Minutes - 2012/11/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council November 26, 2012 Regular Meeting Page 13 Emily Lang, 2558 Ridge Lane, PTA President at Sunnyside Elementary, agreed with the construction of a sidewalk on County Road H and not on Woodcrest as this would greatly improve the safety for walking children. She recommended the Council proceed with this sidewalk. Scott Merrill, 5046 Red Oak Drive, was pleased with the sidewalk design and that it would be adjacent to the curb. Kimberly Thompson, living at the corner Long Lake Road and County Road H, expressed concern with the proposed sidewalk. She highly doubted the sidewalk would be funded 100% considering there was a sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. She did not feel the sidewalk would increase safety as the main concern for the children was at the school and not along County Road H. Ms. Thompson questioned the timing of the public hearing notice stating she received the notice on Saturday, which did not allow her much time to prepare for this meeting. She stated her property would be devalued by $20,000 with the proposed sidewalk. She suggested the City spend money another way as there was a sidewalk already available on the other side of the road. Deb Ward, 5046 Long Lake Road, opposed the sidewalk. She stated she would lose a great deal of privacy with the proposed sidewalk given the fact her home was already close to the roadway. The sidewalk would bring passer-bys another six and a half feet closer to her home. She stated at a previous meeting she was promised a privacy fence, but did not understand if the City would follow through with this or not. Phaedra Wilson, 5067 Long Lake Road, stated she would have two students at Sunnyside next year. She explained she spent a great deal of time preparing her son of the safety concerns he faced each day when he walked to school. She indicated next year, her daughter would also be a walker. She requested the sidewalk be approved as it would increase the safety for walking children. Sherry Nelson, 7555 Groveland Road, noted she had a fifth grader at Sunnyside Elementary. She indicated it was challenging for her to get her son to and from school, which meant her son now walked to a friends' home after school. She understood the challenges the sidewalk would create for several properties, but she recommended the Council proceed with the sidewalk to increase the overall safety in this area. Mr. Merrill asked if County Road H would be signed or stenciled to identify the bike lane. Public Works Director DeBar commented Ramsey County was moving away from designated bike lanes. Mayor Flaherty understood the children needed a safe route to school. He questioned if there was a traffic concern with the bike traffic coming down the hill on County Road H towards Edgewood Drive and if the children would be able to fully stop at the stop sign. Public Works Director DeBar commented he would hope children were not riding their bike in this lane going