrian plaza mentioned in the 2007 EIR. As a part of the discussion of parking
structure betterments, and a recent discussion concerning a Downtown Parking Study, the
City Council raised questions concerning the ability of the currently-planned parking structure
to accommodate additional parking spaces.
The 2007 EIR estimated demand for parking based on modeling for opening day of "Phase 1"
as well as a forecasted demand for the Year 2025. The 2025 scenario assumes Full Buildout
of the Gold Line project. For Arcadia, the EIR states that 800 parking spaces will be
necessary. The City Council asked if the currently-planned 300-space parking structure was
being engineered to accommodate these additional spaces; Staff replied that it was unclear
and that this did not appear to be the case. In response to this information, the City Council
directed Staff to prepare a Resolution to be presented to the Authority and the MTA to request
that the proposed (planned) structure be designed in such a way as to be able to provide the
necessary additional parking spaces when needed.
The EIR states that it is assumed that "staged implementation" of parking is likely to occur
over time and that parking will be based on demand as demand evolves. It was assumed in
the EIR that additional parking might be provided as part of transit-oriented developments
implemented by individual cities and that "parking structures [may be] created over time as
ridership increases." Clearly, it is understood that projecting parking demand in 2025 is
difficult at best. However, the attached Resolution reflects the City Council's direction to
request that the Authority make it possible to expand the number of parking spaces when that
time comes.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 6834 requesting the Metro Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority
design and construct the Gold Line Arcadia Station Parking Structure to allow for future
expansion of up to 800 parking spaces as projected in the full build alternative documented in
the 2007 Final Environmental Impact Report and subsequent Supplemental EIR.
Approved:
Dominic Lazzaret
Attachments: Resolution No. 6834
RESOLUTION NO. 6834
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
REQUESTING THE METRO GOLD LINE FOOTHILL EXTENSION
CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE GOLD
LINE ARCADIA STATION PARKING STRUCTURE TO ALLOW FOR
FUTURE EXPANSION OF UP TO 800 SPACES AS PROJECTED BY
2025 IN THE FULL BUILD ALTERNATIVE DOCUMENTED IN THE 2007
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND SUBSEQUENT
SUPPLEMENTAL EIR
WHEREAS, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority
(Construction Authority) was created by SB 1847 in 1998 to construct the light rail line
from Union Station to Claremont; and
WHEREAS, construction of the Phase 1 segment from Union Station in Los
Angeles to Sierra Madre Villa Station in Pasadena, was completed in 2003; and
WHEREAS, the Construction Authority prepared a draft Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) in 2004 and a Final EIR in 2007 for Phase 2; and
WHEREAS, during the EIR process, an alternative was introduced into the
document to divide Phase 2 into two segments: Segment 1 from Pasadena to Azusa
and Segment 2 from Azusa to Montclair; and
WHEREAS, the Final EIR identified a forecast parking need of 300 spaces on
opening day and 800 spaces by 2025 for the Arcadia Station in Phase 2; and
WHEREAS, the Construction Authority is now preparing a request for proposals
for the design /build services for the parking facilities in Phase 2, Segment 1, that
includes a 300 parking space, two -level parking structure for Arcadia; and
WHEREAS, the Construction Authority is preparing a new environmental impact
report for Phase 2, Segment 2, and will be circulating the Draft document in the near
future.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Arcadia hereby requests the Metro
Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority to design and construct the Gold
Line Arcadia Station Parking Structure to allow for future expansion of up to 800 spaces
as projected by 2025 by the full build alternative documented in the 2007 Final
Environmental Impact Report and subsequent Supplemental EIR.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk hereby certifies to the adoption of this Resolution.
Passed, approved and adopted this day of , 2012.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephen P. Deitsch
City Attorney
2
Mayor of the City of Arcadia