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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />APRIL 14,1999 <br />Elaine Zoch requested that a traffic study of the area be done. Fahey did <br />not feel traFfic was a good reason to prevent someone from developing his <br />or her property. Fahey suggested that the solution may be to make some <br />changes to the intersection. <br />Mr. Bougie also informed the Council of the traffic problem at Country <br />Drive and Little Canada Road as well as at Country Drive/Rice Street and <br />Country Drive/South Owasso Blvd. <br />Scalze pointed out that high-traffic businesses want to locate in this area <br />because of the proximity to the freeway. Scalze indicated that the City <br />cannot stop businesses from operating in this area and pointed out that the <br />property is zoned for commercial and industrial uses. <br />Bougie pointed out that there are only three roads in and out of the area, <br />and these three road are jammed with traffic. Bougie indicated that the <br />City must consider the ability to provide fire protection to the area. <br />Scalze indicated that there have been traffic studies done of the area and it <br />is no secret that traffic is a problem. However, most of these business <br />have been in this area for 10 to 15 years and they are making no effort to <br />leave because of traffic problems. <br />Bougie reported that he would like to see a traffic light installed at South <br />Owasso Blvd. and Rice Street. The City Administrator reported that that <br />is being evaluated now that MN DOT is turning Rice Street over to the <br />County. <br />Elaine Zoch suggested that installation of a right-turn lane on Country <br />Drive going onto Little Canada Road would help to alleviate the back up <br />of cars at that intersection. The City Administrator suggested that City <br />Staff make that evaluation. LaValle suggested it may be just a matter of <br />striping a turn-lane. <br />Allen reported that he did not consider the Country Drive redevelopment <br />area to be a hotel site nor a strictly office site. Allen felt the highest and <br />best use of the site would be office/showroom, and pointed out that the <br />office/showroom he is proposing is upscale, not merely a block building <br />with punched in windows. Allen felt that the City would be very pleased <br />with the product his firm constructs. <br />Gagne stated that while he had no objection to Allen's building in <br />particular, it felt the site would be better developed with a three-story <br />