Committee backs Green Line street design, WPS Drive relocation and bio-retention basin; forwards recommendation to council

The Public Works Committee voted to recommend the city council approve the Green Line project street design, the relocation and extension of WPS Drive, and acceptance of a new unnamed east-west street (referred to as Street A) as part of a four-lot Certified Survey Map.

Staff presenters (including Jared, Zach and Randy) described the plan set and conditions staff recommends be forwarded to council. Key design elements the committee recommended to council include a 24-foot face-to-face east-west street with a mix of angle and parallel parking, a raised crosswalk and raised intersection with a four-way stop at WPS Drive, a three-way stop at Angle Street, and street widths of roughly 36 feet for WPS Drive and 34 feet for Angle Street to match existing conditions. Presenters also described right-turn and left-turn lane changes at the Broadway connection and utility layouts with water main loop connections and sanitary sewer routed to the interceptor on Engel.

Staff read six points for recommendation: the east-west street design and parking/stop control configuration; relocation and reconstruction of WPS Drive with full-depth pavement and spot curb replacement; full curb replacement and a new two-way roundabout on Angle Street; construction of a stormwater bio-retention basin per the plan set and city specifications; installation of street lights matching previously installed fixtures on Yarrow Lane and Inland Way; and dedication to the city at the developer's cost upon project completion.

A committee member asked whether the proposed stormwater basin complies with Chapter 216 (storm water erosion control ordinance) pre-treatment requirements for infiltrating systems. Randy responded that the design uses a bioretention basin with engineered soils that provide pre-treatment under Department of Natural Resources technical standards and specifically said the design will follow Tech Standard 1004.

After clarification the committee member moved and another seconded a recommendation to city council to approve the layout following the six bullet points; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

What happens next: the recommendation will be transmitted to the city council for formal approval. Naming of the new east-west street will return to the committee for consideration prior to the street becoming functional, and staff will complete required dedication, lighting and easement details as part of the council submittal.