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Wider Dawson still after 2nd attempt
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · March 23, 2017
Three West Branch City Council members changed their vote on Monday, but could not overcome the 75-percent minimum necessary to grant KLM Investments a variance for a narrower Dawson Drive.
The vote of 3-2 means that should KLM get to the point of building Dawson Drive — which would connect to Main Street and possibly create a future intersection with a proposed new entrance for West Branch High School — the road must span 34 feet across. KLM requested 31 feet.
However, the owners of The Meadows subdivision may get a third chance in the fall if council members follow through on an idea to change the ordinance that requires developers to build 34-foot-wide roads when those roads will carry heavier traffic.
In the meantime, the council approved a preliminary plat and subdivider’s agreement for the next phase of Meadows, which does not include Dawson Drive.
KLM partner Brad Larson said he hoped to see Dawson built within a year, but KLM primarily wanted to see the agreement and plat approved right now.
“Hopefully they will change the ordinance,” he said. For now, the council approved enough to allow KLM to “start marketing” the housing property.
“If we get a couple lots sold, we can move down to Dawson,” he said. “It’s hard to market without a preliminary plat.”
The council voted 4-0 against the variance on March 6. Council members Tim Shields and Jordan Ellyson on Monday changed their votes to “yes” and council member Brian Pierce, who missed the March 6 meeting, voted “yes.” Council members Colton Miller and Mary Beth Stevenson maintained their opposition.
Council member Tim Shields asked after the March 6 meeting for city staff to find out which city streets measured 34 feet across. Public Works Director Matt Goodale said he drove around and measured several streets, and he could only find a section of Main Street, from Oliphant to Fourth Street, that wide.
Most other roads were 29 feet, Goodale said, noting that some of the newer roads like Tidewater, Fawcett and West Orange all measure 31 feet across, the same width KLM wants for Dawson.
“That’s a pretty good argument for 31 feet,” Mayor Roger Laughlin said.
Shields agreed.
“Ninety-six percent of our streets are not up to code,” Shields said. “I don’t want to hold up a development if we’re not consistent.”
Miller said he considers it the duty of the council to “start somewhere.” He said the Meadows’ road will eventually bring a lot of traffic to the intersection at WBHS.
“Think before you vote,” he encouraged the council.
Pierce suggested starting with the next housing development. KLM has been building for about five years.
Stevenson said she is most concerned about the school traffic, and believes that the city council which passed the 34-foot rule was right.
“I do not want to move backward,” she said.
Ellyson said the bicycle lane needs to be clarified in the ordinance.
“I think our code is a little lacking,” she said.
Laughlin wondered if wider streets tempt more drivers to speed; city engineer Dave Schechinger said studies do show a correlation, especially with “a long, straight stretch.”
He said 34-foot-wide streets are typically desirable for bicycling lanes.
Larson noted that the March 6 vote “caught us off-guard” since the 34-foot rule had not been mentioned in the past five years.
“I don’t want to be penalized,” he said.
The mayor suggested allowing the variance, then changing the ordinance.
Schechinger suggested the council not eliminate the 34-foot rule “carte blanche.”
“We don’t necessarily want to throw it out,” he said.
While Miller voted against the variance, he suggested the council could change the ordinance.
Laughlin noted that could take “all summer” to get through three readings.
City Attorney Kevin Olson said he would bring the ordinance to the first April council meeting to review.
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