PCAgenda_03Mar21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The commissioners took up the issues of parking and traffic in response to Mr. Youn's concerns. . In response to a question from Commissioner Harris, Mr. Gerten confirmed that each vendor does require two parking spaces. Commissioner Maher asked how many parking spaces were available at Har Mar. Ms. Worthington estimated that there were no more than 200 spaces available during the 10 a.m. to noon time when the parking was shared with the shopping center (and those were scattered around the center). Commissioner Heideman said she had never observes as many as 200 people at the Har Mar market at any one time, as Mr. Youn predicts. Mr. Gerten said that generally there were at most 100 people in the market at a time in peak hours. They had never had cars backed out to the street. Heideman cited her experience of the market at St. Luke's, which has no off-street parking and no complaints she has heard. She said that Mr. Youn's expectation of 400 cars seems extreme. Mr. Gerten said that the Burnsville site has 400 parking spaces and 100 growers. It does reach capacity at peak, but never runs out of parking in the rear. He had no documentation but said he could provide references. He added that the Farmers' Market organizations has very strict fines and suspensions for misconduct of growers. They also have a dress code. Commissioner Harris, looking at Mr. Youn's study, said she thinks the revised permit draft takes care of his concerns, especially with the extra parking at City Hall. Mr. Youn agreed that "the gap has been narrowed," but he pressed his concern over noise, including the banging of folding tables and tents being set up. He wants a prohibition of sound amplifying devices. Commissioner DeLeo thanked Mr. Youn for coming and for his concerns and asked how he got the figures in his study. Mr. Youn said he had made personal observations of how many stalls growers take up. He had no solid data on cars at the Har Mar market but had made assumptions which he outlined. He came up with a peak volume of 1050 cars. He figures customer parking at the Larpenteur site needs to be at least 263 spaces, but could fluctuate as much as 25% higher. He repeated his concerns about traffic on Tatum and queuing on Larpenteur. DeLeo pointed out that the assumptions Mr. Youn made were critical to his arriving at his conclusions. The consensus of the Commission was that there is no way to predict the traffic and parking problems that might arise without giving the market a try. Manley Olson of 1974 Summer spoke in support of the Farmer's Market. He attended the first meeting and saw the others on cable, and he said he was struck by comments from residents that reminded him of negative comments heard when the Maple Grove townhomes were first considered. If those opinions had prevailed, Maple Grove would never have been built. As for wear and tear on the streets, he asked, what about all the garbage trucks? He compared the expected traffic with the State Fair and pointed out that this is an issue the city already deals with very well. When were Mr. Youn's traffic counts done, he asked. He pointed out that the market would take place mostly in summer when UM traffic is less. He feels that adequate safeguards have been written into the I.U.P., and that the permit gives the City tools to cope with problems that may come up. The next speaker was Todd Barduson from Twin City Co-ops. He repeated that the Co-op is not doing this to cause problems, that the intent is to partner with the City. He pointed out that some sound deflection will be provided by the large berm, fencing and trees between the market site and residences; other improvements are expected. Co-op staff are aware of the parking situation and will schedule activities off-site on Tuesday mornings. Many will be on vacation during the months the market is in operation. His observation is that the State Fair impact has a greater impact than the market would have. 03_0226.doc Falcon Heights Planning Commission, February 26, 2003 Page 2 of 3