CC MINUTES 03251986 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-13- The Mayor said he had no idea at that time just what the project would cost the homeowners under those conditions. Mr. Horan asked if there was any history at all of the state adjusting its width requirements for MSA funding and was told by Mr. Campbell there are variance procedures for special cases but "it is a very difficult process and variances are rarely granted". He explained that the state sets widths according to whether streets are "local" or "major" traffic collectors and also according to projected traffic volumes. St. Anthony Boulevard falls into the local collector category with between 2,000 and 5,000 cars passing each day, and hence a 36 foot width is required. He assessed the possibility of obtaining a variance in this case to be "very slight" and indicated the City would have to have some "very hard facts" to support a variance. Mr. Horan asked if the engineer thought the fact that the Minneapolis end of the street had a parkway design might support a similar treatment for the St. Anthony section. Mr. Campbell indicated he wasn't certain the Minneapolis section was MSA funded. Mayor Sundland told those present he and the Council had "battled" to get another street C29.th Avenue N.E. _ less than 36 feet wide and hadn't been successful . However, he said there would be no objections to going through the appeal process f'or this project, but, the Mayor said, he doubted it could ever be completed in this year's construction period. What Mayor Sundland expected to happen, he said, was that the City might go ahead with the project up "on the hill " and try again for this improvement two years from now. Mr. Knox indicated he would like to know the alternatives and what the costs to the homeowners would be and commented if "you fix the road past the golf course, they' ll • probably build a monument to you": Mr. Campbell estimated that, without MSA funds, the homeowners might have to pay between $6 and $7 or even more in addition to the $10.50 for the street surface, to install new curbs and gutters. The Mayor cautioned against using the estimated project cost as between $16 and $17 for total property owner assessment as a firm figure at this point, saying when the project is finally undertaken those costs could run as high as $20 or $25 or more per lineal foot. The engineer told Mr. Kausel he perceived there would be no problem moving the fire hydrants back if the road were widened because it would only be necessary to extend the lead pipes for their relocation. Councilmember Makowske told the property owner spokesman there was "only a possibility" that MSA funds could be used for rebuilding the Boulevard past the golf course. Mr.. Kausel indicated he believed the City "should -go . ahead with the-curb and gutter replacement and drainage improvement with costs. paid out of the general tax fund and not by the property owners". He also said the trees on the Boulevard belong to the City and, since their roots are uprooting the residents' sidewalks, costs of repairing them should be paid for the same way. Mr. Campbell told Mr. Horan he suspected that the City would have to provide the same 3 foot base for a 5 ton road as would be necessary for a 9 ton design because of the poor base fill under that street now. Mayor Sundland indicated the sense of the direction the Council had been given by 40 the residents was that the City should pursue the appeal procedure with the Depart- ment of Transportation for a variance to maintain the existing width of St. Anthony _