Minutes

SPECIAL SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE The Special Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on December 9, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. with Chairman Hutchison presiding. Members present were Mr. Dixon, Mr. Perza, Mr. Davis and Mr. Keller. AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Mr. Keller moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Dixon and unanimously carried. Requests for Waivers - Appendix A - Subdivisions, Article VI - Subdivision - General Requirements and Design Standards, Section A - Streets (The Meadow Subdivision): Waiver of Length of Dead-End Street (Cul-De-Sac) - Jefferson Terrace; and Waiver of Increased Percentage of Lots on Dead-End Street (Cul-De-Sac) - Jefferson Terrace Members reviewed a petition to waive subdivision standards, submitted by Penntex, LLC, for The Meadow Subdivision at Jefferson Terrace. The waivers requested were as follows: 1) Appendix A - Subdivisions, Article VI, §A15 - Exceed the Maximum Street Length of a Dead-End Street, and 2) Appendix A - Subdivisions, Article VI, §A15 - Increased Percentage of Lots on Cul-de-sac. The Conceptual Subdivision Plan permits the subdivision of land totaling 4.23+/- acres into five (5) parcels for single-family, detached dwellings, with residual land to be known as The Meadow. (The name of the subdivision is currently proposed as The Meadow; however, the name must be revised. Within the City of Dover, there is an existing residential subdivision known as The Meadows. A unique name must be utilized to avoid confusion in emergency response.) The parcel is zoned R-8 (One Family Residence Zone) and R-10 (One Family Residence Zone). This parcel is located west of Monroe Terrace and south of but not adjacent to Wyoming Avenue. Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Director of Planning and Community Development, explained that the Subdivision Plan proposes an extension of Jefferson Terrace as a public street leading to the west from Monroe Terrace. The right-of-way would be 60 feet in width. The extension of Jefferson Terrace is required by the Planning Commission to be a 36-foot paved width before terminating in the cul-de-sac, which will allow for on-street parking on both sides of the street. Parking would be prohibited within the cul-de-sac. Referring to the request for waiver of length of dead-end street (cul-de-sac) for Jefferson Terrace, Mrs. Townshend advised members that the Conceptual Subdivision Plan proposes a dead-end street that is approximately 390+/- feet in length when measured from the center line of Monroe Terrace to the center of the proposed Jefferson Terrace cul-de-sac; however, the length of the proposed cul-de-sac is 440 feet when measured to the terminus of the street right-of-way. It appears that the proposed dead-end street (cul-de-sac) exceeds the permitted length of a dead-end street, as indicated in the limitation of a length of a dead-end street in accordance with Appendix A, Article VI, Subsection A15 of the Dover Code.

SPECIAL SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF DECEMBER 9, 2013 PAGE 2 Staff recommended approval of the request to exceed the maximum length of a dead-end street. The construction of the proposed extension of Jefferson Terrace terminating in a cul-de-sac is the only access to proposed residential lots. This is due to the configuration of the existing tract of land, the existing natural features of woodlands, wetlands, and flood plain areas, and the surrounding residential development. Referring to the request for waiver of increased percentage of lots on dead-end street (cul-de-sac) for Jefferson Terrace, Mrs. Townshend advised members that the Conceptual Subdivision Plan depicts three (3) proposed lots, or 60% of the proposed five (5) lots in the subdivision, to front on the turnaround section of the proposed Jefferson Terrace cul-de-sac. This proposed lot percentage exceeds the maximum of 20% of the lots in a development allowed to front on the turnaround section of a cul-de-sac, in accordance with Appendix A, Article VI, Subsection A15 of the Dover Code. Staff recommended approval of the request to permit more than 20% of lots in a development to front on the turnaround section of a cul-de-sac. The configuration of the tract of land does not allow for the inter-connection of the proposed street to another existing street in order to avoid the cul-de-sac. Mrs. Townshend stated that, during their meeting of November 18, 2013, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing and took action to grant conditional approval for the Conceptual Subdivision Plan of The Meadow at Jefferson Terrace, including the condition that the paved width of Jefferson Terrace be set at 36 feet to allow for onstreet parking. The Planning Commission also recommended approval of the Subdivision Waiver requests to allow the project to exceed the maximum length of a dead-end street and increase the percentage of lots on the cul-de-sac. Responding to Mr. Perza, Mrs. Townshend stated that, although the cul-de-sac would be a little longer than other cul-de-sacs in the vicinity, it was not out of character with the area. With reference to the map previously provided to members, she stated that the map depicted a street width of 24 feet; however, the map had not been revised to depict the street width change to 36 feet that was recommended by the Planning Commission. She explained that, in accordance with the subdivision plan process, if waivers are approved, a revised map will be submitted. Mr. Perza moved to recommend approval of the Subdivision Waiver requests for The Meadow Subdivision at Jefferson Terrace to exceed the maximum length of a dead-end street and increase the percentage of lots on the cul-de-sac, as recommended by the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Mr. Dixon and unanimously carried. Request for Waiver - Appendix B - Zoning, Article 5 - Supplementary Regulations, Section 17 - Emergency Access Requirements - Waiver of Emergency Rear Access Requirement for Walker Woods/Walker Woods II Redevelopment Members considered a petition to waive the emergency rear access requirements for Walker Woods/Walker Woods II Redevelopment as required by Appendix B - Zoning, Article 5 -

SPECIAL SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF DECEMBER 9, 2013 PAGE 3 Supplementary Regulations, Section 17 - Emergency Access Requirements of the Dover Code. The Site Development Plan Review permits the redevelopment of the site with the construction of 77 garden apartments in 12 buildings (currently, there are 72 townhouse units). The property is zoned RG-2 (General Residence Zone) and the owners of record are Walker Woods Properties, LLC and Milford Housing Development Corporation. Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Director of Planning and Community Development, advised members that Appendix B, Article 5, Subsection17.5(a) of the Dover Code requires a 16-foot alley or an 18-foot secondary fire lane and an 18-foot sub-grade emergency access lane as emergency access to the rear building areas for two (2) and three (3) story apartment buildings. She stated that the applicant requested a waiver for the elimination of these requirements. She explained that the existing layout provided a 24-foot fire lane across the front side of each building, and the buildings would be equipped with sprinklers. Members were advised that the Fire Marshal’s Office indicated no objections to the removal of the rear access requirement for apartments for this project, with the stipulation that the buildings would be fully sprinklered and would meet the access required by the State Fire Prevention Regulations. Mrs. Townshend noted that this type of waiver is received quite frequently and that, after having discussions with the Fire Marshal, it was staff’s intention to bring forward a Code amendment to eliminate the need for such waiver requests. She explained that the rear access requirement was instituted prior to current procedures that mandate sprinkler systems. Mrs. Townshend advised members that the Planning Commission recommended approval of the waiver for the elimination of the emergency rear access. Mr. Davis moved to recommend approval of the requested waiver, as recommended by the Planning Commission, seconded by Mr. Keller and unanimously carried. Update - Dover High School Construction Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Director of Planning and Community Development, indicated that the construction of the new Dover High School was moving forward and that monthly coordination meetings continued. She stated that the City would continue to ensure that the Leander Lakes Project is well coordinated with the Dover High School Project. She noted that an additional development project, Dover Christian Church, will be building on the corner property adjacent to Leander Lakes. In addition, she advised members that the City had been assured that the east entrance to the new School will be constructed and that the Planning Commission issued a parking reduction waiver; however, areas will be grassed and curbed to be made available for overflow parking for large events. She assured members that there were no issues or concerns to report at this point. Responding to Mr. Davis, Mrs. Townshend stated that the Capital School District had requested the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to construct some of the improvements to the east entrance in an attempt to help defray those construction costs. In addition, she noted that attempts were being made to work with local legislators to obtain community transportation funds.

SPECIAL SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF DECEMBER 9, 2013 PAGE 4 Discussion - Changing of Meeting Day and Time Mr. Hutchison noted that the Committee had been meeting on the Wednesday following the fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. and questioned the possibility of changing the meeting day to the fourth Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. By unanimous consent, the Committee recommended changing the meeting day and time to the fourth Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Dixon moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Perza and unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 3:13 p.m. James L. Hutchison Chairman JLH/JS/jg/dd/tm S:\AGENDAS-MINUTES-PACKETS\Committee-Minutes\2013\12-09-2013 SA&T.wpd