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Memorandum <br />1800 Pioneer Creek Center, Maple Plain,.MN 55359 <br />Phone: 763-479-4200 Fax: 763-479-4242 <br />Wen d< <br />To: Nlembers of Little Canada City Council <br />From: James A. Benshoo <br />Date: September 26, 2007 <br />Subject: Review of Cal-De -Sac included in Proposed Plans for Richie Place Development <br />Wencic File # 1985 -01 <br />BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE <br />The proposed Richie Place development plans include a cul -de -sac roadway about 1,050 feet <br />long that would extend south from an intersection on Labore Road. This 1,050 foot length is <br />more than double the maximum 500 foot cul -de -sac length defined in Section 1006.030(b) in the <br />Little Canada City Code. The Richie Place plans include a "stub" for a possible future <br />connection between the proposed cul -de -sac and Beam Avenue to the east. In addition to this <br />possible future roadway connection, the Richie Place plans also include sketches of the following <br />three other possible roadway extensions: <br />a) Extending the cul -de -sac by about 140 feet to the north. <br />b) Constructing a road west from the current cul -de -sac end to Arcade Street. <br />c) Constructing a road west and north from the current cul -de -sac end to Lahore Road. <br />Given the above characteristics of the proposed Richie Place plans, we have addressed the <br />following two traffic questions: <br />a) Would adequate safety be provided if a 1,050 foot long cul -de -sac were constructed <br />in conjunction with this development? <br />b) Can the City be assured that the non - conforming cul -de -sac length will be resolved <br />through completion of one or more of the conceptual roadway extensions included in <br />the Richie Place plans? <br />Responses to these two questions are provided next. <br />ADEQUACY OF TRAFFIC SAFETY IF A 1,050 FOOT LONG CUL -DE -SAC WERE <br />CONSTRUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RICHIE PLACE DEVELOPMENT <br />In summary, our response to this point is that higher than normal safety hazards would be <br />experienced if the City approved a 1,050 foot cul -de -sac, which is more than double the 500 foot <br />maximum length defined in City Code. In the minutes from the June 14, 2007, City Planning <br />Commission meeting, the City Planner was asked to respond to a question during discussion <br />regarding the Steinert property about why the City limits cul -de -sacs to 500 feet. According to <br />the minutes, "The City Planner indicated that 500 feet is a common standard with cities, and <br />