Burke-Gilman Trail users may see more signs along the trail’s two mile stretch in Lake Forest Park if the City Council passes an ordinance following a public hearing on Nov. 8 at City Hall.
Council member Donovan Tracy asked the council to consider two amendments to the proposed draft ordinance for additional trail signage during the Oct. 25 meeting.
“The intent is not to fill the trail up with tons of signs,” Tracy said. “…Even though it’s a regional facility we would like to give some identity within Lake Forest Park.”
The city’s identity along the trail, according to Tracy, could consist of signs welcoming trail users to the city as well as block watch signs.
“I think it would establish a certain degree of respect,” he said. “I don’t think we should be prohibited by the County in putting up block watch signs along the trail. For a lot of neighborhoods (the trail) is the only real thoroughfare.”
Councilwoman Sandy Koppenol supported the idea of additional signs as a method of traffic calming along the trail.
“I think we spent a lot of time talking about traffic calming on the trail and I think this is one idea that might get some in a safe way,” she said.
The intent of the ordinance is to amend conditional use criteria for trails, specifically multiuse-use and multi-purpose trails used by bicyclists, in-line skaters, roller skaters, wheelchair users, runners, and walkers. As written, the proposed ordinance would require an applicant for a conditional use permit to submit a plan for intersection control, locations for radar activated speed devices, a proposal for law enforcement along the trail as well as a proposal to accommodate different types of trail users.
According to the ordinance draft, any application would also include a site plan showing trail design speeds, sight distances, and trail dimensions while separate proposals for lighting and maintenance would also be required.
The amended ordinance is the result of a decision in July by the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board to overturn a previous city ordinance that did not comply with the state’s Growth Management Act.
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