Agenda Packets - 1998/05/04 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

obi 401L0 Y7. 306P Discussion Points Regarding Traffic Signal on Highway 10 and Edgewood Drive,Mounds View Chuck Whiting,Mounds View City Administrator,April 30, 1998 1. Theater development discussions started in September of 1996. Original concepts were for one exit onto Highway 10. Meetings to this affect were held with adjoining neighborhoods. While lengthy,general acceptance of the project under this understanding lessened the concerns for traffic among residents of Mounds View Drive. 2. February of 1997 saw the discussions start of the"ring road"concept with the University of Minnesota. The concept was part of a general planning discussion conducted by the U of M with several communities. The concept was well received in Mounds View,first,as a precursor to upcoming comprehensive plan process,and second,as an attempt to respond as a possible solution to growing resident concerns about traffic problems within the city. 3. Staff recognized the possibility of tying the ring road concept with the theater development, something that could only happen with the acquiescence of the developer first, and support eventually from MNDOT. This is where our discussions with MNDOT started and the ring road idea was well received. 4. Ring road idea led to practical concerns that needed to be addressed. First, as an idea specific to this site at this time,there was no supporting basis in the city's comprehensive plan yet to mandate action premised on the concept. Development questions rising from the north side of Highway 10 led to public hearings on the concept in October of 1997. 5.Mounds View Drive residents regained their interest in the theater development at this time as they now saw an exit onto Long Lake Road. Residents first,then city staff,contacted MNDOT to determine whether a project could proceed without the exit to Long Lake Road. Conversations and correspondence indicated it could,or at least was interpreted as such. The developer,waiting for the city to determine an acceptable course of action proceeded to redraw plans to no longer have the exit onto Long Lake Road. 6. This plan was submitted to the City Planning Commission in March and was approved after two Commission meetings on April 15. Plan was reviewed by MNDOT April 21 where City was told the ring road or Long Lake Road exit had to be part of the project. City Council approved the plan as submitted April 27 due to concern that revising the project would lead to procedural delays that the developer would no longer agree to. Resident concern clearly turned against the project in its entirety, much due in part to the traffic concerns of exits on County Road H2 or Long Lake Road. Council authorized staff and the mayor to meet with MNDOT staff. Summary: While the ring road idea was incorporated into this site development,it has not been incorporated into any city comprehensive planning process because that process has not been completed. Other alternatives for a ring road concept do exist,but for the city to delay action on this project in order for that work to be completed simply jeopardizes the project. The City therefore must turn to MNDOT to seek a remedy to the situation.