 Here present Good afternoon, how are y'all today? Thank y'all so much for having us today We wanted to come give you an update on our assembly street project also known as the South Carolina State House Entrance Way project on our state priority list with me today I do have Zach Haney which you had just mentioned with Mead and Hunt Jennifer Satherthwaite as well as Francis Bryan She's our assistant city engineer for design for the city of Columbia the first phase of Assembly Street was completed back in 2014 Extended from Blossom up to Pendleton using CTC funding and guide share funding we engaged Mead and Hunt last summer and at this point We just want to give you an update because we are at the point where we want to start engaging stakeholders We want to make y'all aware of the project and where we stand right now So with that I'll hand this over to Zach. You said first update was 2014 The first phase was Blossom to Pendleton. Yes, ma'am appreciate the time As Miss Dana was saying my name is Zach Haney I am the project manager with Mead and Hunt for the assembly street pedestrian safety improvement project The project stretches from Lady Street to Pendleton Street And it is a pedestrian safety and streetscape enhancement project that also like Miss Dana was saying It's a continuation of a previous phase. What we'll call phase one, I guess from Lady to Pendleton that was completed in 2014 The project study area is about 1600 feet Pendleton Dravet lady it encompasses four blocks one unique aspect is it is immediately adjacent to the state house Where Senate Street is at so I'm sure y'all are all very familiar with that. So not gonna waste a whole lot of time on this guy The object and purpose and need of the project is to promote pedestrian safety improvements Put the entire corridor within ADA compliance Roadway safety improvements aesthetic enhancements to the corridor such things like lighting pedestrian lighting green space landscaping etc etc And also provide continuity to the assembly street corridor and then create connectivity between the Main Street district and the Vista district and I forgot to mention I Was going to do this very informally. So if anybody has any questions, please just here we go So as I previously mentioned in 2014 phase one was completed it was from Blossom Street to Pendleton Street and there's immediate things that you notice the Medium parking was removed Pedestrian bump outs were added that also facilitated parking on the side streets or more parking on the side streets ADA compliance was also included There are decorative decorative crosswalks. Excuse me They're considered high visibility decorative crosswalks also because the color of the pavement is different from the color of crosswalk There was landscaping and decorative lighting as well Absolutely, we we have look We are in the preliminary stages right now We're in the preliminary stages right now. So Later down in the slides kind of show where we're at and these are the things that we will consider moving forward a true pedestrian cross It's very famous in Japan if I'm assuming that's what you're referring to that is If there's the volume to support it then yes by all means it'll be something that we'll put at the top of the recommendation list But where we're at right now. We're still in the conceptual phases. So these are the called low hanging fruit and Objectives to move forward with and then once we get into the nitty gritty the weeds These are absolutely things that will take I think when we show it from the beginning of what our intent is It gets ingrained in people's head So that the only thing they envision is what we're asking for and not give them a way to say no Absolutely And in moving forward so a picture is worth a thousand words what you see on the right is a completed portion That's the Pendleton assembly street intersection. You can see the crosswalks the bumpouts are a little bit harder to see The photo on the left shows what's existing one block up And you can see a Quite a bit of difference and one thing I would like to point out Um, but one thing Instead of traveling or a pedestrian having to travel across Six seven eight lanes of traffic. They're only going to have to travel across a parking stall and then two or three other lanes next The ad t just like every other street in south carolina was affected by covid The numbers that are showing here is the trend is starting to come back up And then also one thing that we thought was notable Is fhw a did a study for post covet multimodal functions that if you have an opportunity to build something pedestrians will use it So I feel like right out here is is a perfect example You put a sidewalk in bike path in anything like that people will use it. So this is 23,000 cars Yes, ma'am 23,000 vehicles per day along assembly street. That is both northbound and southbound So these are our conceptual typical sections what you see on the top is the existing You'll notice the median parking the parking also on the right and left side of the roadway and then your three travel lanes What is being proposed is to remove the median parking Maintain the travel lanes as well as the parking on both the left and right side or northbound and southbound lanes along assembly street Going back to the pictures worth a thousand words What you see on the left is the existing part of assembly street that is within the project corridor You'll notice the turn lanes the parking the subtle Landscape median, but what you see on the right is the completed product I wish we would have taken the pictures in the summer. So it would have been a little more green, but it's okay You still kind of get the picture with a controlled access fence across the center median. There's an ad a refuge There's true carbon gutter drainage, etc. Etc. That The project will benefit from Next the there's a large and a small photo on the left and also a large and small photo on the right The existing is on the left the proposed is on the right. You'll notice like I just mentioned The crosswalk That's 12 lanes of traffic Sometimes 130 feet that a pedestrian has to go from one side to the other So if you notice on the right, there's a refuge island that's there So they only have to travel a smaller distance They can wait whether the signal cycles through or if they can make it all the way across they still make it all the Cross This is mainly for ada accessibility. So the city can safely say hey, we're doing everything we can for ada accessibility Okay, um, and then the last one pictures worth a thousand words You see on the left side again the lovis crosswalk the right side. You see pedestrians actually using the refuge island waiting Seeing cars go by Where they're not stuck in no man's land as well as the ada accessibility for Anybody that cannot travel all the way across those lanes so with all that said The conceptual recommended improvements consist of revitalizing the existing sidewalks Providing ada compliance throughout the corridor Install and pedestrian bump out to eat each intersection Which will also benefit the individuals that are parking along the left and right side of the street Um remove the median parking eliminate mid block pedestrian crossings create pedestrian refugee areas Install lighting and landscaping Again hives crosswalks and then undergrounding the overhead utilities That is key. That was my question. Okay, if we're going to do all of that and then have awful Wires in the sky. It's not worth it. So yes, ma'am It makes a huge difference and it makes some of our entryways very welcoming. So it's great to hear that. Absolutely. Yes Uh and potential benefits Uh was one of the things that definitely wanted to cover so everybody can kind of have something to discuss The uh continuity between the main street and the vista entertainment districts is key uh another Crucial success factor is the pedestrian traffic between main street and the vista vista and the state house As well as the pedestrian safety aspect where We intend to reduce rear end Side swipe and pedestrian collisions along main street by removing that median parking So as miss dana alluded to earlier where we are at now We're in the month five six So we've completed our concept development our data collections surveys utility coordination, etc, etc We are now currently working on the plans And for the first step, this is a two-step project. The first step will get us to 30 or preliminary plans Uh to where we can identify costs utility conflicts Um Parking is going to be another issue. So we're still you know, we're in the we're in the fledgling phases Which is why we're bringing everybody in right now um the environmental document will work all the way through and then the uh, I guess the cherry on top For the first step or first stage is to hit public outreach here within the next several months This is a nice little roadmap started on the bottom left at step one We'll work our way through to step two the uh, the things that are in blue are up and coming The things that are in yellow are currently underway And then like I said the data collection survey the studies they have have all been completed and with that I've taken up 12 minutes of y'all's time and I appreciate it very much. Can I answer any questions y'all might have? um Yeah, I'll tell you assembly street. Jervay. Yeah, it's it's scary Can you talk to us? Are we going above and beyond for the pedestrian lighting the flashing? to to Make cars aware more than just the standard dot um pedestrian crossings We We are held to scdot standards since this is an scdot uh roadway Anything in and above that Are absolutely things that we can entertain again since we're in the fledgling phases These are the ideas that we want to and you know the latest and greatest in technologies you could present that to us I have It's it's one of those things that you can spend All the money in the world and get that Cadillac or you can do the You know the other end of the spectrum So it depends on how much money the budgets are willing to spend and these are some of the things like we'd said Because we're going to stair step the project We can identify costs very very early and No, I would I would appreciate and I think we would all appreciate if you could present that to us You know that there's it's always good when the state Puts in such a large portion to to get to that Cadillac version. Like you said, let's talk about it and see what that premium Number is absolutely Yeah, that was that was My question is how are we funding this and um, what are we looking at in terms of timeline? Yes, ma'am. Uh, so right now we have three million dollars 609,000 from ctc 2.4 from guide chair Right now we have 13 million that re requested from the state house budget this year Total project is estimated Broadly at 16 million But of course when zack and his team are able to start fine tuning the design They'll be able to get a little bit more specific about their cost And we're thinking of course state house pending funding pending. When would we start this next phase for construction drawings? I think that they're ready to start as soon as we're working through the conceptual 30 and then the next step is going to be a right-of-way The idea is not The idea is to have zero right-of-way impact since we are working with a relatively existing large footprint So that's in our favor. Um, and then after that will be construction plans So we'll have everything buttoned up ideally within the next 18 to 20 months We launch Yes, ma'am. Hey for the pavement. Hey for the pavement utility Underline so let's make sure that as we move or we make sure that somebody in the office is kept up today is this going to be In parallel with the south main street construction project to any extent Hopefully that one's buttoned up before this one breaks ground Definitely. I would think the construction period is about 18 months purchase. South may not believe so that will be about like we'll be starting our project funding Okay Thank you all very much Yes, ma'am. Thank you Number two our next item for committee discussion is distance requirements for tattoo establishments and our own miss christa hampton planning and development services director Good afternoon everyone. Um at the last council meeting there was a discussion of council to Want to look at your current regulations with regard to Body piercing in test two establishments. And so I'm here just to get some policy direction guidance for you all Perhaps throughout a couple of options for you Currently, uh, the city of colombia actually is fairly liberal with with regards to these regulations When you look at other communities, they're somewhat stuck in the past to be perfectly honest and Lump them in similarly with sexually oriented businesses and relegate them to industrial areas And limit them pretty significantly and require Distance from churches religious organizations and the such so the city of colombia while we do have some conditions Only has the spacing requirements between Tattoo facilities and then also from the fort and then a hundred feet away from the residential districts. They are allowed in most of our commercial and mixed-use districts So again, not relegated to those kind of industrial areas So I provided for you some of those other communities and their regulations so you could see that So depending on the policy guidance of council You have an option to go all the way from Eliminating the distance requirement between facilities Minimizing it you could you could bring it down from a thousand feet to a lesser amount The other option, which is what you had previously is In some of the districts is you could make it a special exception From the board of zoning appeals. So special exceptions are are set out by state law To apply to uses that are permitted Provided that the board reviews them on a case-by-case basis So that it could be special circumstances would say that it's appropriate where in others it may not be And so that is another one of your options. And so I'm here just to kind of listen And provide feedback To you on this issue It says permitted by special exception In commercial and light industrial areas, but then also has a caveat of Within five hundred feet of residential rural church Do we know how that's Worked for them From a special exception side. Is that No, sir. I certainly could could contact them to see how it is. Um You know, we've come a long way from the days when it was a special exception I mean perceptions have certainly changed about about these facilities From the old days So some of these ordinances we have a lot of options. I guess the the issue at hand is We've got somebody who's kind of trapped by not being able to have one closer to one that they Do we have any examples of types of business businesses where Let's say the previous business that was there was the same use the same permitted Use in this case of piercing or tattoo. Is that is there anything in your planning? I guess world that we could Some language we could include in that to basically say if it was one It can now be a new one under a new business license So that currently exists because if if there is a facility it's considered Whether if it was lawfully established If one leaves another can come in within 12 months. It doesn't lose it. So that business can be Let's say it's a restaurant that's in a facility that's no longer allowed as long as if the restaurant leaves Another one can come in within that 12 month period. So what's holding up this issue? It's a new location It's it's in the fifth place where there currently is not a tattoo establishment It's a new business. It would be a new location for a new tattoo establishment So previously what in a tattoo or body piercing establishment? That's not my understanding now How long ago? Still speaking the microphone Previously a piercing studio that went by the name of five points body piercing Their lease was terminated In november and I put down the deposit that same month So does that change the conversation? So our zoning administrator will need to look in that. Um We did not know that before now. So that would have been helpful. Um, but we can certainly look at it So we need to verify That and it's business license and that should tell us That's the case then Yeah I mean, I I think we ought to answer that question before we absolutely had we've been We certainly would have answered that question before now a set of trying to go and spend six months changing Ordinance and stuff to try to figure out a way to Now if it's not, you know, we'll be back here again So we would still like the the thinking on the policy guidance I'm inclined with the special exception approach, but Well, I mean when you look at it, I mean we're in seven allowed districts right now, which is pretty much the majority of the city When you look at it other than you know, it's got the restrictions residential I guess the question is is this really about a special exception on an individual or a second one? How many is acceptable to have in one area? Um, you know, because I'm gonna be honest. This is gonna be a conversation We're gonna have about vape shops. You know, how how many do you cluster in one area? So Not that they're the same business is too totally different, but the question's already come up So as we think through this, we need to be be thinking do you do you want to have a special exception Based on a second location within The thousand feet they make it specific for Single store owner, you know somebody who owns a second location I do caution against that because once the business is established It doesn't require that that person maintain ownership. So we don't Couldn't we do that? Zoning is about the use and not the owner so But in this case, it'd be a special exception. So it'd be a little different Just food for thought right, but then it would still run with the land It would run with the property once you grant that special exception Um, you could not I thought this this special exception only ran with the business as it's operating if it Sees to operate then It's not especially a cheese has to be a special exception It it it is applied to the property to the to the land Sounds like we need to know the answer That's the case if they haven't been shut down for more than 12 months then That's a grandfather in and that just answers our question I don't want to spend a whole lot of time chasing another solution in 90 to 180 days worth of Back and forth in public hearings if we don't have to have that All for that Yeah, I would love to take a 10 minute recess and find out the answer Madam clerk, we're going to adjourn for 10 minutes See we need popcorn and lemonade up here today No, we don't do anything without checking with the clerk first Right now we cannot find a record of the five points piercing We are going to continue to look so I'll leave that up to the policy makers My suggestion is is that We allow staff to have time to confirm Make sure that there's not a wrong address or something to punch in so that we've checked all that because that would make a big Determining decision how we move forward and that we reconvene maybe quickly before council meeting next Yeah, I would if during the research can we find out length of the business license and then also the lease I think it's good to know in our decision making on that prior access. How would we get that lease? Does that work for everybody because I think we just want to make sure we have all the correct information Is uh dehec. Is there a permit to be Gotten from dehec that we can review Check with dehec as well to see if they they uh, they have information on that site. Absolutely All right with that