Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/01/1990

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Case #8 STREET LIGHTS AS SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENT By: Mark S. Banwart, Community Development Director Background: From time to time, citizens have commented to the City that there is a need for street lights. This concern has been re-emphasized with developments such as the higher density Flintwood Hills Additions. In response to the City's charge to address issues of public health, welfare, and safety; the City Staff has started an effort to address this issue. For your information, the following itmes are enclosed: A) B) C) D) E) F) G) H) Street light survey results (February 1989) General Comments: Citizen Input Survey City Engineer's Report (March 7, 1989) Draft amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance Police Department list of areas in need of lighting (March 27, 1989) Ramsey City code 190.1 Street Lighting System AEC - High Pressure Sodium Street Lights (February 2, 1990) Proposed Agreement of Electric Service for Street Lights - Energy and Maintenance Rate - AEC Owned Facilities Observations: Since there are a number of rather large subdivisions currently in review and approval process (e.g., Cedar Hills, Windemere Woods, Chestnut Hills, etc.); this may be an opportune time to establish street light installation as a subdivision requirement. It will be much easier to require the street lights as a part of the development agreement and platting process rather than retrofitting a street lighting scheme, probably at the City's expense, in the future. The issue of street lighting addresses both a public safety concern, particularly intersections, and the City's focus on an improved City image. On January 3, 1989, the Ramsey Planning and Zoning Commission directed City staff to research standards and costs for installing street lights in existing and newly developing areas and the amount of lighting that would adequately address safety issues. Further directed was that a survey be taken via the Ramsey Resident to determine citizen recommendations regarding street lighting. In February, the Ramsey Resident featured a Citizen Input Survey on street lights. The issue of street lights was tabled at the February 7, 1989 Planning and Zoning meeting in order to await for additional survey responses. The survey results reveal that: Newly developed areas should have street lights and the cost of installing these lights should be at the developer's expense; and No street lights should be installed in existing rural developments, but they should be installed in urban areas. However, the cost of installing the lights should not be borne by the benefitting property owners (it should be borne by the City); and Nobody wants to pay for operating costs (inversely, the City should pay for the utility bills); and In rural areas, it is a toss-up if lights should be at intersections and they should not be at regular intervals; and