Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

TO:	Charles Soules, Public Works Director
FROM:	Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Tarik Khatib, Mark Bradford
DATE:	October 20, 2014
RE:	REVISED : Right of Way permit First Construction - (9^th and New Hampshire St. – North Project

Background

First Construction, LLC has requested a right of way permit to partially close a portion of the 800 block of New Hampshire Street and to partially close the 200 block of East 9^th Street starting in late October to early November 2014 for a 24 month period for the construction of a building on the NE corner of the intersection of 9^th Street and New Hampshire Street. (See attached traffic control plan REVISED).   The basic traffic control on New Hampshire Street will allow two way traffic the majority of time during construction (north/south) and two way traffic on 9^th Street the entire length of construction.

There will be phases of this project that will completely close the New Hampshire Street and times when only the north bound traffic will be impacted. First Management has agreed to work with the city to minimize those impacts and has agreed to notify adjacent property owners when any changes to traffic control will take place. Access to the city parking lots on the east and west sides of New Hampshire will be maintained at all times during construction.

9^th Street traffic will be shifted to the south and will maintain east/west traffic at all times during construction.

First Construction, LLC has also submitted a frequently asked question sheet that explains some of the anticipated issues with construction. Such as access for the Farmers Market, access to the city parking lot on the west side of the 800 block of New Hampshire Street and Art Center access (See attached FAQ).

First Construction, LLC has sent notice of this item being considered by the City Commission to the adjacent property owners, Downtown Lawrence, The Lawrence Farmers Market and the East Lawrence neighborhood association. In addition, the city hosted two meetings with adjacent businesses and property owners; to included, Downtown Lawrence, The Lawrence Arts Center, East Lawrence Neighborhood Association President, The Lawrence Farmers Market, adjacent businesses and First Construction, LLC management to discuss impact from the project and work out issues. During those meetings the city and First Management were requested to restrict contractor parking in the City parking lot #4 (west side of New Hampshire Street) and to “reserve” 7 parking spaces on the southernmost portion of the same city parking lot (see map). First Construction has agreed to restrict parking of their staff and subcontractors from city parking lot #4. The city will install “no construction parking” signs at each of the two entrances.

It should also be noted that the current partial closure of the 900 block of New Hampshire would possible still be in effect at the onset of this project, meaning both the 800 and 900 blocks of New Hampshire could have partial closures.

Action Requested

If appropriate, pending commission discussion and consideration authorize staff to approve a right of way permit for First Construction, LLC to partially close a portion of the 800 block of New Hampshire Street and to partially close the 200 block of East 9^th Street for a 24 month period for the construction of a building on the NE corner of the intersection of 9^th Street and New Hampshire Street with the right of way permit being issued with the approved building permit.

If appropriate, approve reserved parking for seven spaces in the city parking lot #4 on the southernmost area of the parking lot for the businesses located in the building on the NW corner of 9^th Street and New Hampshire Street, Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.