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also recorded. More than 85% of the cars are below the 30 m.p.h. posted speed limit on both • streets, which is not unexpected, given the short, one-block accelerating distance on both streets. The sound of acceleration may give the illusion of greater speed. Mr. Pape then discussed the impact of the new restaurant configuration. At least 75% of the vehicles entering the site would come by way of Crawford off Snelling. About half the vehicles would leave using the Crawford/Arona route, at least partly due to the stacking difficulty at Snelling and Crawford. Some vehicles would exit through Falcon Crossing. Based on known data for typical fast-food restaurants, Dino's would add approximately 40 vehicles on Crawford and 30 on Arona during the noon peak hour and similar numbers during the p.m. peak hour. As Commissioner Lageson pointed out this is a 67% increase (from 60 at present). He asked if a traffic engineer would consider this excessive. Mr. Pape replied that it was well within the capacity of the roadway. Commissioner Lukermann asked if Dino's would affect the cut-through traffic. Mr. Pape said Dino's would increase the over all volume but not the amount of cut-through traffic. In response to a question from Commissioner Harris, he said that cut-through traffic is made attractive to southbound traffic on Snelling by the fact that there are gaps created by the traffic signal at Larpenteur. Commissioner Ziebarth asked if changing the traffic light cycle would help. Mr. Pape said that the intersection has been minutely studied, and that very little could be done by tinkering further with the signal. HEARING ON VARIANCES FOR PROPOSED DINO'S RESTAURANT Chair Lageson opened the hearing with a review of the ground rules. The developer, the owner . of Dino's and their engineer were present to answer questions. Raymond Worth presented a letter he had sent by email to the Council and Commissioners in support of Embers remaining at the site. He said he felt the deal was "suspect" and questioned the existence of a purchase agreement. He has circulated a petition in favor of keeping Embers because it is a better "fit" for the neighborhood; he obtained 27 signatures. He read the lengthy petition to the audience. Mr. Lageson reminded Mr. Worth that he had already exceeded his allowed time. Mr. Worth continued to speak against Dino's for several more minutes. Josh Berger of Crawford and Arona said that he, like many people, moved to Falcon Heights because it seemed to have a small town feel. He is very much in favor of the SE Corner development and loves Dino's. He said that he felt the previous speaker misrepresented the sentiment of the May 13 meeting, that the majority of the people present that evening were in fact not in favor of keeping Embers but were concerned about the proposed drive-through and the traffic. He questioned why Dino's, which has been a profitable business for years at the present location, needs adrive-through to be profitable at a better location. Though the road may have the capacity for the added traffic, he felt, the residents do not. He strongly recommends against the granting of the lot coverage variance, which "exists for a reason." The next speaker was Jenny Blaise of 1532 Crawford, who expressed concern about traffic in the alley between Crawford and Arona. The situation is already hazardous for residents backing out of their garages. She is not opposed to Dino's but very much opposed to the drive-through. Cindy Peck, who lives adjacent to the Embers site, is also very concerned about the drive- through. Although the loudspeaker would be muted, there would be noise from cars waiting in • line. If not for the drive-through, the development would be an improvement, she thinks. 03_0527.doc Falcon Heights Planning Commission, May 27, 2003 Page 5 of 8