Update on Staring Lane Road Situation 5/31/06

Dr. Shamlin spoke with Department of Public Works Director Mr. Newkirk today and found out the following information:

1. Staring Lane is expected to be open for traffic by Wednesday, June 7th. The pipes in the center of the road from the bridge on Staring Lane to Chandler has been removed as of today (Thursday, May 31).

2. Regarding the Staring Lane widening decision, Mr. Newkirk says that no decision has been made yet about the number of lanes and a decision should be made in two to three weeks. He seemed open to the idea of having parts of Staring be three lanes instead of five. He promised to let Dr. Shamlin know as soon as a decision has been made.

3. To date no new traffic count has been made and Mr. Newkirk did not know if the light at Highland and Staring has been synchronized. He will look into it, and will also look into getting a new traffic count done of Staring Lane once the road opens up.

The pipes in the center of the road were removed on Thursday, May 31

Photographed on Thursday, May 25, 2006

Temporary pipes are ran to/from sewage system by the bridge on Staring Lane to past Chandler, where the sewage line broke causing the road to collapse the week before (on or near May 15). Notice the pipes are in the center of the road. NEWS: Staring Lane should be open to drivers by Wednesday, June 7, 2006.

Meeting minutes - 5/16/06

Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Howard Polk prepared the agenda for both meetings with CSRS Inc. and DPW, and he reviewed the agendas and the minutes from each of these meetings during the first half of the May 16, 2006, Staring Lane Community Association meeting.

Polk detailed the questions that were asked at the two above mentioned meetings. In addition, he made the following comments:
- A report is to come out at the end of June/beginning of July by CSRS Inc.
- Cost of expanding the streets (in the Green Light Plan) is going to require 30% more than it would have when the plan was originally discussed because of current rising gas costs.
- High traffic times for Staring: 7:30am to 8am; 11:30am to 1pm; 3 to 6pm
- Zoning Laws: A1 (minimum set back requiring a certain amount of feet clearance from the road – 25 ft?)(check measurement of your property, wxd)
- You should get a current appraisal value of your home
- We need to be aware of when the City Council meets and when they will be discussing zoning issues or changes in zoning laws
- We need to ask Mickey Skyring to tell us when our neighborhood will be affected by these issues being discussed at future City Council meetings
- CSRS, Inc. wants the right away for five lanes, no matter if they build it now or not
- Lately there has been conflict on the City Council appropriating Green Light funding money on certain projects
- We need to learn more about eminent domain law; is any place safe?

A sub-group volunteered to gather information about the going rate of home and commercial appraisals. Ms. Rodney, David Herke, Pamela Labbe and one other volunteer (name?) volunteered. We will collect quotes and find out if the appraiser can offer a group rate discount if multiple owners band together and all get their homes appraised by the same person. Also, are there any other benefits to doing this, other than cost benefits? Average appraisal rates tend to be around $350.

David Herke will draft a copy of a positive public relations piece about how the DPW is willing to meet and listen to the requests of the Staring Lane Community Association. Dr. Bill Herke suggested that we keep annual dues low.

Discussion of Association dues:
$25 per household was the agreed price

The treasurer will establish the budget and the dues. David Deculos volunteered his wife Claire to be the treasurer.

Another homeowner’s association pays $72 twice a year, but it’s for upkeep of the fountain (maintenance and utilities) and for Corporate Green to plant flowers and mow, etc.

The bylaws will be e-mailed from Gwynn Shamlin Jr. to Pamela Labbe to be added to the blog. Meeting minutes from Howard Polk will be added to the blog. All members are to receive an e-mailed copy of the membership roster; this should not be on the blog.

CSRS Inc. Meeting - April 17, 2006

Staring Lane Community Association
CSRS Inc.,
MEETING RECAP

Meeting: Tuesday, April 17, 2006
2:00 PM – 3:30 P-M, CST

Meeting Location: CSRS Inc
Chenevert Songy Rodi Soderberg
6767 Perkins Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225.769.0546
website: www.csrsonline.com


Attendees: CSRS, Inc. – Michael B. Songy, President, Brad Ponder, P.E.
SLCA – Executive Bd

Discussion Recap -

1. What is CSRS role as Project Managers of Green Light Plan?
CSRS services as Program Managers for Green Light.
4 Project teams, each team will handle nine (9) projects each.
Mr. Thomas Lee to address Staring Lane project.
Phase 1 – Program Development – completed end of 2007
Bonding Issues $125 Million sold
This phase called Concept Development which will include the follow;
DPW /DODT requirements,
Right of Way
Utilities - note power lines will only be moved – same as they are now.
Budget estimates
Scheduling

2. What planning and scheduling of projects is in place at this time?
Mid Summer report of planning
RFQ for Design work to be issue, each street project will have
a contracted designer.

3. Does final decisions of the projects rest with CSRS, DPW, or Mayor?
Final decision made by the Mayor, but CSRS will
shape decisions and will minimize impact to residents, avoid total taking of property but will have difficult decisions.



4. Does CSRS influence Green Light projects planning and how?


5. Who is the CSRS communication point of contact with city parish relative to project management? Peter Newkirk, head of DPW

6. Does ABMS Summary apply to CSRS planning or has any affect on planning for Staring Lane? What are the traffic data sources?
Are more traffic studies planned?
ABMS document not viewed as creditable, pre-mature,
CSRS will start with a clean slate.

Staring Lane current traffic observations, both directions time of day only significant traffic occurs at normal drive hours Monday thru Friday;
7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
3:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Also reduction in traffic occurred after January 1st 2006.
Planning for 2025 even if 3 lanes built right of way for 5 lanes
would be aquired.

7. Property Issues:
a. Where will property be taken from? East side, West side, both?

b. Will zoning changes be necessary relative to current property?

c. Will excessive taking of property for right of way , total property acquisitions be required?

d. Why would 4 or 5 lanes be needed?

e. What is the official setback for home on Staring Lane ?

Key is location of home to right of way required for 5 lanes
measuring from the middle of the street
See Planning Commission


8. Other projects in place and their impact on Staring Lane project.

a. Four (4) lane improvement Perkins Rd. between Essen Lane
and Bluebonnet Rd
b. Staring Lane at Highland Road intersection
c. Staring Lane to Burbank extension
d. Four (4) lane improvement to Burbank
e. Interstate I-10 improvements between College Drive and Highland Rd Area.

9. Staring Lane Community Association request :

a. Staring Lane traffic improvement should be limited to three (3)
lanes.

b. Staring Lane is a residential community and should maintain
that character.

c. Three lanes will also be LESS intrusive to the neighborhood than four or five lanes.

d. Residents of the street should not have home taken nor their current quality of life taken away.

e. Improve Staring Lane in same three (3) lane configuration as
Lobdell Ave. (Goodwood to Jefferson Hwy.) This street
project was just completed measuring .6 mile at a cost of
$2,500,000.00 . It has the same characteristics as Staring Lane


Schedule next meeting if needed

DPW Meeting - April 26, 2006

Staring Lane Community Association
EBR Dept. of Public Works
MEETING RECAP

Meeting Agenda: Wednesday, April 26, 2006
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, CST

Meeting Location: EBR Department of Public Works
Peter Newkirk, Director
300 North Boulevard, Room 208
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 389-3158 Office
(225) 389-5391 Fax
(225) 389-3090 Complaints
dpw@brgov.com


Attendees: EBR DPW – Peter Newkirk, P.E. Director
SLCA – Executive Bd

Discussion Recap -

1. Highlight milestones of bonding and funding of Green light plan to date.
$180 millions have been sold. This funding will cover design,
acquiring right of ways, and complete projects already in progress.

An $280 millions in bonds will be sold over 3 years

CSRS as Program Manager will execute Design work,
handling the details of defining right of way issues up front with
Ford Street and Staring Lane.

Right of way acquisitions plan is “relocation” not “buyout”

Listing of schedule to be provide end of June, 2006 mid July, 2006

Selection process of Designer for each project is delayed due
to award process change requirement (due to protest)

Every other week meetings are held to discuss planning with CSRS.



-
2. Does ABMS Summary serve as justification for 4 or 5 Lane planning for Staring Lane? Why would 4 or 5 lanes be needed?
Staring Lane current traffic observations, both directions time of day only significant traffic occurs at normal drive hours Monday thru Friday;
7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
3:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Also reduction in traffic occurred after January 1st 2006.


3. Are there other traffic data sources?

4. Are more traffic studies planned?

Response to questions 2 thru 4 above ;
ABMS Summary not used for planning
Traffic pattern will be reviewed as requested, new study
will be issued to DPW engineer , noting time of traffic flow is
important .
Mr. Newkirk agrees it does not make sense to build five (5)
Lane if it not needed.


5. Does final decisions of the projects rest with DPW or Mayor?
Mr. Newkirk shares decisions making with the mayor.


6. Property Issues:
a. Where will property be taken from? East side, West side, both?
SLCA request will be address to take minimum property from
both sides

b. Will zoning changes be necessary relative to current property?

c. Will excessive taking of property for right of way , total property acquisitions be required?

d. What is the official setback for home on Staring Lane ?
25 feet See attached.


e. Note, many home owners or in retirement, what is the sensitivity to the property owners position?


f. Is there a property appraisal formula in place?

g. Is blighted property an issue and will be addressed via plan?
Green Light Plan does not address such, funds Dedicated
New Construction is 70 %
Fixing Potholes 27%
Beautification & Landscaping 3%
The beautification will applies to areas of construction.
Should property owners have problem with blighted property
contact DPW and issues will be addressed.

Blighted property on Staring Lane was not viewed as a reason
for 4 or 5 lanes demand.

7. Other projects in place and their impact on Staring Lane project.

a. Four (4) lane improvement Perkins Rd. between Essen Lane
and Bluebonnet Rd
b. Staring Lane at Highland Road intersection
c. Staring Lane to Burbank extension
d. Four (4) lane improvement to Burbank
e. Interstate I-10 improvements between College Drive and Highland Rd Area.
Mr. Newkirk agreed that these projects would have a positive impact
of traffic flow relative to Staring Lane


8. Staring Lane Community Association request :

a. Staring Lane traffic improvement should be limited to three (3)
lanes from Hyacinth to Highland.


b. Staring Lane is a residential community and should maintain
that character.

c. Three lanes will also be LESS intrusive to the neighborhood than four or five lanes.

d. Residents of the street should not have home taken nor their current quality of life taken away.


e. Improve Staring Lane in same three (3) lane configuration as
Lobdell Ave. (Goodwood to Jefferson Hwy.) This street
project was just completed measuring .6 mile at a cost of
$2,500,000.00 . It has the same characteristics as Staring Lane.



Schedule next meeting if needed

Questions presented by previous summary prior to October Tax vote;

What is Staring Lane specific volume to capacity (v/c) ratio? Note, stated Volume and Capacity (v/c) ratio for Staring Lane is > 1.0, but its not clear where either is sited in the same findings.

“Operational Comparison” and “Turning Movement Counts” geometry not clearly linked and no “time variable given.

ADT of “Less than 24,000“ clarification needed, Define “ADT”.

“Nontransversable” definition needed. How does it applies to residential use.

Refuge areas for pedestrians sited in both 4 and 5 lane plans would have limited use.

Time of counts do not include “time of day” and other time related factors.

Residential land will be limited as a result of 4 or 5 lane plans.