STAFF REPORT: REQUEST TO AMEND COVENANT FOR ERSKINE LANE / WATKISS WAY ROUNDABOUT – FURTHER INFORMATION

REQUEST TO AMEND COVENANT FOR ERSKINE LANE / WATKISS WAY ROUNDABOUT – FURTHER INFORMATION

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Covenant CA8718173 be modified, establishing a signalized intersection be constructed instead of a roundabout at the intersection of Erskine Lane and Watkiss Way and that the modified covenant reference the concept plan attached to the report titled “Request to Amend Covenant for Erskine Lane/Wakiss Way Roundabout – Further Information” dated October 11, 2023 from the Director of Engineering and the Senior Planner.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide further information on a proposal to amend Covenant CA8718173 so that a signalized intersection can be constructed instead of a roundabout at the intersection of Erskine Lane and Watkiss Way.

TIME CRITICAL:

The intersection upgrade is a major project, and the applicant seeks a decision so that the bulk of the work can be completed prior to completion of the associated multifamily development to minimize traffic disruptions.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The covenant secures community amenity contributions related to the rezoning of 9 Erskine Lane. One of the amenities is a roundabout at the intersection of Erskine Lane/Stoneridge Drive and Watkiss Way. As indicated at the September 12, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting, the applicant found that the need to widen the roadway would have undesirable impacts including encroachments into private properties, affects to driveway accesses, and additional tree removals. The applicant proposes a signalized intersection instead of a roundabout to alleviate these issues.

The applicant has provided a concept plan and supplemental information on traffic impacts. Staff supports the concept plan because it contains measures to:

• further calm traffic above and beyond a traditional intersection, incorporating items included in the Town’s Active Transportation Network Plan to reduce the visual openness of the roadway;
• improve safety for active travellers with sidewalk and boulevard improvements; in accordance with the Active Transportation Network Plan; and
• further protect active travellers by adding a 0.6m spatial and physical barrier from automobiles for protected bike lanes within the vicinity of the intersection.

BACKGROUND:

Covenant CA8718173 was registered on title to secure community amenity contributions associated with the rezoning of 9 Erskine Lane, a 336-unit multi-unit residential development. One of the amenities secured for this development is a roundabout at the intersection of Erskine Lane and Watkiss Way. In preparing the detailed design, the applicant found that the need to widen the roadway would have undesirable impacts including affecting a driveway access, adding new retaining walls, and additional tree removals.

The staff report for the September 12, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting can be found in Attachment 1. The report includes copies of the following:

• Covenant CA8718173
• Traffic engineering memo outlining design issues of the required roundabout
• Geotechnical assessment of modifications to existing retaining walls to facilitate the required roundabout
• A traffic impact assessment of the proposed signalized intersection.

DISCUSSION:

This report provides further information requested for the proposal, namely a concept plan for the proposed intersection and an addendum to the transportation impact assessment. The applicant has also conducted a neighbourhood open house (Attachment 4).

Engineering Review: Concept Plan

The revised concept plan for the signalized intersection is shown in Figure 1 below as well as in Attachment 2.

Vehicular traffic calming features are described in the revised Traffic Impact Assessment (Attachment 3). Such features increase the visual ‘friction’ of the roadway and include the following:

• landscape median on Watkiss Way at the western approach; and
• installation of a special and physical buffer (via curbing) within the buffered bike lane within the vicinity of the intersection.

Figure 1. Concept Plan

Active transportation safety features are also identified in the revised Traffic Impact Assessment and include:

• crosswalks for all four pedestrian crossings at the intersection;
• concrete buffers between automobile and bike lanes on Watkiss Way near the intersection;
• conflict paint on Watkiss Way to extend bike lanes through the intersection; and
• non-mountable curbs between bike lines and sidewalks on Watkiss Way near the intersection.

The above noted design elements are consistent with the design guidelines outlined in the Town’s Active Transportation Network Plan.

Engineering Review: Traffic Impacts

The transportation impact assessment addendum (Attachment 3) concludes that there would be no significant differences to area traffic between the covenant required roundabout and the proposed signalized intersection configurations. Staff will work with the applicant on other signalization elements to improve accessibility for all users that include but are not limited to:

• signal timing adjustments to improve vehicular traffic exiting Erskine Lane and Stone Ridge Drive during the morning peak period;
• leading pedestrian signal timing to improve the prioritization of pedestrians within the intersection; and
• a review with BC Transit to ensure that the transit stop locations nearby are optimized with the intersection change.

Community Amenity Contributions

Given the time frame to prepare this supplemental information, cost estimates for signalizing the intersection versus constructing the roundabout are not available. While the roundabout was a negotiated item from the rezoning, it should be noted that Community Amenity Contribution Policy at the time of rezoning supported a contribution guideline of $3500 per unit for a total of $1,176,000 in cash and/or tangible amenities. Given the scale of the development, the amenities secured in Covenant CA8718173 are for $1,176,000 in cash plus the intersection works. While there may be a cost difference between a roundabout versus a signalized intersection, an intersection improvement in any form would be a significant benefit for existing and future residents of Erskine Lane and Stoneridge Drive, and enhance active transportation opportunities on Watkiss Way.

SUSTAINABILITY/CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS:

There are no significant sustainability or climate change impacts as in either scenario, active transportation features are maintained. Transit access would be preserved, and a bus pad and shelter would be installed on Watkiss Way in accordance with previous requirements.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

If the covenant is to be amended to construct a signalized intersection instead of a roundabout, the applicant would still be required to construct the intersection and associated improvements, and this would remain a term of the covenant. Upon completion, the works would become Town assets. Additional signalization maintenance costs would be prevalent, and some of the maintenance costs could be offset by the reduced amount of landscaping maintenance with the deletion of the roundabout.

ALTERNATIVES:

Council could reject the proposal, in which case development would continue in accordance with Covenant CA8718173. However, given the detailed design engineering investigations that took place by the applicant, there are land-based concerns in fitting the roundabout within the road right of way, and additional sacrifices to pedestrian and cyclist safety. In order to install a roundabout in accordance with design guidelines that can accommodate transit and emergency services (two important elements given proximity to the hospital and the three bus routes that run here), additional land acquisition from nearby properties would be required to fit a roundabout within the space. Therefore, this option is not recommended by Staff.

CONCLUSION:

Staff supports the proposal for a signalized intersection. By occupying less space there would be no private property encroachment and significantly less disturbance to the immediate area including boulevard trees. Staff recommends that the concept plan provided as part of this proposal to discourage speeding and enhance active transportation on this section of Watkiss Way be incorporated into the covenant.

Following the public hearing, if Council approves the proposal, staff will work with the applicant to modify the covenant and the applicant can begin work on detailed design.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Report titled “Request to Amend Covenant for Erskine Lane / Watkiss Way Roundabout” from the Director of Engineering and the Senior Planner presented at the September 12, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting (154 pages)
2. Concept Plan - Signalized Intersection Design - Watt Consulting, September 29, 2023 (3 pages)
3. Transportation Impact Assessment Addendum 1 - Watt Consulting, September 29, 2023 (6 pages)
4. Open House Summary – WestUrban Developments, October 3, 2023 (12 pages)