Amador County – Trying to maintain existing roads without having to expand Main Street and other downtown roads, the Ione City Council voted 4-1 to lower road “levels of service” on Tuesday, for the city’s draft general plan. Consultant Daniel Hamilton and City Planner Christopher Jordan recommended 2 “parkway options” to the council. One would be to adopt a standard grade level of “C” for the city-wide parkway levels of service, while accepting a 6-lane highway facility as part of the bypass through and around town, if the computer model shows such a need. The city council chose a second recommendation, which was to change the Level of Service of the parkways to a “D” grade for the bypass, “to ensure nothing larger than 4-lane” roads is needed in the city, but also to “require dedication for 6 lanes just in case.” Hamilton and Jordan also recommended that the council provide policy direction to the “General Plan team” to “lower the level of service threshold for select roadways.” Jordan said citywide level of service “E” could be used if the circulation analysis indicates that level “D” would not be sufficient. They also recommended Preston, Main, Church and Ione Streets all have their “levels of service” designated as the lowest grade of “F.” Parkways would all be designated with level of service “D.” Hamilton said a policy of level of service “D” designation used city-wide would require a 4-lane roadway over the bridge over Sutter Creek and through downtown. Staff also recommended that the reduced level of service standards include adding more creek crossings. The council asked how the recommendations were arrived at, and Jordan said there was and “internal staff dialogue.” The city voted 4-1 to accept the level “F” designations. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said it was essential because there is no room to expand make Preston, Main, Church or Ione streets without destroying buildings. City Manager Kim Kerr said parking could be removed from Main Street for widening, but that was a different issue. Hamilton said level of service “F” “means the city is not requiring (expansion) or mandating it for developments.” Councilman Jim Ulm voted against the staff direction, saying that Fairway Drive had originally been marked to extend by bridge over Sutter Creek, as part of the development agreement. But when the property changed hands, the city allowed the requirement to slip away. The council approved the parkway option of level of service “D,” with a 4-lane maximum, but a 6-lane option, “just in case.” They also added language that would “explore the possibilities of future bridge crossings. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.