Those measures immediately took effect following the City Council’s adoption of an ordinance on second reading Monday night.
Following the completion earlier this spring of the nearly $5.7 million Main Street renovation project, city officials had numerous discussions about truck traffic and deliveries on Main Street and some side streets, according to city Development Services Director Barry Henderson.
“There have been scenarios where truck traffic turning onto or off of Main Street have damaged the recently completed improvements” such as new curbs, “and deliveries being made upon Main Street itself have caused different types of traffic issues and congestion,” Henderson wrote in a report to the council.
The new ordinance prohibits commercial truck traffic on the entire Main Street, from U.S. Highway 90 to south State Road 85. It also prohibits deliveries being made from Main Street itself, unless they can be made from a standard parking space, which is typically 9 feet wide and no greater than 24 feet in length.
In addition, the new ordinance requires any deliveries made to businesses on Main between U.S. 90 and the railroad track be made from side streets or alleys.
According to the ordinance:
- All efforts shall be made to access said side streets or alleys from Wilson Street, State Road 85, or any adjacent side street.
- Delivery activities taking place on side streets shall not take place during the general business operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Delivery traffic shall be allowed to cross Main Street to access side streets or alleys, but shall not be allowed to make any turning movements onto Main Street.
In response to a question from Councilor Ryan Bullard, interim City Manager Jessica Leavins said city staff will inform Main Street business owners about the new restrictions so they can share them with their suppliers.
The new ordinance also provides for the use of sidewalks in front of a business for dining purposes.
“This is limited to the area directly in front of each business, the duration is limited to the business’s operating hours, and it provides a requirement for a 5-foot-wide accessible path to be left available for pedestrians,” according to Henderson.
As part of a separate ordinance that also was adopted by the council on Monday, several new regulations are expected to help spread the character and feel of “Historic Downtown Crestview” on North Main Street to South Main Street.
“Currently, there is minimal development and redevelopment occurring on South Main Street, south of the railroad track,” city staff said in a recent report. “There is a consistent development scheme to the north of the railroad track (North Main Street) which includes minimal front setbacks, or larger setbacks when a public plaza space exists in front of a given development (such as Hideaway Pizza and Knight Barry Title Solutions).”
The new ordinance requires South Main Street developments subject to city development order approval to develop similarly to existing development on North Main Street.
Standards that are now required along the length of Main Street include:
- A front setback maximum of 3 feet unless a public plaza, courtyard or similar feature is constructed
- The stipulation that new development on property abutting Main Street must face Main, rather than the side or rear of the building facing Main
- The stipulation that new development utilize adjacent alleyways for deliveries whenever possible. Otherwise, loading spaces must be located in side yards (not yards abutting Main), and be screened from view of Main Street and side streets. (This does not apply to being visible from Highway 85 and Highway 90).
- Garbage collection areas must also be screened from the view of Main Street and side streets (with the exception of Highway 85 and Highway 90).
In other business on Monday, the council in a 3-1 vote agreed to have city staff bring a proposed “performance improvement plan” for City Clerk Maryanne Girard to the June 23 council meeting.
Part of the improvement plan is expected to call for Girard to undergo public records training in light of the city receiving numerous complaints about her handling of public records requests.
Councilor Shannon Hayes, who did not think the improvement plan was necessary, cast the lone “no” vote. Councilor Dusty Allison had an excused absence from the meeting.
