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98 <br /> <br />COi~NCli ~ CD_AMBER - November 3, 1997 <br /> <br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the ~bl!owi. ~_ng members present: Mr. <br />Cox, Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Richards, Ms. Slaughter, Mir. Toscano. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> ~.~. Bmnt Nelson, 214 South Street, reflated a statement made at the last Council <br />meeting by a resident of North Downtown saying that Meadowcmek Parkway would be <br />good tbr the North Downtown neighborhood. _Mr. Nelson requested that Planning <br />Core_mission meetings be televised. <br /> <br /> Mr. Christopher Gibson, a member of the Eco-Activist Club, presented a petition <br />opposing the Meadowcreek Parkway signed by Charlottesville High School students. M~r. <br />Gibson said that the Parkway will be a detriment to the environment. <br /> <br /> Ms. Nancy Hurrelbrinck, 1020 St. Clair Avenue, thar~ked Council for supporting <br />converting certain city vehicles to compressed natural gas. Ms. Hurrelbrinck invited <br />Councilors to hike along the Meadowcreek trail and through Mc!ntire Park on the proposed <br />route for the Meadowcreek Parkway on November ! 6th. <br /> <br /> Mr. Waldo laquith of Free Union, expressed concern about eliminating parking on <br />Market Street ~k is made two-way and increasing costs of parking dowmown. <br /> <br />REPORT: TWO-WAY!NG OF _MARKET STREET <br /> <br /> Ms. Judith Mueller, Director of Public Works, presented the Ke!!gco report on <br />two-waying of Market Street. Ms. Mue!!er explained that traffic signals would have to be <br />changed and the bus transfer stop moved to between ! st and 2nd Street, N.E. The report_ <br />shows that two-waying Market Street would have a poskive impact on the Park and High <br />Street intersection. Ms. Mueller said that a specialist would need to be employed to plan and <br />cost out a traffic circle at Mclntim and Preston Avenue. <br /> <br /> Mr. Satyendra Huja, Director of Community Development, said that the Planning <br />Commission recommended that Market Street be made two-way, that 6th Street be closed to <br />traffic, and that there, be further study of a traffic circle at Mclntire and Preston. <br /> <br /> Responding to questions from Mr. Toscano, Ms. Mue!!er said that the majority of <br />parking would be lost between 5th and 7th Streets, and noted that stop lights would need to <br />be replaced as they are currently made for one-way traffic. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter requested that staff re-examine the parking and try to reconfignre spaces <br />to reduce the number of spaces eliminated. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said the elimination of parking spaces remains a concern to him. Mr. Cox <br />asked iftwo-wa~ng Market has implications for the bus system, and ifa new route between <br />Market, Preston and the University could be created as a result. <br /> <br /> Ms. Muel!er said that two-waying would not affect the bus system, other than <br />relocating the transfer site. Ms. Mue!!er said no new route is proposed, but it could be priced <br />out in the budget. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter questioned the need to spend $30,000 on a transfer station when a new <br />one is proposed to be built in a few years at the train station. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he is supportive oftwo-waying Market Street, but is concerned that it has <br />side effects that he is not sure al! property owners understand. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Conne!! suggested that staff meet with Market Street property owners and look <br />at parkkng options and bus implications. <br /> Mr. Toscano made a motion to authori_7.e staff to take the two-waying of Market Street <br />proposal to the downtown business people, explore more parking options, and bring back the <br /> <br /> <br />