Friday, May 28, 2010

Design Schedule

The current schedule for design of the SE Pioneer Way Improvements can be found via the link shown below. This schedule leads to construction beginning January 2011.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4Q0fBKNfMQcMjVhZmY3MWEtODhiNi00MDc0LWE5ZGUtNjBmNmQwYzdjY2Q0&hl=en&authkey=undefined&pli=1

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Pioneer Way Property Acquisition Proceeds

During the initial project surveying, it became clear that some areas of existing sidewalk were not formally dedicated as public right-of-way. Regardless of the final street design, the City needed to clarify that the public right-of-way extends to these parcels prior to construction.

As the sidewalks have been used by the public as public sidewalks for a very long time, there is a public right-of-way over the sidewalks. In the absence of a formal dedication of this right of way, the public's right to use the sidewalks can be established in a lawsuit. Rather than name all the property owners, the City Council authorized payments of $1,290 for each property owner willing to grant an express easement over the existing sidewalk area. The $1,290 payment was based on a pro rata share of litigation avoidance and not on property appraisal. Not all properties along the street are affected by this particular issue. Many of the legal descriptions and title histories for properties along Pioneer formally dedicated public right-of-way over existing sidewalks.

There are approximately 19 properties where there is no formal dedication of a public right-of-way over the sidewalks. Of these 19 properties, 13 properties have agreed with the City that the sidewalk area should be in the public control and have signed a formal dedication for a public easement. Several more are expected to sign easements later this week.

Monday, May 17, 2010


Final design of the Pioneer Way Improvements is proceeding. Landscape design elements such as the street lighinting shown here are among the project elements that we will be requesting input from merchants and property owners to finalize.

EnviroIssues continues conducting interviews with businesses along Pioneer Way. They have talked to over 50 businesses – if they haven’t talked to you, don’t worry, they are on their way. We appreciate everyone taking the time to talk with EnviroIssues. Overall, we’re hearing a lot of great input, with the most common comments heard thus far about how businesses will be impacted during construction. We know people want to know how construction will be sequenced and when work will occur – both time of day as well as season. This is all information that will be feeding into conversations with the design team about roadway designs, construction types, etc. Stay tuned for a more thorough summary of common themes and questions in the coming weeks.

Increasing the scope of services being provided by EnviroIssues will be considered by City Council at its meeting on May 18, 2010.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

The City has hired EnviroIssues to assist in gaining information from affected merchants and owners regarding the Pioneer Way Improvement Project and its impacts.

Beginning Friday, May 7, project team members will be visiting the businesses within the planned construction area to inform the property owners, business owners and tenants about the project and gain a better understanding of individual, daily business operations. We will ask a few standard questions, which will help us:

· get a better idea about your individual concerns, and

· understand better how we can work with you to finalize design and plan for construction.

We’ll also do our best to answer questions you have about the project.