Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Meeting Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lancaster traffic commission approves safety and parking changes, sets conditions on downtown redevelopment
Summary
The Lancaster City Traffic Commission on July 14 approved an all-way stop at West Lemon and North Mary, designated sections of Lemon and Buchanan as snow emergency routes, added metered parking on East Marion and approved several land-development recommendations while denying or tabling some resident requests.
The Lancaster City Traffic Commission on July 14 approved a package of street-safety and parking changes and recommended conditions for downtown redevelopment projects while tabling or denying several resident petitions.
Ben Hogan, public works engineer for the City of Lancaster, told commissioners the study of West Lemon and North Mary showed about "50% higher pedestrian volume" in the PM peak compared with similar intersections and recommended installing an all-way stop with enhanced signage and flashing beacons for at least 90 days; the commission approved the recommendation. The panel also designated Lemon Street and the South side of Buchanan Avenue as snow emergency routes, a move staff said will let crews clear bike lanes more effectively during heavy snow. Commissioners amended that recommendation to apply to both the north and south sides of the corridors and approved the motion.
On parking, the commission approved six new on-street metered spaces on East Marion Street near City Hall to improve turnover and daylight intersections, and it approved a staff recommendation to add a new northbound Red Rose Transit stop on College Avenue just north of James Street. The consent agenda — including handicap parking installations, sign removals and temporary parking permits — was approved in a single consolidated motion.
Land-development review occupied a substantial portion of the meeting. Commissioners recommended approval of John Hershey’s plan to redevelop the long-vacant Walnut Street property into seven mixed-income residential units with six off-street parking spaces accessed from Alley 98, subject to conditions to be finalized during land-development review. Staff asked that the plan include controls on vehicle size for the alley-access parking and consider protections for an adjacent building; the applicant agreed to work with staff and neighbors on final wording.
Several resident requests were denied or tabled. A narrow petition to add residential permit parking (RPP) in a Southeast pilot area failed to meet the signup threshold (staff reported only 42% household signatures), and commissioners denied several single-street RPP and commercial-vehicle sign requests where applicants did not attend. Requests to move a short segment of the Buchanan bike lane were denied pending more crash data and user feedback, while requests for speed humps at several locations were tabled pending targeted traffic studies.
Chair opened the meeting saying commissioners would prioritize items that did not require a full vote while waiting for one member to join; after quorum was confirmed the meeting proceeded through reports, public comment and the action agenda. The commission adjourned after approving the consent agenda and remaining items.
