08-11-11 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 11, 2011 discharging into the wetland. Again, Metro Transit is working with the Watershed to refine the design of this system. Duray asked the elevation of the site in relation to County Road 13. Sicora indicated that they are trying to mirror those elevations as much as possible. The grades will be the same at the entrance point, but the site will be lower than County Road 13 in some areas, again almost matching grades at Rice Street. Knudsen asked how much higher the site will be than Highway 36. Sicora indicated that the Highway 36 exit ramp will be higher than the park and ride site. The elevations of the park at ride at Rice Street will be about a foot or so lower than the street. At the northwest corner, the site will be about 3 to 4 feet lower than Rice Street. Sicora pointed out that there will be no light cast from the headlights of the vehicles at the park and ride due to the lower elevations. Duray asked the width of the vehicular entrance point expressing concern that buses and passenger vehicles will share this same access. Sicora replied that it will be 45 feet wide. He indicated that a number of alternatives were considered in designing the site, and this one works the best. Duray asked how many buses will come to the site each day. Rimstad estimated 6 to 7 per day, noting that there arrival times will be spread out in 20 minute increments. Fischer asked where these buses will go. Rimstad reported that they will be taking commuters to Minneapolis via Highway 36 and 35W. Knudsen pointed out that St. Jude adds a lot of traffic to this area, also at peak commuter times. Knudsen asked if Metro Transit did a traffic study of the intersection to determine if it could handle the additional traffic. Sicora replied that turning lanes were added to assist in getting traffic into both the park and ride site as well as the Cub Foods site. Knudsen asked if Metro Transit has met with Cub Foods and St. Jude Medical to review this proposal. Rimstad replied that they have met with Cub and have received positive comments. Rimstad reported that they met with St. Jude on a preliminary basis, and have received fairly positive feedback. Rimstad indicated that Metro Transit will meet with them again to review the final plans. Knudsen asked how this site was selected. Rimstad thought it was selected given its proximity to the freeway and that it would he very visible to commuters. Access to and from the freeway would be very good. Rimstad reported that Metro Transit did an analysis of where riders would be coming from, and felt there was a need in this area especially in light of the fact that the lease for Rosedale park and ride is not renewing. 4