1998.07.29 CC Minutes - Joint meeting with Lino Lakes & White Bear Township

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JOINT COUNCIL MEETING JULY 29,1998 Several people in the audience spoke about Options A and B in Hugo. They noted the difference between Hugo's and the White Bear Lake's solution is that White Bear Lake found a way to get truck traffic to the freeway without going through down town. Hugo would have to construct either option to accomplish the same thing. Hugo Council Member Barnes said they do not want to route truck traffic out of down town. Bill Short asked Mr. Angus to explain if there is any way to direct traffic to the south. Mr. -Angus explained that from Country Road 8A (Main Street) south to the north end of Bald Eagle Lake, there is no good option of going west. Because 130th Street cannot be extended west of Highway 61 and because the county has dictated that there will not be more than one access per mile to Highway 61, 140th Street would be the next opportunity to go west. Between 130th Street and 140th Street, there will be some development. He explained the possible development and that there is not an opportunity for the past/west street. Mr. Wessel used Mr. Angus' map and penciled in the new alignment for Otter Lake Road north of Cedar Street. He explained that when the City was looking at economic development in this area, it was decided that rerouting Otter Lake Road could open land to the east for development. The easiest way to open the area was to reroute Otter Lake Road beginning at Main Street and take it to Cedar Street. This was not done because of the concern about mixing industrial traffic with residential traffic. Mr. Powell explained that the new alignment was designed keeping restrictive soil conditions and wetlands in mind. Mr. Angus was asked if all of the industrial area shown on the Hugo map currently exists. He said no and outlined the location of existing businesses. He also explained how the City planned to develop the balance of that area. He also noted farm fields and open land. The reason that industrial development is planned for this area is that the railroad is operating there. A gentleman in the audience spoke about the Lino Lakes proposal to extend Birch Street to the east and construct a bridge over the freeway and Hugo proposing that County Road 4A be extended to the Lino Lakes border, it appears that truck traffic will be routed from Hugo into Lino Lakes on Cedar Street and then to the Birch Street bridge. Hugo admits that it does not want trucks going through their downtown area, it seems to be Lino Lakes intention to allow this. Mr. Powell said that Lino Lakes would discourage the new Hugo east/west road from ending at Elmcrest Avenue and Cedar Street because of the residential development on the south side of Cedar Street. Mr. Wessel explained that there will be a Comprehensive Plan Task Force meeting tomorrow, Thursday, at city hall and the first item on the agenda is the transportation plan. Anoka County Commissioner, Margaret Langfield, will be attending to clarify Anoka County's plan for Birch Street. Joe Kern will be at this meeting to respond to the issues that were presented by residents at the meeting last week. Alan Brixius, Lino Lakes Consulting Planner will also attend this meeting to respond to the land use issues that PAGE 10