AGENDA MEMO

 

City Council

February 1, 2010

 

ISSUE STATEMENT

A motion authorizing City Staff to begin the process of accepting a future Plat of Dedication for the roadways within the Ashbrook Place Development consisting of Ashbrook Court and a five (5) foot roadway easement (See Existing Plat Attachment 1).

 

BACKGROUND

The Ashbrook Place Residential Association requested that the City of Darien take ownership of Ashbrook Court within the Ashbrook Place Development, in October of 2009.  The City Council approved a criterion for the acceptance of private roadways in December of 2006.

 

Below please find a “Response Comment” to the Criteria for the City to take over ownership of the private residential streets within the City.

 

Criteria for City to take over ownership of the private residential streets within the City

 

1        The owners of the private road must request the City to take ownership. The

request will formally show proof that the owners of the private road have duly voted to cause the dedication. 

Staff recognized that owners of certain private streets may want to maintain private ownership of their street and that there is a formal process for a Homeowners Association to dedicate property     

 

RESPONSE COMMENT-The City of Darien is in receipt of a letter dated October 25, 2009 requesting the plat of dedication (See Attachment 2).

 

2       Pavement width of private roads must be a minimum of 22ft.

A pavement width of 22 ft will allow room for a plow and a passing vehicle

 

RESPONSE COMMENT-The roadway has been field measured at a width of 22-23 feet.

 

3       Core samples will be required to be supplied by the owners of the road. The road construction minimum standards are 9” aggregate base, 1.5”binder, 1.5”surface and the sub grade is determined to be at 93% maximum dry density in accordance with IDOT specifications. An alternative is the road shall have a minimal structural value of 2.0.

This represents the City’s minimum road construction requirements. It also allows for a minimal structural value standard to be applied if the actual road construction varies from the minimum standard. Structural value standard is a calculation included in the IDOT design manual.

     

RESPONSE COMMENT-The roadway has been cored by Testing Services Corporation, (See Attachment 3) and the structural values were assigned to the proposed roadways, (See Attachment 4). The aggregate base averages to 7.350 inches. While the required minimal of 9.0 inches has not been met the structural integrity is increased through the thickened pavement. The proposed roadways have met the minimal structural value. Testing Services report indicates that the existing bituminous averages 1.7 inches of binder and 1.8 inches of surface. Below is the mathematical equation for the structural integrity.

 

The coefficients for the abovementioned materials are as follows:

Aggregate Base .11

Binder .33

Surface .40

 

The mathematical equation for Ashbrook Court is:

Aggregate Base                  7.35  x  .11=.809

Binder                                 1.675 x .33=.553

Surface                                 7.80 x .40=.720

Average Total Structural Value         2.082

 

4       The road shall be inspected by the City and meet a minimum condition rating of 70.

This condition rating is above our recommendation for city roads to be included for resurfacing during budget discussions. Therefore, if we take over a road with a minimum condition of 70 we anticipate not having to include it in our budget until several years after taking ownership. If we took over a road with a rating less than 70 we may impact our 3 year budget planning.

 

RESPONSE COMMENT-The roadway condition rating is 83 for the proposed roadway, (See Attachment 5). The roadway pending dedication would be tentatively scheduled to be paved in 2018.

 

5       A minimum of a 5 foot easement on each side of the pavement is to be provided to the city for road maintenance.

This will allow the City to plow snow onto a city easement and not private property. This is especially important as we explore taking over private streets in subdivisions with less R-O-W. 

 

RESPONSE COMMENT- A dedication of a five foot easement would be required. Field conditions indicate that the easement could be provided.

 

   The streets must provide for an appropriate turning radius within public

      R-O-W

The city vehicles should have sufficient room to maneuver through a subdivision without driving onto private property.

 

RESPONSE COMMENT-The turning radius is satisfactory.

 

7    The owners of the private road shall be responsible for all costs pertaining to the transfer of the private street to the City.

Costs include legal and engineering services. Examples include, but are not limited to title searches, ordinance preparation, roadway testing, legal description and plat preparation, etc.

 

RESPONSES COMMENT- City Staff has received a quote to prepare the legal description and plat from our City Engineer, Christopher B. Burke Engineering in the amount of approximately $4,500. Please note the Association is not required to use the services of our consultant. Legal fees are estimated to be at approximately $1,000. The Association has requested City Staff to utilize the professional services of the City Engineer and City Attorney.  Staff will request a cash bond prior to the services and would disperse funds upon invoicing from the bond on file. Prior to the proposed recording, the Ashbrook Place Residential Association will be required to reimburse the City for any outstanding fees.

 

     8     The City will identify, in an advisory capacity, if other public improvements within the private street, and potential future public R-O-W, are appropriate.

The city needs to identify, in an advisory capacity, if other public improvements are not included, or are sub-standard, in the private street such as sidewalks, proper drainage, street lights, trees, etc. We also need to review such things as special on street parking/landscape areas that exist within many private roads.

 

RESPONSE COMMENT- City Staff has reviewed and identified all infrastructures within the proposed roadway and extending to a minimal of 5-feet beyond each side of the roadway. The analysis provides information regarding potential sub-standards or deficiencies that could require additional maintenance prior to the acceptance of a private road.  The items include the following:

 

A.        Curbs and Gutters - The existing curb and gutter will require removal and replacement in several locations. City Staff has determined that approximately 80 lineal feet will need to be removed and replaced. 

 

B.        Islands - The City will not maintain or landscape any islands or landscaping. Islands shall be noted in the easement language as the responsibility of the Residential Association. The area shall include the parking area.

 

C.        Landscaping-Rocks/Grass/Timbers - The City will not maintain or landscape any islands or landscaping. Landscaping shall be noted in the easement language as the responsibility of the Residential Association.

 

D.        Mailboxes - The City will not maintain the mailboxes.

 

E.         Storm Sewer Pipe and Structures - Several structures will require maintenance, consisting of concrete rings, and mortar sealing.

 

F.         Sanitary/Storm Manholes and Structures – Two structures have been identified in the roadway that will require adjustment. The structures are located fronting 7944 and7950 Ashbrook Court.

 

G.        Street Lights/Coach Lights - The City will not maintain any street lighting. Lighting shall be noted in the easement language as the responsibility of the Residential Association.

 

H.        Sidewalks – The subdivision does not have sidewalks.

 

I.          Signs - Signage will not be allowed in the proposed easement.

 

J          Trees - None identified.

 

Prior to the dedication of the roadway, the abovementioned items A, E and F will need to be corrected. The City would be willing to assist the Residential Association with City contract pricing or in-house services at a pass through cost.

  

9    The property conveyed to the City will not include identified parking areas, landscape islands, or other similar items within the roadway. 

Many private roads include smaller “bump out” areas within the pavement that are used for guest parking or additional landscaping. These will remain under ownership of the homeowners since these areas may require special maintenance and upkeep.

 

RESPONSE COMMENT-The Ashbrook Place Residential Association will responsible for plowing, and striping if required of the parking area bump outs and all landscaping maintenance of the islands, noted as “exceptions”  within the proposed Plat of Dedication (See Attachment 6).

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Municipal Services Committee and Staff recommend preliminary approval to accept a Plat of Dedication for the roadways within the Ashbrook Court Development subject to the above conditions.

 

ALTERNATE CONSIDERATION

Not approving the preliminary proposed Plat of Dedication.

DECISION MODE

This item will be placed on the February 1, 2010 City Council agenda for approval.