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<br />PUBLIC WORKS <br />Wayne Sandberg, P.E., Director, County Engineer <br />Frank D. Ticknor, P.E., Deputy Director <br />October 6, 2023 <br />Sophia Jensen <br />City Planner <br />City of Lake Elmo <br />3880 Laverne Avenue <br />Lake Elmo, MN 55042 <br /> <br />Comments on Bridgewater Preliminary Plat Application on CSAH 14 & 15 <br />Dear Sophia Jensen, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the Bridgewater Preliminary Plat on CSAH 14 & 15. We <br />are grateful for the City of Lake Elmo’s partnership on this project. Our development review team has reviewed <br />the plans and offers the following comments: <br />It is appreciated that the developer has revised their plans based on the past County Comments. The updated site <br />plans have removed the driveway access point off CSAH 15, which connected to the Holiday South Driveway to the <br />north. The County supports the access points to the site on Stillwater Way N and CSAH 14 (Stillwater Blvd). These <br />connections eliminate the need for a connection CSAH 15. <br />A trail connection that connects the existing trail along CSAH 15 to the new proposed access to the west would <br />improve pedestrian connectivity in the area. The current proposal has a trail along CSAH 14 ending at the access <br />point. We recommend that, at a minimum, the developer install the trail to the edge of their property along CSAH <br />14. It would be a great addition to get the trail installed to connect to Stillwater Way to the west. The boulevard <br />has already been graded, and this would connect the trail all the way to downtown Lake Elmo. Additionally, we <br />recommend that the developer connect the trail with the internal sidewalk network on the site such that trail <br />users may access the businesses without overly circuitous routing. <br />Washington County's policy is to assist local governments in promoting compatibility between land use and <br />highways. Residential uses located adjacent to highways often result in complaints about traffic noise. Traffic noise <br />from this highway could exceed noise standards established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), <br />the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Minnesota <br />Rule 7030.0030 states that municipalities are responsible for taking all reasonable measures to prevent land use <br />activities listed in the MPCA's Noise Area Classification (NAC), where the establishment of the land use would <br />result in violations of established noise standards. Minnesota Statute 116.07, Subpart 2a exempts County Roads <br />and County State Aid Highways from noise thresholds. County policy regarding development adjacent to existing <br />highways prohibits the expenditure of highway funds for noise mitigation measures. The developer should assess <br />the noise situation and take any action outside of County right of way deemed necessary to minimize the impact <br />of any highway noise. <br />A Right of Way Permit will be required for any work within the County highway right of way as it relates to the <br />development. As the development progresses, a plan set will be required with the application and include any <br />grading, culvert installation, water and sewer services, parallel trail development, signage, and any landscaping <br />and other improvements within the County right of way.