02/14/1996 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • PLANNING & ZONING BOARD FEBRUARY 14, 1996 City Engineer Ahrens stated there is sufficient right -of- way. Ms. Sullivan stated making Elm Street the main entrance was not the issue. The issue was keeping school traffic off Elm Street. Planning Consultant Brixius asked if the site plan would be affected if the street arrangements were changed. Mr. Patrick Sarver, ATSR, stated the most important item when selecting the site plan was the safety of the children and the circulation of the site. It was important to segregate the traffic to keep the children safe. It was the recommendation of the School District that all bus traffic be handled at a lit intersection. Chair Schaps noted the question was if the site plan would be affected if Elm Street was kept as it currently is. Mr. Sarver noted having two accesses would split the traffic and result in the loss of signalization at the Fourth Street intersection. Chair Schaps again asked if it would affect the site plan. Mr. Snyder stated keeping Elm Street open would have no bearing on the site design. Chair Schaps asked if the closing of Elm Street would in fact affect 2nd Avenue to the extent expressed by the residents. Mr. Mesich asked if keeping Elm Street open would be safer as it would reduce the traffic on Fourth Street. City Engineer Ahrens stated the answer was yes and no. There is concern with the traffic on Fourth Street and the interaction with children. However, if Elm Street is left as is, the signal light on Fourth Street will be compromised. This will create the same situation as at the Chippewa Middle School. School buses are slow at takeoff and need time to get up to speed. With a signal light the other traffic will have to stop so the buses will have adequate .time. 12