Agenda Item No. August 28, 2007 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Honorable Mayor and City Council Attention: David Van Kirk, City Manager Dale I. Pfeiffer, Director of Public Works RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE DAVIS STREET WIDENING WEST SIDE (BELLA VISTA ROAD TO HICKORY LANE) PROJECT AND TO APPROVE THE DAVIS STREET WIDENING PHASE III CONCEPT PLAN DISCUSSION: Based on traffic studies associated with the development of properties in the vicinity of the Davis Street/Hume Way/Bella Vista Road area, a need to widen and realign the main roadways in this neighborhood was identified. These improvements include the widening of Davis Street, from the Winco property to Hickory Lane to two through lanes in both the northbound and southbound directions, and the realignment and widening of the Bella Vista Road/Davis Street/I- 80 ramps intersection. The improvements were planned to be carried out in three phases. The first phase, which was completed in 2003, widened the east side of Davis Street from Hickory Lane to Hume Way. The second phase, which was completed in 2004, widened and realigned Bella Vista Road near its intersection with the I-80 ramps and widened Davis Street from the Winco property to approximately 150 feet north of Bella Vista Road. The third phase and current project, called Davis Street Widening West Side (Bella Vista Road to Hickory Lane), proposes to complete the widening of Davis Street, and was approved in the 2006/07 Capital Improvement Program. Specifically, the scope of the current project will widen the west side of Davis Street from the I- 80 undercrossing south to the widened section of Davis Street completed as part of Phase 2. The scope will also include modifications to the traffic signals at the intersections of Davis Street/ Hume Way and Davis Street/Bella Vista Road/I-80 ramps as well as changes to existing striping. The Davis Street Widening West Side (Bella Vista Road) is being designed to accommodate the future traffic volumes, based on 2030 projections. A Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared for this project. The public review and comment period extended from May 22, 2007 to June 20, 2007. Notice of the environmental review was sent to surrounding owners and businesses. Written comments were received from a property owner and also from the State Dept. of Fish & Game (please see attached Mitigated Negative Declaration & Comment letters). Mitigation of environmental effects is included in the environmental document. City staff also held informational neighborhood meetings on June 27, 2007 and July 26, 2007. Property owners and occupants/residents on Davis Street, Bella Vista Road and Hume Way adjacent to the project were invited to the meeting. Approximately 15 business/property owners attended each meeting. The majority of comments from each meeting pertained to the installation of a raised median along this segment of Davis Street, which will preclude left turn movements. Representatives of businesses on the east side of Davis Street expressed concern that elimination of left turn movements would negatively impact their businesses. They made several suggestions to staff that would allow some left turn movements. Staff reviewed these suggestions and determined that the raised median and restriction of left-turn movements were necessary for the following reasons: Safety The raised median will prevent vehicles from turning left into and out of the many driveways along this segment of Davis Street, and concentrate these movements at the signalized intersections. This will reduce conflict points, thereby reducing the potential for collisions.
Intersection Operation Issues The driveways along this segment of Davis Street are generally within the functional area of the adjacent intersection. The functional area of an intersection includes the area beyond the physical intersection that comprises decision and maneuvering distance, plus any required vehicle storage length. Allowing left-turn movements within this functional area would negatively affect safety as well as operations at the intersection. To offset the loss of the left-turn movements, staff designed the project to allow u-turns at the two signalized intersections. Those vehicles traveling southbound on Davis Street can make a u-turn at Bella Vista Road to access businesses on the east side of Davis Street. Those going northbound can make a u-turn at Hume Way to access businesses on the west side. The City will have to purchase additional rights-of-way from adjoining property owners on the west side of Davis Street to accommodate the widening of this project. Final appraisal of the properties can begin as soon as the environmental document is adopted by Council. RECOMMENDATIONS: By simple motion, that the City Council of the City of Vacaville adopt a resolution to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Davis Street Widening West Side (Bella Vista Road to Hickory Lane) Project and to approve the Davis Street Widening Phase III Concept Plan.
RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE DAVIS STREET WIDENING WEST SIDE (BELLA VISTA ROAD TO HICKORY LANE) PROJECT AND TO APPROVE THE DAVIS STREET WIDENING PHASE III CONCEPT PLAN WHEREAS, the City of Vacaville prepared a concept plan for the proposed Phase III widening of Davis Street between Bella Vista Road and Hickory Lane; and WHEREAS, the City of Vacaville prepared an Initial Study for the Davis Street Widening West Side (Bella Vista Road to Hickory Lane) project in accordance with State law; and WHEREAS, a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration was written and circulated for public review; and WHEREAS, although the Davis Street Widening West Side (Bella Vista Road to Hickory Lane) has the potential to have a significant impact on the environment, mitigation measures incorporated into the project and mitigation monitoring program will reduce potential impacts to a less-than-significant level. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Vacaville does hereby adopt the Davis Street Widening West Side (Bella Vista Road to Hickory Lane) Mitigated Negative Declaration with the following findings: A. The project does not have the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal, or eliminate important examples of major periods of California history or prehistory; B. The project does not have the potential to achieve short-term environmental goals to the disadvantage of long-term goals; C. The project does not have environmental effects which are individually limited but are cumulatively considerable; D. The project will not have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly; E. The negative declaration reflects the independent judgment of the City of Vacaville, acting as lead agency for the project. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Vacaville does hereby approve the Davis Street Widening Phase III Concept Plan. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Vacaville, held on the 28th day of August 2007, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: Michelle A. Thornbrugh, City Clerk