12/20/2006 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Nature's Refuge DRAFT DECEMBER 14, 2006 EAW Record of Decision page 8 o The study does not identify a full access location for the Nature's Refuge site. o Replacing the Wood Duck Trail full access with one for the Nature's Refuge development would not conform to the study. o It is not necessarily true that changing the access would provide access for a higher volume cross street. o It is not true that combining the access with the school would combine two separate full access points into one full access point because the new development would only be allowed a partial access. A combination would result in one full access from one full and one partial access. o Nor is it correct that the appropriate time for reviewing access in detail would be during planning for the CSAH 14 upgrading to four lanes: access has been studied in detail already with the Access Management Study. o ACHD does not support a full access for the project alone. • ACHD comments that Lino Lakes Elementary school is expected to keep its (full) access locations for bus circulation as long as safety is not an issue. In the future, the school is likely to have its access change as traffic volumes increase. There is no guarantee that the school will continue to have full access; it may end up with 3/4 access depending upon safety concerns. • The Metropolitan Council comments that CSAH 14, as a principal arterial, is an element of the Metropolitan Highway System. The Met Council supports the access alternative that will not compromise the roadway's function and that is consistent with spacing and management guidelines. Response: The City of Lino Lakes agrees that CSAH 14 is a vitally important element of the transportation system. The City also fully supports and has been implementing the TH 242 /CSAH 14 Access Management Study. In retrospect, the EAW may not be clear on the City's preference for access for the Nature's Refuge project. The traffic study prepared for the developer by Wenck Associates includes a number of statements that generated comments by ACHD. Some of the statements do not represent the City's approach to planning the access for the project. The text in Item 21 of the EAW includes the City's positions. The City does not support a new, full access serving only the Nature's Refuge project. The City is proposing the option of combining the access with the elementary school. As explained in the EAW, the school's full access driveways are labeled "rio change" in the Access Management Study. The City initiated discussions with Anoka County and the Forest Lake School District 831 regarding combining access with the new development. To date, all entities have expressed support for this option. In the past, Anoka County prepared a similar combination of a school access and a public road to provide access to Main Street for Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine. •