2025.01.27 CC Packet - Goal Setting Packet

Home

Infrastructure Planning: The 165th Street Corridor is primarily gravel between Hwy 61 and Elmcrest. The road will need improvements, including paving due to development pressures, anticipated increases in traffic volumes, and the need for traffic from the south to have better connection to a collector street. East of Hwy 61, there is also pending development. While the road in this section is paved, there is a need to extend the City’s sewer and water infrastructure to this area. Additionally, the City’s Parks Plan shows a recreational trail along the length of 165th Street. There is also a need to review planned land uses along this corridor, which is characterized by abundant natural resources. If the corridor and associated infrastructure is improved, it will be transformative for this part of the city. Staff would like to discuss with Council initiating a land use and infrastructure study coupled with an environmental review. This would be a significant undertaking that would involve land owner input. Otter Lake Road. The City of Lino Lakes is planning to extend Otter Lake Road likely in 2026. The road would extend north from CSAH 14 and will join Elmcrest near the main entrance to Heritage Ponds at the Hugo border. Then, the road would continue north along the Elmcrest route to Forest Lake and Coumbus. Coordination of this project involves 4 cities and both Anoka and Washington Counties. In Hugo, connections to the new road at Heritage Parkway will involve a new intersection design, where it converges with both Elmcrest Ave, and Otter Lake Road. Elmcrest Ave is a gravel road north of 158th Street. If the first phase of the Otter Lake Road project terminates in this vicinity, it will dump large volumes of traffic onto a gravel road. For this reason, Hugo and Lino Lakes must begin planning for either temporary paving or permanent improvements to Elmcrest from 158th Street north to 170th Street. Hugo would likely need to cost share for this project in 2026, however it is not currently within the city’s CIP. Hwy 61. Washington County has recently completed the Hwy 61 visioning study. Fixed-route transit has been removed from this transportation corridor, which changes right-of- way needs, removes access controls and will impact future land use planning along the corridor. We now anticipate a discussion surrounding a “turnback” of the road to Washington County, and a discussion on needed corridor improvements in connection with a turnback. Turn Lanes on Hwy 61 between 140th and Frenchman Road are scheduled to be lengthened in 2025, along with modifications to traffic signals. City staff is involved in the planning and implementation of this improvement with Washington County and MnDOT. Ditches. Following a long series of projects over the past two decades, the City & RCWD are nearing completion of all major ditch maintenance projects in the City, specifically including all sections of Judicial Ditches #2 and #3, along with all branches. The next step is to ensure that ongoing minor maintenance continues to occur. City staff will be working with the RCWD on an agreement concerning how to do this, who does it, and how the work is funded. Water: White Bear Lake Lawsuit. The saga continues. Following a decision from the Administrative Law Judge last year concerning our water appropriation permits, both the City and the Lake Associations have appealed his ruling to the Court of Appeals. Depending on how