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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1974/09/30SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA A Special Public Hearing to consider installation of semaphores on Highway #10 was called to order by Mayor Neisen at 6:30 P.M., on September 30, 1974 at Pinewood Elementary School. Present: Also Present: Mayor Neisen Clerk- Administrator Achen Councilman Hodges Engineer Bearden Councilman Baumgartner Absent: Councilman Pickar Councilman Johnson Mayor Neisen introduced Glen VanWormer, of the Minnesota Highway Department. Mr. VanWormer explained that contracts for the semaphores at County Road H2 and County Road I would be let this winter and construction is expected to begin in spring and completed sometime in the summer. Councilman Johnson arrived at 6:32 P.M. Ar. VanWormer summarized the actual counts made on the residential streets affected and the Highway Department's estimates of traffic count changes after the installation of semaphores. Mr. Bob Larson, 5299 Greenfield, asked what affect blocking Greenfield Avenue would have on the Anchor Inn traffic. Mr. VanWormer responded that if Greenfield was blocked, it would be blocked from the south line of Anchor Inn drive, and thus probably eliminate this traffic. Mr. Ron Merron, 5250 Greenfield, stated that he was not opposed to the signal but is opposed to the barrier preventing left turns. Mr. Jim Strassberg, 5336 St. Stephens, suggested that a stacking lane be provided for turning traffic and that local residents would understand the problem and cooperate. Ms. Delores Johnson, 5297 St. Stephens Street, spoke in favor of the sema- phore saying that the present traffic stacks back to B R Liquors and that the semaphore should aleviate congestion. Mr. VanWormer stated that the average delay with semaphores would be about the same as without them; the difference would be that with the semaphores you only have periodic back ups, whereas without them there is a continuous back up of traffic. -2- Mr. Merron stated that Anchor Inn traffic is a major problem in that a -ea and suggested that no parking signs be placed along Greenfield. Mr. Pat Gum, 7785 Greenwood Drive, stated that the effect of the Mounds View Shopping Center should be considered and asked how many signatures were necessary for a petition. Mayor Neisen answered that 35% of the voters voting in the last election could request a hearing and 75% could demand a hearing. Mrs. Sharon McCarthy, 7760 Long Lake Road, stated that more consideration should be given to the traffic that will be created when Mounds View Square goes into operation. Mr. Bob Larson, 5297 Greenfield suggested that the semaphores might cause further problems if they are not properly synchronized. Mr. VanWormer stated that the Highway Department had resisted putting them in as long as possible, because the Department knew other problems would inevitably arise. Mr. Ron Merron suggested a right turn lane at County Road H2 might help the problem. Mr. Ed Donatelle, 5269 Jeffery Drive, suggested that no right -on -red at County Road H2 would prevent the intersection from being blocked. Mr. VanWormer stated that the Highway Department has banned right -on -red in about six places and has not received very good compliance from motorists. Donatelle stated that he preferred the island barrier to control traffic turning into Greenfield rather than completely blocking the street, because the latter would increase traffic on Woodale which is a narrow street. Mr. Robert Glazer, 2625 Hillview, asked whether the completion of new Highway #10 had been taken into consideration. Mr. VanWormer stated that presently there is no funding or plans in the district responsible for that project, and he estimated it could not be completed for at least six to eight years. Mrs. McCarthy stated that she thinks local traffic will re -route itself to avoid congestion and long delays. Councilman Johnson asked if the semaphores would always be on or if there would be times when they would be flashing caution. Mr. VanWormer stated that it would probably be set to flash from 1:00 A.M. to 55;00 A.M. Mr. Donatelle suggested that no parking be posted on a trial basis on Green- field north of O'Connell. -3- Mr. Stowasser, 7846 Long Lake Road, asked who would be paying for, the semaphores. Mayor Nelsen answered that the County and State would split the cost at County Road I. At County Road 82 the State would pay one -half, the County one- fourth, and the City one fourth. However, the City's one fourth will be paid out of MSA funds. Operating costs will be, split similarly. Mr. Ole Bacon, 2625 Highway #l0, stated that making Eastwood and Greenwood one -way streets might be a good interim solution so that once new Highway #10 is completed the City is not stuck with a number of dead end streets. Mr. Stowasser suggested that it might be better to put the light at Long Lake Road rather than County Road I. Mr. VanWormer stated that the Long Lake intersection had been considered but eliminated, because the distance between intersections would not allow proper synchronization of the lights. Mr. Fiedler, 8040 Eastwood, stated that he had passed a petition in which 8 out of 20 of the Eastwood residents had been in favor of a cul-de -sac, and thus he felt this was the proper solution. Mr. Ole Bacon stated that he was opposed to the cul -de -sac, because it is a handicap for Eastwood residents between County Road I and Hillview Road. Engineer Bearden suggested that a median on County Road I extending past Eastwood could solve the problem for both Eastwood and Greenwood. Mr. VanWormer stated that this might be a good idea. Mr. Buckley, 7770 Greenwood Drive, stated his concern that if a shorter median were installed, Greenwood Drive would get all the left turn traffic, and this could be solved by extending the median to his street. Mr. Bob Glazer stated his support for construct i• -de -sacs on both Greenwood and Eastwood. Engineer Bearden stated that the Mounds View Square parking outlet does not line up with Greenwood. Thus an opening in the medi n could be provided for the outlet, but the median would still prevent left turns into Greenwood. Mr. Ed Donatelle suggested postponing construction of islands or medians to allow time to evaluate the impact of the semaphores. Mr. VanWormer noted that the legal time requirements for contracting such work would mean that medians and islands could not be installed until at leases ten months after the decision had been made. Mr. Bob Larson stated that he favored blocking Greenfield. Mr. Ed Donatelle argued that Woodale was too narrow to accommodate all the traffic that would result from blocking Greenfield. Mr. Martinson, 2127 Pinewood Drive spoke in favor of the semaphores on Highway #10. -4- Mr. Strassburg argued in favor of putting semaphores in but waiting to evaluate before construction of any barriers or medians. Mr. Pat Gum, 7785 Greenwocd Drive, also favors waiting to do any cul -de -sac work until the impact of Mounds View Square is evaluated. Ms. Rhonda Smieja, 5298 St. Stephens, stated her preference for waiting to do any median construction. Mayor Neisen stated that if the median or barrier work is not done at the same time the semaphores are installed the City might have to assume a greater portion of the cost. This might even require a special levy on affected area residents. Mr. VanWormer stated that funds were available now for the work, but that no one in the Department could guarantee that they would be available at a later date. Ms. Lorrie Larson, 5299 Greenfield, stated her concern that adequate safeguards be provided for pedestrian traffic crossing at the semaphores. Councilman Pickar noted that if northbound traffic on Eastwood was blocked Greenwood would get much of the load. Councilman Baumgartner stated that blocking Greenfield was not a good idea, because Woodale was not made for heavy traffic. He suggested making Green- field one -way north and stated that he was opposed to a trial period before installing medians or barriers. Councilman Johnson stated that funds are now available, so it is best to make the complete decision now. Mr. VanWormer stated that a median on the east side of County Road H2 to prevent left turns into St. Stephens posed some problems and that a cul- de -sac would be the ideal solution. At Eastwood a median ituld work as well as a cul -de -sac. Councilman Hodges noted that operators of emergency vehicles and snow removal equipment have difficulty with cul-de -sacs and that he prefers using medians and making some of the streets one -way. Mayor Neisen stated that, if Greenwood and Fyctwood are blocked, traffic would likely use Silver Lake Road and Long Lake Road which are designed for heavier traffic. There is no perfect solution for Greenfield. Making it one -way north from O'Connell might be the most practical solution. On St. Stephens a cul -de -sac probably would be the best solution. Mr. Larson stated that he like the compromise idea of making Greenfield one -way north from O'Connell. His wife noted that t'-ere is one resident on Greenfield who lives north of O'Connell who might be inconvenienced by this. -5- MSP (Neisen Johnson) to adopt Resolution No. 640 requesting that the Highway Department install the semaphores as proposed on Highway .0, that a median be placed on County Road 1 east of Highway #10 extending past Greenwood with an opening for the Mounds View Square outlet, that Green- field Avenue be made one -way north from O'Connell Dive, and that a median be installed on County Road H2 east of Highway #10 to a point that would prevent left turns into St. Stephens but still allow entrance into the commercial establishments. Picker Aye Baumgartner Aye Johnsen Aye Hodges Aye Neisen Aye MSP (Neisen- Hodges) to approve Transfer Check No. 9134 from the Park Fund to Revenue Sharing Fund for purchase of Mindy property, and Transfer Check No. 9135 from Project Fund to Project 1973 -4 Fund for Fulwider and Hemsworth property. Mayor Neisen stated that the drainage problem on the back lot lines of homes in the 5200 block of Sunnyside Read and Red Oak Drive still has not been resolved. Mayor Neisen thanked Mr. VanVormer for all the time he had devoted to the project and for his extensive understanding of the problems involved. The approved plan seems to be a fair compromise for all those concerned. MSP (Pickar Baumgartner) to adjourn at 9:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, tk k Ce1 Mack Achen Clerk- Administrator 5 Ayes MSP (Neisen- Hodges) to call a meeting of the affected residents and contractor Harstad for 7:00 P.M., Monday, October 7, 1974, that these residents be notified by letter hand delivered by our police, and that as a goodwill gesture the City would bear the expense of a sod cutter for use by the residents_ 5 Ayes 5 Ayes