05/05/2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • Memorandum DATE: May 5, 2004 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: James E. Studenski, City Engineer RE: Holly Drive Reconstruction A second neighborhood meeting was held on April 28'h to further discuss the project and receive additional feed back from the residents regarding the improvements. Concerns continued to be raised by several residents regarding the tree loss and the buffer loss that will occur by installing the trial along the east side of Holly Drive between Cripple Creek Pass and South Trappers Crossing. Following the meeting, staff has received concerns from other residents that don't want the trail to be eliminated. Staffs review of eliminating this portion of the trail system still has generally the same impacts to the trees that currently exist in the right -of -way due to the grading necessary for the road construction and drainage issues. We have been able to adjust the street and trail design to almost completely eliminate any grading activity outside of the right -of -way. These changes will allow for preservation of some existing trees previously identified for removal. Marty Asleson, City Environmentalist, has reviewed the area and found most of the trees affected by the improvements to be of minimal value. Rick DeGardner, Parks and Recreation, supports following the City's Park and Trail System Plan which shows the trail following Holly Drive. Rick doesn't support using the subdivision streets as the route for the trail system. Public service has also proposed additional landscaping (tree replacement) and boulevard maintenance along the trail corridor. It is staffs recommendation to leave the trail system along Holly Drive and to continue to try and minimize the tree loss from the improvements. 600 Town Center Parkway, Lino Lakes, Minnesota 55014-1182 Phone: 651 - 982 -2400 • Fax: 651 - 982 -2499 • TDD: 651 - 982 -2410