La Center planning commission reviews draft transportation element; discusses EV chargers, tandem parking and intersection safety

The La Center Planning Commission reviewed a draft transportation element Tuesday that staff described as preliminary and dependent on an updated Transportation Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) being prepared by consultant DKS. Commissioners discussed multimodal level-of-service standards, transportation demand management strategies, electric-vehicle infrastructure allowances, tandem parking rules and safety at a key intersection on La Center Road.

Alec Figueroa, presenting the draft, said much of the transportation element is dependent on the CFP update and that placeholders and gaps remain until the CFP is complete. He noted the draft expands level-of-service (LOS) measures beyond vehicles to include pedestrians and bicyclists, lists proposed projects such as pedestrian/bicycle signage at Fourth Street and Stone Creek Drive and proposes policies to continue the city—s Complete Streets program.

The draft adds or updates code to reflect state requirements, including: excluding I-5 from local concurrency requirements; adding definitions for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure such as battery charging and rapid charging stations; and allowing EV infrastructure as a permitted use in the C-1 commercial and mixed-use zones because state law requires jurisdictions with an interstate to allow such infrastructure in certain commercial zones. Figueroa said the junction plan already allowed EV infrastructure and that the proposed code changes make the C-1 and mixed-use zones consistent with state requirements.

Commissioners debated whether to encourage or allow EV infrastructure in residential zones as well. Several commissioners said many residents who own EVs will charge at home and therefore limiting the requirement to commercial and mixed-use zones was sufficient; others suggested the city could consider incentives or work with property owners if demand grows. “It—s not a requirement just to allow the uses,” Figueroa said, explaining the draft language would permit EV infrastructure but would not mandate city-funded installations.

The draft also proposes allowing tandem parking (two vehicles parked front-to-back with one point of access) for residential uses, permitting grass pavers or gravel in residential-only developments instead of asphalt or concrete per state rules, adjusting residential parking-space dimensions and allowing up to six existing nonconforming parking spaces to remain.

Commissioners raised safety and access concerns associated with new development. Commissioner Smith described repeated near-miss incidents and sight-line problems at the La Center Road and Paradise Park Road junction and urged staff to coordinate with the transportation CFP team and county fire officials on interim measures. Figueroa said the CFP process is the appropriate venue for identifying intersection projects and recommended staff work with Transportation staff (Tony) and the CFP consultant to consider potential interim fixes; staff also offered to open an online ticket to address sight-line and speed signage issues in the nearer term.

No formal motions were taken on the transportation element at the meeting; staff said they would incorporate the commission—s comments, coordinate with the CFP consultant, and present a second draft of the transportation element at a future meeting before forwarding the complete public-facilities module to City Council later in the adoption schedule.