06-26-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 27, 2002 Mr. Jeff Gibbens, P.E. MnDot 1500 West County Road B -2 Roseville, MN 55113 Re: Sound Barriers Dear Mr. Gibbens: Draft The City Council of Little Canada has directed me to send you this letter to register our dissatisfaction with the new sound barriers proposed as part of the "Unweave the Weave" project. Specifically, we do not feel the residential areas have been adequately protected by the limited locations proposed. The areas of concerns are as follows: ♦ The area on the south side of 35E/694 commons adjacent to County Road D. We feel the barrier should continue up to the east line of the Heritage Office Park property. (See Map Attached) This would protect our existing residential areas and also address a vacant parcel (adjacent to Heritage Office Parlc) that we anticipate will someday develop residentially. ♦ A short span east of the Burlington Northern Rail line on the north side of I- 694 in close proximity to the Twin Lake area. The easterly residences along Twin Lake are not protected if the wall does not continue to the east. We realize that MnDot used set criteria related to noise levels and residential densities when determining where walls are to be placed. However, our City feels the freeway system has had a dramatic impact on our community over the years. The doubling of lane capacity will exacerbate this impact. Our residents should not be expected to accept this burden without attempting mitigation. One of our residents informed us that your staff suggested the City may wish to pay added costs to expand the sound barrier coverage area. Another stated that when the vacant land ultimately develops, the developer would then be responsible for the cost of sound barrier installation. Neither of these suggestion is practical or acceptable from our standpoint. Therefore, the City of Little Canada hereby requests the sound barrier plan be expanded to address the concerns of our community. We would also ask that you inform us as to how this matter will be resolved.