09/11/1996 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Planning & Zoning Board September 11, 1996 City Engineer Ahrens stated that both 62nd Street and Ware Road are designated Minnesota State Aid (MSA) collector streets which typically carry higher volumes of traffic. Both roadways are approximately 22 to 24 feet wide without concrete curb and gutter. Current state aid design standards would require a 30 -foot wide road with concrete curb and gutter. Based on existing road conditions and current volumes of traffic, the roads do not meet current design standards and are inadequate to handle existing traffic or projected traffic from this proposed future development. A consulting engineer conducted a traffic count on 62nd Street is 1994 or 1995 and counted 380 cars per day; Ware Road is 1,200 per day. With the assumption of 10 trips per day per single family residence, this project will generate approximately an additional 500 trips per day. Reconstruction costs for 62nd Street and Ware Road are estimated at $1.25 million. The City's state aid balance for 1998 is $1.25 million. Chair , Schaps asked when an independent traffic study would be done. Mr. Ahrens responded that no formal decision has been made. Johnson asked Mr. Ahrens to elaborate on the policy requiring the developer to provide a portion of funding toward the street improvements. Mr. Ahrens stated that arrangements are unclear. Only one other situation occurred in the City when a developer contributed funding for roads after a traffic study was completed. The Council has requested a traffic study on Ware Road and expressed a desire to upgrade it within the next two years. Chair Schaps declared the public hearing open at 6:40 p.m. Mr. Ahrens stated that he would address the questions relating to West Shadow Lake Road. West Shadow Lake Drive stops at the south line of Reshanau Lake Estates 5th Addition. The Comprehensive Plan calls for it to be extended to Ash Street/County Rd J, but at this time there are no plans for that extension. Robinson noted that there is a lot of wetland south of 62nd Street. Mr. Ahrens agreed and stated that any extension of West Shadow Lake Drive would not be straight. Herr asked if West Shadow Lake Drive is a collector street. Mr. Ahrens responded that it is a state aid road and is 40 to 44 feet wide. It is planned to be a collector street. When it is eventually extended to County Road J, it will be a full access road. Chair Schaps stated that he does not believe this proposal is ready to be heard by the Board. Both access roads are inadequate. The options are to table action and continue the public hearing or deny the application. 6 • • •