Meetings
 


City of Helena, Montana
 
December 11, 2019
To: Ana Cortez, City Manager
From:

Sharon Haugen, Community Development Director

Lucy Morell-Gengler, Planner II
Subject: Consider accepting the dedication of the seventy-foot (70) wide Sanders Street right-of-way (ROW) and the fifty-foot (50) wide Vandelay Place ROW generally located south of Prospect Avenue, north of 11th Avenue, and east of Roberts Street, in the City of Helena, Montana.
Present Situation: The City has received a request from Capital Hill Investment, LLC to reestablish Sanders Street and a portion of Twelfth Avenue (Vandelay Place). The subject section of Twelfth Avenue was vacated in 1958 and Sanders Street was vacated in 1979 to accommodate the construction of the Capital Hill Mall.  The mall has recently been demolished and the property is being redeveloped.  As a component of that redevelopment project, an amended plat has been submitted showing reestablishment of the north/south Sanders Street connection between Prospect Avenue and 11th Avenue and east/west Vandelay Place.   The subject property is in a B-2 (General Commercial) District.  
Background Information:

The applicant’s objective is for the City to accept the dedication of the seventy-foot (70’) wide Sanders Street ROW located south of Prospect Avenue and north of 11th Avenue and the fifty-foot (50’) wide Vandelay Place ROW located east of Roberts Street between Prospect Avenue and 11th Avenue. 

 

The proposed Sanders Street ROW width is consistent with existing Sanders Street located north and south of the proposed dedication.  The proposed Vandelay Place ROW is fifty-foot (50’) wide. The City Engineering and Design Standards indicates all streets should accommodate the complete streets policy including sidewalks, boulevards, and on-street parking.  A sixty-foot (60’) wide ROW is generally required to meet those components although the design standards also allow deviations.  The standards state eliminating on-street parking may be allowed with a showing that adjoining uses would provide sufficient off-street parking.  The adjacent property is currently undeveloped; when adjacent properties are developed all required parking would have to be provided off-street if the proposed fifty-foot (50’) wide Vandelay Place ROW is accepted.  The Transportation Department has expressed concerns with the narrower right-of-way due to snow removal.

 

The subject survey is exempt from subdivision review per Montana Code Annotated for creating rights-of-way, boundary line relocations, and aggregations.  The only part of the plat the City Commission is reviewing is the acceptance of the ROW dedication.
Proposal/Objective:

The applicant’s objective is for the City to accept the dedication of the seventy-foot (70’) wide Sanders Street ROW located south of Prospect Avenue and north of 11th Avenue and the fifty-foot (50’) wide Vandelay Place ROW located east of Roberts Street between Prospect Avenue and 11th Avenue. 

 

The proposed Sanders Street ROW width is consistent with existing Sanders Street located north and south of the proposed dedication.  The proposed Vandelay Place ROW is fifty-foot (50’) wide. The City Engineering and Design Standards indicates all streets should accommodate the complete streets policy including sidewalks, boulevards, and on-street parking.  A sixty-foot (60’) wide ROW is generally required to meet those components although the design standards also allow deviations.  The standards state eliminating on-street parking may be allowed with a showing that adjoining uses would provide sufficient off-street parking.  The adjacent property is currently undeveloped; when adjacent properties are developed all required parking would have to be provided off-street if the proposed fifty-foot (50’) wide Vandelay Place ROW is accepted.  The Transportation Department has expressed concerns with the narrower right-of-way due to snow removal.

 

The subject survey is exempt from subdivision review per Montana Code Annotated for creating rights-of-way, boundary line relocations, and aggregations.  The only part of the plat the City Commission is reviewing is the acceptance of the ROW dedication.
Advantage:

The creation of the Sanders Street extension and Vandelay Place will provide for better transportation connectivity and pedestrian access. The new street ROW will provide better access for proposed commercial lots promoting redevelopment of vacant property and encouraging economic vitality within Helena.  The proposed Sanders Street ROW will provide a better location for existing city utilities.
Notable Energy Impact: Accepting the dedication of street ROW will provide shorter block lengths, better vehicular connectivity, and a more walkable area and may reduce vehicle miles traveled in the Helena area.
Disadvantage: The City will be responsible for additional street maintenance and traffic enforcement. The fifty-foot (50') wide ROW may result in a narrower street that hinders snow removal.
Notice of Public Hearing: N/A
Staff Recommendation:
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Vicinity Map
Amended Plat