10-25-12 Redevelopment Commission Minutes.docx

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting—October 25, 2012 5. OLD BUSINESS (CONT.) A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... that will be cut off only generates 4,800 cars per day, not 8,000 as estimated by the state. Mr. Kain said INDOT likely assumed some growth to the neighborhood, but that residential area is a mature neighborhood, not likely to have further growth. The staff conclusion is that INDOT's estimate was high. Mr. Kain also noted that residents of the Fellows Street neighborhood have said that the Fellows/Teri intersection is dangerous already. Over the last five years there have been only two accidents; but it is a confusing intersection and something should be done to address it. Fellows Street currently transports 3,800 vehicles per day north of Ireland Rd. Other two- lane streets in residential areas of the city accommodate as many as 6,000 to 15,000 vehicles per day. Local streets have the capacity to accommodate much more than Fellows currently does. Whether we want Fellows to handle more traffic is something that will be discussed in the staff recommendation. The criteria staff used to assess the various alternatives were as follows: • Maintain proper traffic flow through Fellows and Ireland. • Maintain the residential character of our neighborhoods • Provide a cost effective solution • Minimize property acquisition and loss of tax base • Maintain access north, south, east and west • Enhance pedestrian safety, especially at Teri and Fellows Staff now recommends a modified version of Option C-1 as follows: • Remove the cul-de-sac from Option C-1 • Pursue a modification of the Fellows/Ireland intersection by adding a left turn lane north of Ireland, similar to what the state is adding on the south side of Ireland • Install a three-way stop sign at Fellows and Teri • Establish sidewalk connectivity south of Walter Street • Install traffic monitoring devices on Fellows and Ireland; if the counts are high, then we could install speed bumps to slow it, further discouraging the use of Fellows by through-traffic. • Acquiring the property of those who have already purchased another home and meeting with others who were expecting to have their homes acquired to see what can be done to accommodate them. • Address the drainage concerns of the neighborhood separate from the street project. 13