6.02.075 Road closures.
A. Procedure. A request for a road closure shall be processed as a major issue under BC 6.02.065 A.2, unless the request is part of a development review issue as defined in BC 6.02.055.
B. Eligibility Criteria. In order to recommend a road closure, the traffic commission must find that the road closure meets all of the following eligibility criteria in addition to the standards of BC 6.02.060(A):
1. The subject road is classified in the Comprehensive Plan as a “local” street.
2. Documentation has been submitted indicating that neighborhood users of the street support the proposed road closure. The documentation shall include written expressions of interest or a record of testimony at a public meeting. Neighborhood user of the street is defined as a person who, from their trip origin, can enter or use the subject street or street section without first traveling on or crossing a collector or arterial street.
3. A change in traffic patterns has substantially increased traffic volumes beyond acceptable levels that could not have been reasonably anticipated, or has created a substantial safety issue that cannot be resolved by other means.
4. Closure of the subject street will not substantially increase the traffic volumes on other local streets, will not substantially diminish safety on other streets, and will not substantially increase vehicle miles traveled.
C. Survey. If the traffic commission and city council determine that a road closure request satisfies the standards and criteria for closure, a survey shall be conducted by the City to verify the extent of support from neighborhood users of the street. The survey area shall be conclusively determined by the city traffic engineer prior to the commencement of the survey, and shall generally include all properties where a person from their trip origin can enter or use the subject street or street section without first traveling on or crossing a collector or arterial street. For each tax lot within the survey area, one person may respond as a representative of the property owner(s). In addition, for each residential unit and each business in the survey area, if the occupant of the unit is not the property owner, one person may respond as a representative of the tenant(s) of the unit.
1. The City shall mail a response form to all the identified property owners, households, and business owners in the survey area. The response form shall provide a place for a respondent(s) to indicate whether the respondent favors or opposes the proposed closure and shall include a deadline of 30 days from the City’s mailing date for return of the response form. The mailing shall also include a description of the proposed road closure and a neutral list of arguments for and against the proposed road closure. Failure of any person to receive a response form shall not invalidate survey results.
2. The road closure will continue to be considered only if responses in favor of the proposal are received from at least two-thirds of all those who were mailed a response form.
D. Test Period. If the results of the survey indicate that at least two-thirds of all those who were mailed a response form support the proposed road closure, the street shall be closed for a test period of at least 120 days. The test period shall be conducted at a time that, in the opinion of the city traffic engineer, reflects peak traffic volumes on weekdays, weekends, and seasonable peaks as appropriate.
E. Request for Permanent Closure. Following the 120-day test period, the city traffic engineer shall initiate a request for permanent street closure to be considered as a major issue under BC 6.02.065(A)(2). [BC 6.02.075, added by Ordinance No. 4096, 3/27/00]