HomeMy WebLinkAbout(2) ALLEY USAGE AND PRIVATE/PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITYCI TY OF PO RT ARTHUR
PL A NNIN G DE PT.
Memo
To: Steve Fitzgibbons and City Council
From: Colleen Russell, Planning Director
Re: Alley usage and private/public responsibility
Date: March 19 .2009
Background
In keeping with the City Codes for reduced off-the street parking and off the
front -lawn parking, the Council request was to look at alley access for backyard
parking. Traditional uses for alleys include the provision of off-street parking, service
way utilities and refuse collection. Nevertheless, due to larger utility vehicles, Cul-de-
Sac housing, crime and narrow alleys (some less than 20 feet in width), newer
subdivisions in the 1990s onwards, implemented side yard parking and the option of
possible side to backyard parking due to the multiple- car families and some with
boats and recreational vehicles. The backyards are then fenced (screened) for
privacy and safety.
The alleys utilized by our solid waste department staff and other City utility
services are maintained by the City for such access. However, these right-of ways
are the responsibility of the land owners on either side to maintenance half. The City
courteously maintains those properties used due to their vehicle weigh and the need
for readily access. Those properties not utilized by the City are required to be
maintained by the home owners and shall still be left open for others in the
community to drive through. Hence, with off the street parking compliance:
1. The homeowners will have to create space adjacent to the alley or
behind their house for parking such that the alleys remain open and
unencumbered by any protruding vehicles;
2. Creating these spaces and alley maintenance will still be a
community affair except in the case where refuse are collected by
the City via these passages;
3. The map attached reveals those areas that the Solid Waste
Departments maintain;
Adjacent alley parking in Port Arthur
4. This is matter of parking off the alley is a viable concept, but
neighborhoods would have to abate ponding sites due to potholes
and be willing to keep their alleys functional as an alternative means
for backyard or off- the lawn parking
Summary
The prevailing surface of most alleys in Port Arthur is compacted dirt; one may then
observe some composed of rocks or pavement. Few of our alleys are paved. Debris
accumulation, pot holes and ponding is a problem as many homeowners do not
maintain the alleys adjacent to them. Business and commercial properties do a better
job at this due to refuse collection therein and aesthetics. Attached are the areas
maintained by the City's Solid Waste Department.
Respectfully,
Colleen W. Russell, Planning Director
• Page 2
~~
U ~ it
I~
fn o > IrTi
-+ a r ~Z
m ~O
(~~-~--{ ~.r.r u
YY
~-AI-J~~WC~e~~B DBeBe~B NOUIiON~
CD CQ(I]CDCLIDDD^ C~DDDDDD~ r ~r`r`~""
~ ~Q~(1JC~ICDDDDD ^DDDC]D a C "".~
CI] CD W CD ^ - .utnN
~ ^^ ^DDDDDdDDC_
~ CII~CDCDDDDD DDD^ ~7DDC. ~`~
®~C~m®DDDD[~D^ aDDC~C {t.uYONr
~(~C~®DDDD^ DC=1DC7,DDC7Dh ,~.NrAro,r
Cb®®®®DD ^CIDaDDDDDL
C~IDCaCDDDD^ DDaDDDDaC..~.:yy:',.a~j:.L
a~®mmaDaD D~aaaDaDD~ [1~~~~(y'p
®C17 CD C~ D D D 4 D D D D D D D --~'N.YflilfYlliLl W W
~~~9DDD ~JDDDDD^
~ C8~®E7~^[, aDDDDDD ttlllr[LL
CDCDCC]CpDD^ 'DQDDDDD _ ~ .Y~,a
~ mm~®aaDaD~aooaaD^ " ~.OMi1.~'
®®mC~o^aaaQ~DaaDD ~""~"
m,T1~n~aaaaaD DD aDaaaD l..! CN.K/I
CD OA.MII
~Ct7 C~DDDCa DDDDDD 4WIIiOM
ca®®°°°°°°a®^Da DDDa
CDCtiDDD^ ^DDD~aDDD II~CNYO NO.
f~+rnl~ry~ ®DCC®C ;DDD DDL_1D~aQD -I.urr :I
L.J ®®®DDDDQ ~Q^Q^~~~]^ {i AUW111Ni
/,
Er7 (~6r76~C~D^®(~DDDDDd~J^ "~'""
CD CD®®DDDD D^DDDD(`^
®®CDmm®aDD DD®Caaaa~gr~ ~- D "°~p~
BCD CQCDCD®DDDC~ hDDDDDDC~C~ ~aDOc
~ ~ ~~~®QQQ ®~0 ~ a ~~~ ~~~
~ D~IDDDD^DDDD^ ADC - ~®o~
aDDDDDD^ DDDDaD~N~a
~~ ~ DD~D~aDa oDDDD.ac~D n
m~ ,~ DDDDDDDD ^DDDD °'~ -_
~o ~ DDDDDDDD D ^0Q
f ~
°~ ~ f~888888~ 8D ~ ~ = n
z ~ D~~~~ ^
D ~ ~
~~ DDDD r ®® `~
~ '~ ~ ~ y
aDaDDD D~
inn nnr~ ® ' ..~~ ~..~v_~~