Title
Ordinance approving the abandonment Right-of-Way for a portion of Shepherd’s Way, Central Baptist Church
Body
SUMMARY: Central Baptist Church is currently developing a master plan for their campus. A portion of that plan is to increase parking capacity. While they are just in the design and planning phase of the plan, they foresee needing to close a portion of the right of way of Shepherd’s Way for use of parking and for the safety of their congregation in walking from their cars to the church. There have been some complaints about through traffic traveling Shepherd’s Way at higher rates of speed. At this time, they are seeking a guarantee from the City, that if they meet all the requirements that have been explained by Planning Staff (platting, construction of a cul-de-sac, and the survey work required by the City to abandon Right-of-way) that the City will then abandon the right-of-way for the church. They do not want to move forward in spending the required funds to meet all the requirements and then the City to deny the right-of-way closure. They anticipate the formal request to close the right-of-way within a year.
City Staff conducted a traffic count of Shepherd’s Way at both ends, near the intersection of Dunbar Lane and the intersection of Highway 127 S. From the traffic count, it does appear that most traffic on the road is on Sundays and Wednesdays and most of the traffic does use the Highway 127 entrance over the Dunbar Lane side. Average Daily Traffic counts being:
• Dunbar Lane Side: 389
• Highway 127 South Side: 1,007
Staff recommends that the Crossville City Council move forward with the passage of an Ordinance closing/abandoning the right-of-way between the edge of the proposed cul-de-sac and Highway 127 South, contingent upon all the requirements of plats, construction of the new cul-de-sac be completed within 3 years of the 3rd reading of the Ordinance, as well as a financial guarantee be provided to the City of Crossville for any damage to the existing portion of Shepherd’s Way that may require maintenance or upkeep during the construction phase of the cul-de-sac. The amount of the financial guarantee to be determined by City Staff and agreed upon by the church before the passing of the Ordinance. The ordinance would be rescinded and the right-of-way would remain public should any requirements not be met.
Recommended Action
NECESSARY COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of closing/abandoning the Right-of-way for a portion of Shepherd’s Way, Central Baptist Church with the contingences recommended by Staff.