CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Waive the first reading and pass the Ordinance to move the 15-minute passenger vehicle / 30-minute commercial vehicle, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. loading only zone on the north side of Water Street to the posted location and establish a 15-minute passenger vehicle loading only zone on the south side of Water Street as posted. (Item 1 of 2)
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering, and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Andy Hynes, Deputy City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
Loading Zone
The Transportation Advisory Board approved the recommendation to establish the loading zones on the north and south sides of Water Street at the May 4, 2017 meeting by a 7-1 vote.
Valet Transfer Zone
The Transportation Advisory Board approved the recommendation to establish a valet transfer zone on the north side of Water Street at the May 4, 2017 meeting by an 8-0 vote.
BACKGROUND:
Loading Zone
The buildings on the north side of Water Street have no on-site vehicular access as they are immediately adjacent to the Riverwalk and West Branch of the DuPage River. All deliveries to these buildings will need to be provided via on-street truck parking. The main hotel building on the south side of Water Street has the ability to accept minor deliveries (small van/truck delivery) through a rear access corridor of the Water Street alley but larger deliveries will also need to be on-street. This delivery concept was approved as part of the development review process for the Water Street District that was presented to the Transportation Advisory Board, Plan Commission, and City Council. A loading zone on the north side of Water Street at the west end of the block consistent with the original plan was approved in August of 2016 (prior to the opening of the hotel or any commercial spaces).
Hotel Indigo has been open for several months. Other retail and restaurant uses have recently opened with other businesses starting operation soon.
Valet Transfer Zone
City Council approved Ordinance 03-178 in August 2003 establishing regulations to provide for safe operation of valet parking services in the downtown. Once a valet parking permit application is submitted, staff prepares a recommendation for an appropriate valet transfer zone. Valet parking permit applications and valet transfer zone locations require City Council approval.
The benefits of valet parking services include less traffic circulation and better utilization of the overall parking supply in the downtown. Motorists that utilize valet services would otherwise be circulating on downtown streets in search of a parking space during peak travel hours. Valet services also park vehicles on various private properties. This increases the available supply of public parking spaces for other downtown visitors.
DISCUSSION:
Loading Zone
After reviewing the delivery and valet needs of the Water Street area with the developers and current tenants, staff recommends revising the loading zone regulations. This change would shift the on-street loading zone from the west end of the north side of Water Street to the center parking area. The center area would provide more room for delivery trucks (5 parking spaces versus 3 spaces), more equitable travel distances between buildings, and be better located with respect to the proposed valet zone. See Attachment #2 for a location map of the proposed loading zone.
A second 15-minute passenger loading zone is proposed on the south side of Water Street. This loading zone would also be centrally located on the block to align with the Hotel Indigo entrance. The hotel has indicated a need to have short term parking in this area for guests that drop off luggage or passengers.
Valet Transfer Zone
The developer of the Water Street area, Marquette Companies, is requesting a valet parking transfer zone on the north side of Water Street that would operate within the proposed designated loading zone. See Attachment #3 for a location map of the proposed valet transfer zone.
Valet services would be provided by two separate valet operators. One valet company (Five Star) would operate exclusively for events at the banquet facility. A second valet provider (Silver Crown) would operate on a regular basis to serve other businesses in the Water Street area. Marquette Companies will manage both providers to ensure that only one valet company is on site at any given time.
Banquet Valet Service (Five Star Valet)
Elements at Water Street Banquet Facility, located at 123 Water Street, is now open. Five Star Valet submitted a valet parking permit application on behalf of Elements at Water Street and Marquette Companies (overall developer for the Water Street area).
As banquet events may occur on any day with variable hours, the proposed valet service hours will also vary to correspond with the event schedule. Valet operation will be limited to the hours between 11:00 am and 2:00 am as required by the City’s valet ordinance.
The proposed valet transfer zone will be located on the north side of Water Street Avenue within the five parking spaces located in the middle of the block on the north side of the street (within the proposed as multi-use loading zone). When banquet events are not occurring, these spaces will continue to serve passenger or commercial deliveries during non-valet hours. A map illustrating the proposed transfer zone is attached. When in operation, the valet will erect temporary signs adjacent to the designated parking spaces. The length of the valet zone will be limited to 3 total parking spaces per the City ordinance.
Per the ordinance associated with the banquet facility, the developer is required to establish arrangements for offsite storage of 61 valet vehicles. Marquette is proposing to use their temporary parking lot at Aurora and Webster (~20 car capacity), the Municipal Parking Deck (when allowed), and is still pursuing offsite parking storage agreements for large banquet events. In the interim, Elements will need to utilize Silver Crown valet for large events until they have secured adequate offsite parking storage (as discussed below).
Water Street Area Valet Service (Silver Crown)
Marquette Companies is proposing a second operator (Silver Crown) for valet service during non-banquet days and times to serve patrons of the other businesses in the Water Street area. Silver Crown will utilize the same valet transfer zone location on the north side of Water Street as Five Star. Marquette has secured an additional 70 to 100 parking spaces with the owner of the property at 516 S. Washington for valet storage with Silver Crown. These additional parking spaces would be needed to accommodate large banquet events at the Elements facility. Note that Marquette Companies has revised their proposal to utilize Silver Crown valet on a regular basis after the Transportation Advisory Board’s review. A summary letter from Marquette is included as Attachment #5.
Marquette has coordinated with River Main Naperville LLC, the only other private property/development with frontage on Water Street. River Main supports the proposed parking and valet plan (See Attachment #6).
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.