Carefree Truth
Issue #709, December 13, 2018
Shelby DuPlessis, Vice President of Land Development of Empire, stated that the traffic study was done on August 20th, 9 days prior to the neighborhood meeting. At that meeting, Empire agreed to switch the full movement access point from the one closest to the intersection to a different one due to concerns expressed by the residents. She said that Empire wants the ability to work with end users, which requires 2 full movement access points on Carefree Highway, but they will look at safety again. With 2 lanes, that access point would be closer to a Service Level B, a 10-15 second wait to exit onto the road. With 4 lanes, it would be a Level C, a 15-25 second delay.
Empire attorney Brennan Ray said the right in/right out access point on Cave Creek Road across from Lowe's, questioned earlier by Vice Mayor John Crane, at build-out would be a Level E-F during peak hours. Level E is beyond 35 seconds; Level F is 50 seconds or more. However, the threshold for warranting a traffic light at that location has not been satisfied due to the low volume of anticipated trips. The Vice Mayor pointed out that the traffic report stated the delay is 183 seconds. 183 divided by 60 is 3 minutes. The traffic engineer replied that was the worst case scenario. Councilman Stephen Hatcher questioned the safety. The traffic engineer replied that the exiting vehicles would be distributed through all the access points. Mr. Hatcher said it sounded like a bad idea.
Mr. Ray replied that traffic discussions are always difficult. For those not used to looking at traffic reports, it can seem very bad. The report deals with the current traffic situation, particularly at the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road. He asked that the Council members not get hung up on the Level of Service letters A-F. That intersection is Level of Service X. He did not believe the intersection Service Level would change even though there would be more vehicles from the new shopping center, and asked the Council not to continue "going into the weeds". Vice Mayor Crane said his comments were based on his experience turning south out of residential subdivisions north of the project. A lot of patience is required.
Mayor Les Peterson questioned the backed-up traffic turning left at 60th Street, noting that it could back-up past the subdivisions' entries. He asked if that had been taken into account in the traffic study. Mr. Ray replied that was not specifically looked at. The traffic study focused on the roads around their site. But he felt the right turn lanes at all 3 access points would move people off the through-way to access Empire's development, based on the anticipated volume of traffic into the site. The Mayor asked Gary Neiss for an update on a turn lane at 60th Street. Mr. Neiss said that Scottsdale is looking at installing an eastbound turn lane at Carefree Highway and 60th Street in conjunction with Foothills Academy's proposed move to a campus near the Cave Creek Unified School District's high school on 60th Street. That application is still in the early stages, so the timing is unknown.
Vice Mayor Crane asked if the traffic analysis was done using the current 2 lanes plus Empire's improvements or on the anticipated future 4 lanes plus Empire's improvements. The traffic engineer replied that it was done based on what is currently there, plus Empire's improvements, and on the additional future lanes.
Mayor Peterson noted that even without Empire's development, there is already a traffic problem there because Carefree Highway is 2 lanes, and probably will be for a considerable time before it is widened to 4 lanes. It is a major arterial road. If all the economics were taken out of the equation, this site is not a viable residential property due to the surrounding commercial development and the heavily trafficked intersection. Scottsdale's upcoming 5 Year Plans include more development along Carefree Highway, so it will only become more crowded with traffic. However, property owners have statutory rights. "It's a quandary."
Councilman Mike Krahe asked how many cars would be added to the traffic per day, assuming Carefree Highway stays 2 lane for the next 5 years. The traffic engineer estimated 3,000-3500. Mayor Peterson said, as a reference point, the intersection at Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak Roads has 30,000-32,000 per day, and it gets heavier farther south. Mr. Ray said the Mayor was correct that there is an existing traffic problem, but Empire would be providing some relief with their planned improvements to Carefree Highway. Although it covers a small stretch, it approaches an important intersection. The offsite improvements would be done before the development "goes vertical".
https://vimeo.com/302538325
Mr. Hatcher asked if Empire would be using downward facing shielded LED lighting to help reduce light pollution. Mr. Ray replied that Carefree Town Code requires downward facing shielded lighting. He didn't know what type of bulbs would be used.
Councilman Vince D'Alieiso pictured himself living in one of the homes immediately adjacent to the proposed commercial development, and he asked Mr. Ray to do the same. Mr. D'Aliesio asked Mr. Ray if he felt anything additional could be done to accommodate the neighbors, beyond the concessions Empire had already made, or was this it. Mr. Ray replied that some residents wanted a 12' high wall, but that would not provide additional sound mitigation. The 8' high wall is appropriate and is consistent with other commercial developments. The double row of landscaping with mature trees, and the buildings would be the best noise buffers.
Mayor Peterson said that some of the noise would be mitigated if Carefree Highway were a divided 4 lane road. They were headed there regionally, but Scottsdale changed their policy on perimeter roads to share the cost 50/50 with the adjoining communities. A cost estimate for Carefree's portion of widening Carefree Highway from Scottsdale Road to Cave Creek Road would be $8 million. HURF money from the State, which is restricted to street maintenance and repair, is apportioned out based on population. Carefree receives $200,000-$250,000 a year. That would account for all the HURF money for the next 30 years, so Carefree backed off, causing an additional delay.
Mr. Neiss made a clarification. That's what Scottsdale asked of the Maricopa Association of Governments, which appropriates the Federal funds for regional projects. Mr. Neiss proposed that it be top-sided because Carefree doesn't have the financial capability of the larger communities like Scottsdale. Scottsdale had a Question on the most recent ballot, which passed, that would help to fund the matching funds to qualify for regional projects. It puts roads like Carefree Highway, with additional lanes and medians, back on the front burner within the next 5 years or so. The exact timing is unknown because it is up to Scottsdale to prioritize their projects.
https://vimeo.com/302541037
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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