PD-17-00001 Marian Meadows Full Record with Index (2)

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Marian Meadows Rezone and Subdivision Final Environmental Impact Statement 3-92 25 Would the cumulative effects change pedestrian, bicycle, and other off-road use or facilities? With the substantial increases in traffic volumes from cumulative development, roadways previously shared by motorized and non-motorized travel modes could pose safety concerns. This is especially the case for winter snowmobile use when plowed road areas are narrow and both vehicles and snowmobiles may be operating at speeds that do not allow adequate stopping distance in cases of imminent collision. The cumulative effects of the project development in combination with the surrounding areas could result in additional loss of areas that are informally used by off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. Loss of these informal areas would likely result in more formal and designated areas and routes for off-road vehicle and snowmobile usage. The cumulative population of the area could include development of neighborhood schools, which would require safe public walkways for school children from residences to schools or to bus stops in new subdivisions as required by RCW 58.17.110. 26 Would the cumulative effects change maintenance responsibilities and costs? The cumulative effects of the project and development of surrounding areas would increase maintenance costs related to traffic volumes and may lead to demand for a higher level of ongoing maintenance. Kittitas County maintenance of paved roads such as Railroad Street and Sparks Road are partially related to traffic volumes but also are affected by winter conditions, particularly frost heaving that degrades the road subsurface and surface. Additional traffic volumes would not necessarily result in a proportional increase in maintenance needs but would have some effect. The nine-fold increase in traffic volumes may not increase maintenance costs by the same factor but likely would result in the need for more frequent maintenance and also would likely result in more persons requesting higher standards of maintenance. The cost of maintenance would increase, but may be offset by increased revenues to the County Road fund, which is the additional tax base provided by new residences. Maintenance needs of gravel roads are directly affected by traffic volumes that tend to combine with weather conditions to increase road surface failures resulting in increased pot holes. Additional traffic also increases the dust generated. Both of these factors would degrade the driving experience or adversely affect adjacent residences and increase costs. Gravel roads in the area are maintained by homeowner associations. With cumulative growth, traffic volumes on Country Drive, Pit Way, and Hawthorn Lane would increase, as well as maintenance costs. Cost impacts depend on the extent to which development is required to participate in upgrading the roads to avoid impacts or pay a proportional cost of maintenance. Homeowner associations that maintain many roads in the area have little ability to collect from additional traffic generated off site unless specific agreements are in place to assess other properties that would contribute a fair share of the costs. Providing for such agreements as a condition of approval of new development would provide such a mechanism.