North Fulton CID Might Install Lights, Plant Trees on Westside Parkway

Alpharetta City Council was happy to hear the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) might spend $600,000 for lights, landscaping and wider sidewalks where possible on the southern section of Westside Parkway.

Ann Hanlon, the chief operating officer for the North Fulton CID, said the organization was coming to City Council Monday night because the project work would be within the city's right of way. The group hasn't decided to proceed with the work between Mansell Road and Encore Parkway, but wanted to get the city's approval before making that choice.

Hanlon said she will take the city's feedback to the North Fulton CID board at its April 12 meeting.

Eric Bosman with Urban Collage, consultants for the self-taxing group, said when the Westside Parkway southern section project was completed, it included the roadway and no "accessories" such as trees and lights. Sidewalks were at a basic 5-foot width.

Bosman presented existing and proposed cross sections of the roadway. The new cross section shows trees and lights within the existing landscape buffer. In most cases, the landscape buffer between the roadway and sidewalk is six feet wide. The trees and lights will be leave at least four feet of space behind the curve, providing a larger recovery zone for vehicles that may leave the road.

Except for where guardrails or topography don't allow it, the proposal also widens sidewalks from five feet to eight feet, Bosman said, making it easier for pedestrians to pass side by side.

The lights will be as close to the city's lighting designs as possible, but will stick with products provided by Georgia Power.

Taylor Wright of PBS&J, an engineering design firm affiliated with the North Fulton CID, said 55 pedestrian and street lights would be installed between Mansell Road and Encore Parkway in the project, with a $600,00 estimated cost. That includes approximately $50,000 for landscaping.

Depending on North Fulton CID board approval, Wright said he felt they could meet a schedule with designs by summer and having the project ready for construction at the end of this year or the first of 2012.

Alpharetta Engineering and Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz brought maintenance costs to City Council's attention, using another section of Westside Parkway as an example.

"We pay approximately $12,000 a year ultimately, in maintenance for Westside Parkway between Webb Bridge Road and Cumming Street," he said.

 There are 34 lights on that section of road.

The southern section would cost approximately $30,000 a year. With the lights chosen, this price includes replacements if someone damages a light pole in an accident.

Wright said the "design of the lights is consistent with the Encore Parkway bridge project that is under design now."