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

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 11, 2011 Pechmann felt that pedestrians will use the vehicular access drive to cross County Road B to go back and forth to Cub. Sicora noted that there will be no sidewalks within the park and ride lot. Rimstad reported that they discussed this issue with Cub and they are concerned that people utilizing the park and ride will leave shopping carts within that parking lot. Cub was not in favor of a striped pedestrian crossing. Knudsen was concerned about the vast amount of tree removal with trees being removed to create a parking lot. Knudsen indicated that there are enough highways crossing through Little Canada, and asked if there would be any screening or landscaping to minimize the appearance of the park and ride from the freeway. Knudsen pointed out that if this were a private business, the City would require screening. Sicora indicated that trees will be removed except for the area to the east in the buffer zone. There are some large overstory trees in this area. Beyond that the plan is to follow the City's tree replacement plan. He noted that trees will be planted down the center median of the parking lot and along Rice Street. Some ornamental trees will be added on County Road B. MN DOT and the Sheriff's Department is concerned about security in the lot and prefer to have open site lines. Sicora pointed out that the park and ride lot will be lower than the 36 ramp and Highway 36 will be lower than the park and ride lot. Fischer asked about the southwest corner of the site at Rice and County Road B. Sicora indicated that this will be a raised planting area as well as pedestrian access point. Murphy asked when the park and ride lease with Rosedale expires. Rimstad replied that it expires in February of 2012. Metro Transit is currently trying to renegotiate a lease extension until this park and ride lot is completed. They are also working on contingency plans to direct customers to the County Road C lot in Roseville. Judy Herick, Roseville resident, asked what will prevent people from parking in the Cub parking lot and walking across County Road B to catch a bus in the event the park and ride lot is full. Herick also asked if there was a limit on how many buses will be in and out of the park and ride on any given day. Rimstad replied that there will be 7 buses to this lot each day to serve the anticipated 270 riders. A higher level of bus service than the space provides for would not be provided for. Rimstad indicated that Cub expressed the same concern about people parking in their lot to utilize the park and ride facility, and indicated that their operations and planning people are looking at this concern. Hall noted the pedestrian access planned for the southwest corner of the park and rice facility at Rice Street. Hall asked where it is anticipated -6-