2007-09-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 Mr. Norris said that one of the things causing the congestion in this area is the location of the bus stop, and he asked how that will be relieved. Mr. Jeanie Alexander, City Traffic Engineer, said that is being worked on as it is a known problem. Mr. Lynch said he thinks the biggest bang for the buck is the synchronization of the lights and relocation of the bus stops. He suggested considering a bus pull off just south of the light. He said the extra lane on the 250 bypass will help a lot. He said he is surprised with where the southbound lane is proposed to start as he thinks that will be really tight. He said he thinks the southbound lane is one of the less useful of the improvements, though he is not necessarily against it. Mr. Taliaferro asked if it is anticipated that the improvements will provide relief from cut through traffic in the Meadows neighborhood, and Mr. Tolbert said it could. On motion by Ms. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Lynch, Council approved the Resolution Approving the Route 29 Southbound Revenue Sharing Agreement by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. WHEREAS , the developers of “Albemarle Place” have proffered to Albemarle County certain road improvements in the City of Charlottesville along west-bound Hydraulic Road, adjacent to K-Mart, and along north-bound U.S. Route 29 adjacent to Seminole Square Shopping Center; and, WHEREAS , in lieu of the above-described proffers the developers have proposed a revised proffer of $500,000 toward the costs of an additional southbound lane on U.S. Route 29 between Hydraulic Road and the U.S. Route 250 Bypass; an additional lane on the ramp between U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 250 Bypass; and an additional lane on the U.S. Route 250 Bypass between the ramp and the Barracks Road off-ramp; and, WHEREAS , the Virginia Department of Transportation (“VDOT”) has awarded the City $1,000,000 in Revenue Sharing funds for the same improvements that would be the subject of the $500,000 proffer; and, WHEREAS , the Revenue Sharing funding from VDOT requires a $1,000,000 match from the City, of which $500,000 may be from proffers; and, WHEREAS , it is beneficial to the City to accept the revised proffers, in that the funded improvements would improve existing traffic congestion and address an existing safety problem on the ramp between U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 250 Bypass. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the Council hereby expresses its preference for, and willingness to accept, the $500,000 revised cash proffer for improvements on southbound U.S. Route 29 and the U.S. Route 250 Bypass and the in-kind contribution of engineering services for the work, valued between $300,000 and $500,000, in lieu of improvements to Hydraulic Road and U.S. Route 29 northbound. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Council hereby expresses its intent to appropriate up to $500,000 in matching funds required for the $1,000,000 VDOT Revenue Sharing funding. ORDINANCE : EXTENDING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM Mr. Tolbert said that Council had been approached by a citizen who requested that the tax abatement ordinance be amended to allow detached accessory apartments to be eligible for the tax abatement program. He said that when staff reviewed the request they realized that there were a couple of other issues to consider, including the fact that the ordinance was due to sunset. He said the ordinance will extend the program for five