02-09-00 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 9, 2000 Scalze pointed out that when the area redevelops, the City could require the developers to pay for any additional street improvements that might be needed. Pedersen felt that making the Rice Street/Little Canada Road intersection a gateway to the City is a public goal and not a private goal. Therefore, it is more likely that the City would pay for those improvements. Scalze felt that these improvements could be made to the north keeping the impact on The Venetian property at a minimum. Fahey pointed out that if the road is widened to the north additional right- of-way will be needed from 93 Little Canada Road. John Vitale indicated that he felt the property owners at 93 Little Canada Road would be reasonable in dealing with the City if additional right-of--way was needed for the road improvement. However, Vitale felt that moving the road north would ruin the City's property at the intersection. Scalze again raised the issue of the intersection being the gateway to the City. The City Engineer pointed out that there are countless things that could be done with the intersection, given that it can hit Rice Street at any point since it does not have to line up with a street on the west side of Rice Street. Pedersen pointed out that the City has some designs for the intersection that were prepared by Michael Schroeder of Hoisington Koegler. He also suggested that the intersection may be able to be dressed up by planning some landscaping treatments on the corners. Scalze suggested that the Council needs to hold a workshop to discuss this corner in detail. Fahey agreed that landscaping could be added to the corner. He also felt that the medians could be eliminated feeling they did not add value and were a maintenance problem. Pedersen pointed out that the goal was to create a sense of an entranceway into Little Canada. Pedersen felt that could be accomplished without making a huge road and without impacting the properties to the north and south. Fahey suggested that perhaps the Council needed to review the original sketches as well as some alternatives. Fahey felt the gateway concept could be accomplished without the medians. Fahey also felt that the concerns of The Venetian Inn for access onto Little Canada Road need to be addressed.