12-05-2022 Council Work Session Packet

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Chapter 4: Transportation | 16Otter Lake Road Master Plan ALTERNATIVE 2 (PREFERRED ALIGNMENT) Alternative 2 extends Otter Lake Road from the existing terminus near Main Street to the north 0.22 miles then slightly curves to the northeast, then back north for 0.25 miles before finally curving to the northeast to connect into 24th Avenue parallel to Alternative 1. This alignment generally follows north-south lot lines eliminating the need to split most of the parcels. The location of the road provides access to all of the lots which then requires fewer, shorter access roads and utility extensions. Limiting the future access roads will ultimately reduce the amount of wetland impacts due to roadways. This alignment also approaches the pipeline easement at a right angle reducing the height of the road at the crossing and any future conflicts with small utilities that run parallel to the roadway. After cutting through Wetland 3, this alignment curves to the northeast before continuing to TABLE 4-1: ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT SUMMARY Alternative 1 Alternative 2 (Preferred)Alternative 3 No Build Primary Needs Traffic Demand Property Access Secondary Needs Limited Parcel Impacts Access to Existing Infrastructure Ability To Meet State Aid Standards Pipeline Easement Crossing at Right-Angle TABLE 4-2. ESTIMATED WETLAND IMPACTS (ACRES) FOR EACH ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT 1 - Not regulated by USACE per AJD (dated 11/1/2022) 2 - Received sequencing flexibility approval per LGU Decision 22-063 (dated 9/14/2022) Wetland ID Alternative 1 Alternative 2 (Preferred) Alternative 3 No Build Wetland 3 1 1.58 1.58 1.58 0 Wetland 4 0.32 0.06 0 0 Wetland 6 2 0 0 0.09 0 Wetland 11a 1,2 0.16 0 0 0 Wetland 11b 1,2 0.34 0 0 0 Wetland 12 1,2 0.10 0.30 0 0 Wetland 13 1,2 0 0.52 0 0 Wetland 17 0 0 0.01 0 Wetland 18 1,2 0.13 0.21 0.21 0 Wetland 23 2 0.17 0 0 0 Total 2.80 2.67 1.90 0 the north avoiding most impacts to Wetland 4. The alignment follows the property lines to the north and cuts through a portion of Wetland 12. However, Wetland 12 at this location is degraded: farmed on the west side of the property line and pastureland to the east. The alignment avoids Wetlands 11a and 11b unlike Alternative 1 but does impact the majority of Wetland 13. The preferred alternative results in 0.13 acres less wetland impact than Alternative 1 and meets the needs of the project. This alternative results in a total of 2.67 acres of wetland impacts (Table 4-2). ALTERNATIVE 3 Alternative 3 extends Otter Lake Road from the existing terminus near Main Street to the north 0.22 miles then slightly curves to the northeast where it continues northeast until it connects with 24th Avenue. After cutting through Wetland 3, this alignment impacts three farmed wetland areas: Wetlands 18, 17, and 6. This alternative avoids most wetland impacts initially resulting in 1.90 acres of impact (Table 4-2). However, this alternative does not provide access to the northerly lots and would require extensive construction of access roads and extension of utilities which would result in additional wetland impacts likely exceeding the amounts of the other alternatives. This alternative does not meet the project’s needs and was rejected due to the fact that it would not provide access to all properties and limited access to existing infrastructure would cause development of land within the planned land use for the area (commercial) to be challenging. NO BUILD ALTERNATIVE The no build alternative would not extend Otter Lake Road to the north. Access for the parcels would result in the construction of local roads from 24th Avenue. Access to the area would be from 24th Avenue which is restricted to right-in/ right-out at Main Street (CSAH 14). Access to or from eastbound Main Street (CSAH 14) would be through the Victor Hugo Boulevard intersection in Hugo. This would result in the need for 24th Avenue as well as Rosemary Way in the city of Hugo to be improved. There are no existing sewer and water connections along 24th Avenue that could easily be extended out to the lots as this road is the city boundary between Hugo and Lino Lakes. Sewer and water would be one sided and sewer water extension in this manner would result in over double the amount of infrastructure. This alternative would initially avoid wetland impacts but does not meet the needs of the property owners or the city and was rejected. Table 4-1 summarizes each of the alternatives with respect to the primary and secondary needs of the project area. Table 4-2 summarizes the estimated wetland impacts for each alignment alternative.