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• Mayor and City Council Pedestrian Bridge -Highway 10 August 28, 1996 Page 2 Maryann Saraurer to Russ Klebe stating that HUD has no objections to this proposal. Ms. Sarauer has suggested that if new signage or security lighting is necessary, Wildwood Manor negotiate with the City to pay for the cost. She also offers as an alternative that the development's Reserve for Replacement account be used. (A copy of the letter is attached.) (The issue of signage and security lighting was raised by Russ Klebe in his original letter to HUD.) Ramsey County Library: We have sent an easement agreement to the Ramsey County Library Board and to the County Commissioners. The Library Board requested some minor revisions which have been made and returned. Final approval of this item is on the County Commissioners' agenda for September 3. We do not anticipate any problems with obtaining approval for this easement. The Library Board indicated that it was very supportive of the project. Mounds View Square: We have met with Mr. Ed Paster and Mr. John Streeter regarding the easement on the north side of the highway. The bridge abutment would be located in an area now occupied by a detention pond. The City Engineer is evaluating whether this pond can be eliminated, or relocated on the City's park property east of Long Lake Road. We are confident that an alternative is available. The property owners have reviewed the draft easement agreement and have requested certain variances in parking and signage requirements, and a business improvement partnership loan for new parking lot lighting as a condition of signing the easement. The property owners are concerned about the effect of the bridge placement on the visibility of the shopping center and its sign. They also desire to add retail square footage and at least one dinner style restaurant, to replace Bridgeman's Ice Cream Restaurant. There is also a possibility that they will want to replace Hardee's Restaurant with a second dinner style restaurant at some point in the future. The addition of these uses raises a question about parking requirements. Staff is of the opinion that the addition of the restaurant uses would be beneficial to the community, and would broaden the options available to Mounds View residents and to travelers on Highway 10. They would also encourage more traffic to the retail businesses in the shopping center. We have been advised by the City Attorney that the approval of a variance cannot be guaranteed through an easement agreement, but the variance request must go through the normal process. Several options are available as to how to proceed at this point, keeping in mind the time frame for the bridge project. Option 1. Use the Switchback Design for the Bridge: One of the designs considered for the bridge would not require the use of any private land on the north side of Highway 10, but would fit in existing highway right-of- way. This design uses a switchback rather than a circular ramp. Staff regards this design as undesirable both for the City and for the property owner of Mounds View Square. It will require pedestrians to walk a considerable distance away from the intersection to use the ramp, and it is anticipated that people will avoid the walk and continue to cross at the intersection. The ramp will also block the view of the Mounds View Square shopping center for a much longer distance than will be the case with the circular ramp. Staff does not recommend this option.