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<br /> <br />Memo <br /> <br />TO: Joel Hanson, City Administrator <br /> <br />FROM: Lee Elfering, City Engineer <br /> <br />DATE: September 5, 2016 <br /> <br />RE: Preliminary Review Savage Lake Access <br /> <br />It is my understanding there have been some inquiries/requests for the City to <br />provide public access to Savage Lake on the west side of Interstate 35E. There <br />are currently only two locations available for public access to Savage Lake. Half <br />of the Old County Road C right-of-way and half of the Lake Street right-of-way <br />extends east to Savage Lake. We have completed a cursory review of possible <br />access options and a summary is provided below. <br /> <br />Old County Road C <br />The right-of-way access that exists is an extension of the south half of the Old <br />County Road C street right of way and is 33 feet in width. The right-of-way was <br />retained by the City because of the existence of a storm sewer line that conveys <br />storm water from the street system to Savage Lake. Review of the topography <br />from the Ramsey County data indicates a grade change of 26 feet from the <br />corner of Old County Road C and Lake Shore Drive down to Savage Lake in <br />approximately 250 feet. This would result in a constant grade of approximately <br />10.4%. This is a relatively steep grade that is over twice the acceptable ADA <br />accessible grade of 5%. The driveway for 168 County Road C would not allow <br />for the access to be extended farther west to provide a longer distance to <br />decrease the overall grade. In areas of limited distance a switch-back type <br />alignment can sometimes be used to lessen the grade, however the width of 33 <br />feet would not be sufficient to make this a viable option. <br /> <br />In addition to the grade concern going down to Savage Lake, it should also be <br />noted that there is currently not an off-street pedestrian facility that would bring <br />pedestrians to the corner of Old County Road C and Lake Shore Drive to use the <br />access. A sidewalk does extend south down the west side of Lake Shore Drive <br />from the Little Canada Road intersection, however this sidewalk currently <br />terminates at Australian Avenue. There is a paved shoulder that would allow <br />some pedestrian access, but we would recommend that an off-street sidewalk be <br />provided if a public access was installed. Jackson/Old C/Lakeshore is also a <br />Municipal State Aid route and does not currently have sufficient width to allow <br />parking on the street so vehicle parking near this location does not presently <br />exist.