Agenda Packets - 1997/07/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Mounds View Staff Report July 3, 1997 Page 2 Staff has also met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Minnesota Department of Natural 41111 Resources, and Rice Creek Watershed District to discuss crossing the wetland on the O'Neil property to achieve the connection with Mounds View Drive. The City would need to show that: • there is a public purpose served by the road • the public need outweighs the no-build alternative • what other alternatives have been explored • what constraints prevent the use of alternatives • whether bridging is feasible • there are no feasible or practical alternatives that have less environmental impact Mitigation would have to be provided, preferably on the O'Neil property. The amount of mitigation depends on which agency has jurisdiction. A contour map of the wetland needs to be prepared in order to determine if the area to be used for the road is under DNR, or under Army Corps and Rice Creek Watershed District. The agencies could see reasons for the road crossing and did not appear opposed to an application. The developer for the O'Neil property is willing to work with the City to redesign their site layout to implement the Ring Road. It is in both the City's and the developer's best interests to obtain approval for the signalized intersection at Edgewood Drive. The developer is concerned, however, with the length of time it may take to obtain agency approvals for the signalized intersection and wetland crossing. Therefore, it is important to proceed as quickly as possible to deal the following tasks: • developing a road alignment and intersection design • calculating traffic generation and distribution, so we know how much traffic will flow through the signalized intersection • preparing a signal sequencing study • preparing a contour map of the wetland • preparing the application to the federal, state and local agencies for crossing the wetland Staff has obtained estimates of the cost for doing the above tasks from SEH, who acts as the City Engineer(see attached). The estimates total to $10,500. Staff is requesting authorization for an amount not to exceed $11,000 from tax increment funds which have been set aside for Highway 10 redevelopment. Staff regards this expenditure as critical to making progress on implementing the Ring Road and to obtaining a signalized intersection at Edgewood Drive and Highway 10. This intersection would serve not only the theater project but also City Hall, the Police Department, and the Mounds View Community Center, and provide a safer, full movement intersection for use by residents north of Highway 10. Pamela Sheldon, Community Development Director N:\DATA\USERS\PAMS\SHARE\S PECPROJ\SP025.97\RINGROAD.CC!