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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