Project Summary: ISD 196 requests consideration of Site Plan Review approval for exterior site improvements at Greenleaf Elementary School located at 13333 Galaxie Ave. The Greenleaf improvement project will be comprised of two phases with Phase 1 consisting of a 3,200 sq. ft. building addition and Phase 2 consisting of the exterior site work. Limited site work will occur in Phase 1 to prepare the site for the building addition.
As in many of the other ISD 196 projects, site work at Greenleaf Elementary will be done to improve internal site circulation by separating parent traffic from bus traffic. The Phase 2 site work will include removing a driveway on the north side of the site and shifting the new access further north so that it aligns with 133rd Street W. The new northern drive access will be 460' feet long and provide for stacking of parent vehicles on the north side of the site. The new north access will tie into the north side of the existing parking lot to create a loop for the parent traffic. Buses will continue to use the south portion of the parking lot.
Parking: The City does not have a parking requirement for elementary schools. Staff has used a recommended parking formula that would require one space for every four students and one space for every three employees, which means a total of 270 spaces would be required; 165 spaces are available on the site. The School District's architect provided a letter (attached) that analyzes parking demand at the school. The School District states that the City's parking calculation is very high compared to neighboring communities. Staff is comfortable with the number of parking spaces currently provided based on the parking analysis.
Galaxie Ave Pedestrian Crosswalk: In addition to the site improvements, the City Engineer is reviewing the existing mid-block crosswalk on Galaxie Avenue. The current crosswalk is a safety concern for parents, staff and the City. The City Engineer is pursuing grant funding from the Safe Routes to School program to relocate the crosswalk and install a warning light system to notify motorists of pedestrians. Moving the crosswalk will provide better visibility for vehicles and pedestrian-activated signals should improve the safety of the crosswalk. The City Engineer indicates that the project is not likely to be funded until 2019 at the earliest. In the meantime, if the project is awarded, the existing crosswalk would remain until the new crosswalk and signal are constructed. If the grant funding does not cover the entire cost of the project, ISD 196 will be asked to contribute to the cost of a new ped ramp and push button abutting its property and removal of the existing ramp on the west side of Galaxie Ave.
Parking on the Grass on North Side of Building: The City has received complaints that school staff and visitors often park in the field north of the school. The zoning code requires that motor vehicles must be parked on a paved surface; parking on the grass is not permitted except for exceptional circumstances. It appears that the drivers are driving over the curb and along a portion of the trail in order to park in this area. Parking on the north side of the building is likely more convenient than using the lot south of the building. Two alternatives are available to address the issue: (1) construct a parking lot on the north side of the building, or (2) install landscape plantings, non-surmountable curb or other features that would prevent the cut-through in this location. The best alternative would be to direct staff and visitors to only park in the parking lot. Staff has been working with ISD 196 and they are very receptive to address the best alternative.