Title
Scalloped Streets Assessment Update
Description
This report provides an update to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee regarding the current City and State "Scalloped Street" assessment policies.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Phoenix streets are primarily constructed by adjacent private developers at time of site development as outlined in Chapter 32 of the Phoenix City Code (Subdivisions). However, staggered development patterns, market conditions and construction trends may result in streets not having a completed cross section, therefore not serving in their ultimate capacity. These street cross sections with inconsistent, non-systematic configurations are referred to as "scalloped streets." Scalloped streets can cause traffic congestion, travel delays, and lack of accessibility for those with disabilities. The use of a scalloped streets policy could allow the City to address missing street segments in order to benefit the surrounding community and traveling public, while retaining the ability to cost share for these improvements if future private development occurs that also benefits from the street improvements.
Street Transportation Department (Streets) staff have met with representatives from the development community, including Valley Partnership, Homebuilders Association of Arizona, Local First Arizona, and Arizona Multi-housing Association. Based on feedback from this stakeholder meeting, Streets staff has been working closely with the City's Law Department to interpret the existing City-adopted Ordinances adopted in 1984 (G-2620 - 1984, Attachment A) and subsequent City Council action taken in 1991 (Attachment B) related to scalloped streets and to evaluate applicability against current Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 9-243 (Attachment C) that establish the rights of municipalities to administer such a program.
With regards to scalloped streets, Streets' preliminary findings indicate the current State Statute provides for greater flexibility, applicability and cost recovery in comparison to existing adopted City policies. Based upon these findings, the City may benefit from modifying the existing City Ordinance and adopting a revised policy more closely aligned to existing State Statutes (A.R.S. 9-243) to improve its flexibility and use.
Streets' staff plans to hold additional meetings with stakeholders, including members of the development community, who may be impacted by implementation of an amended Scalloped Streets Policy. Through these discussions, Streets' staff will assess the feasibility of the development of a revised City Scalloped Streets Policy and subsequent implementation.
Streets would return to the TIP Subcommittee to share feedback, including a potential recommendation on revisions to existing City Ordinance.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council:
- Amended Chapter 31 of Phoenix City Code adding an article entitled 'Street Improvements Before Development' (Ordinance G-2620) on April 18, 1984.
- Amended sections 31-100, 31-101 and 31-102 of Chapter 31 of Phoenix City Code to include assessment and collection procedures for street improvements (Ordinance G-3446) on July 3, 1991.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua, the Street Transportation Department, and the City Engineer.