HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2005-174 Morrier Hotel, LLC, License & Easement AgreementRESOLUTION NO. R-2005-174
A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a license and easement agreement with Morrier Hotel,
LLC, a Washington limited liability company, d/b/a Hilton
Garden Inn, relating to the development of a hotel in the general
vicinity of 401 E. Yakima Avenue, in the City of Yakima,
Washington.
WHEREAS, Morrier Hotel, LLC, a Washington limited liability company, d/b/a
Hilton Garden Inn (referred to herein as "HGI"), has proposed to build a new
downtown hotel in the general vicinity of 401 E. Yakima Avenue; and
WHEREAS, it may be necessary for HGI to acquire from the City of Yakima a
license to use certain portions of the City of Yakima right of way in the vicinity of S.
Fourth Street and E. Yakima Avenue, and for the City of Yakima to acquire an
easement from HGI in the same vicinity to accommodate vehicular and pedestrian
traffic at the site of a proposed underground parking garage entry ramp; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima City Council finds and determines that it is in the public
interest to authorize the City Manager to negotiate the terms of the license and
easement in a manner consistent with the best interests of the City of Yakima and to
execute the same following the successful conclusion of said negotiations, now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City Manager of the City of Yakima is hereby authorized and directed to
negotiate and execute a license and easement agreement with Morrier Hotel, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company, d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn, relating to the
development of a hotel in the general vicinity of 401 E. Yakima Avenue, in the City of
Yakima, as the same may be required to accommodate vehicular and pedestrian traffic
Resolution No. R-2005- 174
Page 1
at the site of a proposed underground parking garage entry ramp in the vicinity of S.
Fourth Street and E. Yakima Avenue, contingent upon full and complete satisfaction of
all procedural and substantive considerations attendant thereto, including compliance
with City of Yakima design standards, compliance with the State Environmental Policy
Act, Ch. 43.21C RCW, and other applicable law and policy of the State of Washington,
the City of Yakima, and relevant agencies with jurisdiction.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this8th day of November, 2005.
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ATTEST:
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City Clerk
Resolution No. R-2005-174
Page 2
Paul P. George, Mayor
KITTELSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING/TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
610 SW ALDER, SUITE 700 • PORTLAND, OR 97205 • (503) 228-5230 • FAX (503) 273-8169
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 7, 2005
To: Dave Zabell
City of Yakima
From: Marc Butorac, P.E. and Matt Hughart, AICP
Project: Proposed Hilton Garden Development
Subject: Parking Garage Design Review
Project #: 5837
Kittelson & Associates, Inc. has performed a cursory review of the parking garage ramp design
associated with the proposed Hilton Gardens development in Yakima, WA. A summary of our
findings is outlined below.
Ramp Slope
According to the ramp cross section, the proposed ramp will have a maximum slope of 20.8%.
Typically, a ramp slope should not exceed 16%, particularly when the ramp is exposed to the
elements. However, since the proposed ramp is proposed to be heated and the length of the ramp
is relatively short, this design would be adequate. Although not detailed on the design plans, it is
recommended that the ramp have a heating element that would extend along the entire length of
the sloping portion of the ramp.
Exiting Ramp Design
We have a number of concerns regarding the ramp design as it accommodates existing vehicles as
outlined below:
• The design plans indicate that there is a very short transition area between the steepest
portion of the ramp and the edge of the E. Yakima Avenue flow line (approximately 13
feet). With such a short transition area, vehicles will be forced to pull as close to the E.
Yakima Avenue curb line as possible in order to achieve the necessary intersection sight
lines. From a safety perspective, vehicles should be encouraged to stop at least 3-5 feet
back from the E. Yakima Avenue curb line in order to prevent vehicle bumpers from
sticking out into the E. Yakima Avenue travel lane. With the ramp walls, railing, and
surrounding plantings limiting the intersection sight distance for exiting vehicles, the
FILENAME: C \Documents and Settings\mwiltsey\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files \OLK5\HGparldnggarage.doc
Proposed Hilton Garden Development
November 7, 2005
Project #: 5837
Page 2
design should illustrate how the proper sight vision triangles can be achieved on the
assumption that exiting vehicles would stop 3-5 feet back of the E. Yakima Avenue curb
line. If the proper sight vision triangles cannot be achieved, then it is recommended that
the design be modified until adequate sight vision triangles can be achieved.
• The steep ramp and limited ramp transition area will limit the ability for exiting vehicles to
view the traffic signal indications. If the necessary sight vision triangles can be achieved as
noted above, it is then recommended that an advanced signal indication be incorporated
into the traffic signal modification. The advanced signal head would need to be located at
the top of the garage ramp and visible for vehicles exiting the garage.
• The design plans indicate that there will be a planting strip around the perimeter of the
garage portal to help re-route pedestrians. To help achieve better sight vision clearance
triangles for existing drivers, it is recommended that these plantings be limited to extreme
low-lying ground cover or eliminated all together.
Minimum Garage Entry Clearance
The ramp cross section indicates that the minimum entry clearance would be 7 feet (84 inches). A
sampling of typical larger SUV vehicles indicates a vehicle height of anywhere from 68.5 inches
(Toyota 4Runner) to 75.4 inches (Chevy Suburban 4x4). If any of these vehicles are
accommodating a ski -rack or luggage carrier, there could be clearance limitations. It is
recommended that the design include minimum clearance signage at the entry threshold to prevent
these occurrences.
If you have any questions, please contact us at (503) 228-5230.
Kittelson & Associates, Inc. Portland, Oregon
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. .3
For Meeting Of November 8, 2005
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to
execute a License Agreement with JEM for exclusive use of Public
Right of Way for access to the Hilton Garden Hotel Parking Garage
From Yakima Avenue
SUBMITTED BY: Dave Zabell, Assistant City Manager
William Cook, Director Department of Community and Development
Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Bill Cook, 575-6113
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Most all of the code requirements for the construction of the Hilton Garden Hotel
have been satisfied over the last months as design and construction activity has
progressed.
One significant issue has remained unresolved --that being the ramp design offering
access to and from the parking garage off of Yakima Avenue. Design concepts are
challenged by the structural make-up of the plaza between the old Mervyns and
Great Western buildings. While the steepness, or vertical alignment, of the ramp
itself was a consideration, how pedestrians could safely cross the parking garage
ingress/egress continued to be a design challenge.
(Continued on next page)
Resolution X Ordinance Other (Specify) Agreement
Contract Mail to (name and address):
Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff respectfully requests the City Council
adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a License Agreement
with JEM for exclusive use of Public Right of Way for access to the Hilton Garden
Hotel Parking Garage From Yakima Avenue.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION: Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-2005-174
JEM Agenda
November 8, 2005
Page Two
COUNCIL ACTION:
During the past several weeks City staff and the proponent, along with his architect,
have met to resolve this issue. Those discussions have been successful and have
resulted in a solution in principle. The concept keys are on moving pedestrian traffic
from directly adjacent to Yakima Avenue in front of the garage ingress/egress, re-
routing pedestrian traffic around the access cut in the plaza and back again to the
sidewalk on Yakima Avenue.
This solution solves the pedestrian safety challenge, however requires an agreement
approved by the City and JEM authorizing the sole use of the public right-of-way
fronting the ingress/egress (that which would have been sidewalk) for the entrance to
the parking garage. Approving this agreement allows for a solution that eliminates the
previous concern for pedestrian safety, provides more leeway for the garage ramp
dimensions so a more gently sloped ramp can be constructed (an approximate 20.8 per
cent grade as opposed to the original 36 percent), and clears the way for the design and
construction schedule to proceed. The license agreement: (1) is contingent on the
proponent granting a 10 foot easement around the plaza ramp cut for placement of the
pedestrian facilities; (2) requires the proponent to construct the 10 foot public sidewalk
consistent with the Council approved "Vivid" theme; (3) accepts the sidewalk easement
and improvements granted and constructed by the proponent as appropriate
"consideration" for the License Agreement; (4) includes indemnification language
recognizing the sole use of the public right-of-way by the proponent; and (6) requires
the proponent to construct and maintain the pedestrian restriction (i.e. planters) along
Yakima Avenue in front to the access to the Parking garage.
In addition to staff review of this proposed license agreement, we have asked Kittelson
and Associates to review the critical interface of the proposed ramp and traffic flow
along Yakima Avenue. This interface will occur on the property included in the city's
license agreement and therefore is an important concern. Kittelson's preliminary
review indicates the design is workable with certain modifications.
Two outstanding issues remain to be resolved: 1. A review and approval of the final
proposed design by a licensed traffic engineer for the architect of record (Abbott
Hayes); and 2. Final negotiations of the license agreement itself. In an effort to keep
this important project moving on schedule, we are respectfully requesting council
approval of a delegation of authority to the City Manager to execute the proposed
license agreement upon satisfactory resolution of the issues discussed above.