DCPCUP-2014-02301 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• MCMS already has provided(4)adequate utilities, access roads, drainage and other necessary site improvements in the construction of the school building. Increased student enrollment will result in no changes to the school's site plan approved by the TOM on May 16,2011. MCMS will continue to ensure that(5)adequate measures will be taken to provide ingress and egress from the school's parking lot to minimize traffic congestion. The staff diligently and creatively has worked, from the day the school opened,to ensure that drop-off and pick-up procedures create little to no traffic congestion on either Ellington Way or Airport Road.Over the last two years,not one member of the neighborhood has -------- complained to either the school,or the Town, P 1, wn,that the school traffic has created congestion.MCMS is confident in its ability to continue this trend as enrollment gradually increases.Please be clear that an enrollment increase to 215 students would not happen overnight.According to the school's projections,it would take at least three to six years to achieve an enrollment of 215 students. Out of an abundance of caution,however,the school recently commissioned the attached November 10, 2014 traffic analysis by KL Engineering-the transportation-engineering firm frequently used by the TOM. (KL Engineering also presented a traffic analysis during MCMS's 2011 CUP proceedings.)The KL traffic analysis concludes that an enrollment of 215 students would result in no queuing of traffic outside the school's parking lot during the AM drop-off period.(KL analysis,p.3). Furthermore,while an enrollment of 215 students would result in a very short-term vehicle queue out of the school's lot during the PM pick-up period,the analysis concludes,"...it is feasible to expect that countermeasures which should result in acceptable traffic operations and minimize the queuing of vehicles onto the public roadway could be successfully implemented."(KL analysis,p. 5). The voluntary countermeasures that the analysis suggests include additional carpooling,encouragement of timely arrival for pick-up,use of the parking lot on Ellington Way as a waiting zone(similar to airport cell phone lots),and adjusting the pick-up times and procedures.(KL analysis,pp.4-5).MCMS is confident that other successful countermeasures are possible as demographics and technology change. Thus,the school administration would have considerable flexibility to continue to ensure that any traffic congestion would be minimal,and within acceptable parameters,thereby maintaining traffic safety for the school and the surrounding neighborhoods,while ensuring the educational and organizational integrity of the school. Finally,MCMS has and will continue to(6)conform with all applicable Town, County and State regulations in its request to raise the school's enrollment cap. Allowing for Clubs and Activities on Weekends -MCMS's present CUP states that the"hours of operation shall be limited to 6:30 A.M.to 9:30 P.M.,Monday through Friday."It is necessary to the health of any school to be able to use its facilities to host events that enhance education,community building and fundraising.The present Monday to Friday operations limitation in the school's CUP greatly hampers the school's ability to conduct these types of events. Examples of the kind of weekend events the school would lice to hold are school cleanup days,open houses, professional development programs,tutoring or enrichment classes,parent education events,fundraisers, student clubs,and similar activities.These events typically would involve only a portion of the school population,or a small number of community members,so that they would have virtually no impact on weekend traffic on Ellington Way or Airport Road. MCMS has always been respectful and courteous to its neighbors as it operates during the week.This philosophy certainly would be maintained during any weekend events,and include cooperation with any soccer games or other events that occur in the neighborhood. The facts and circumstances supporting this proposed amendment to allow clubs and other activities to operate on occasional weekends at the school,meet all six standards of the Dane County CUP ordinance (noted above). Page 2 of 2 8406 Ellington Way - Middleton,WI 53562 - (608)827-MCMS • www.rnadisoncornmunitymontessori.org