Agenda - Council - 10/27/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Dehen asked if hard channelization was statewide. Andrew Witter, Anoka County Assistant County Engineer, responded hard channelization was not a statewide standard, but it was common practice to put in hard channelization. He understood the Council's concerns and believed the businesses affected could remodel their business plans to accommodate hard channelization, He stated the County had strong safety initiatives and one of the ways to control traffic was to put in hard channelization. Mayor Ramsey believed the businesses should be compensated for the money they will lose because of the project. He stated he would not vote in favor of hard channelization, Councilmember McGlone believed a road with concrete median was safer than a road without a concrete median. He stated he was not against the idea of hard channelization. Councilmember Wise noted anytime a road was closed and was not made accessible, it made the road safer. He indicated businesses have gone out of business because of hard channelization. Councilmember Dehen stated residents wanted the ability to move traffic. He indicated he did not know if businesses adjusted to hard channelization or not. He stated the City needed to figure out how to lessen the impact to the businesses. Councilmember Look stated the problem the City was dealing with was the. future problems the County believes might happen. with. traffic.. He indicated the City had not been given any hard figures. He agreed with Mayor Ramsey regarding hard channelization. Councilmember Wise noted businesses that could adjust to channelization were not retail or convenience stores. Mayor Ramsey stated he was not opposed to hard channelization in areas where there were no businesses that would be affected. Ms. Corkle stated Casey's had been informed in the past that at some point their access would be changed. Councilmember McGlone indicated it was the County's job to predict the future and with the additional lane being added, it would help with moving traffic along also. He noted there was a cost for everything. He stated he was not against this project and he would like to see it happen. Mr. Witter indicated the County's model was based on the City's comp plan. Councilmember Dehen asked if it was Council's opposition for hard channelization only for Casey's. He asked if there was a concern with hard channelization in'other areas also. Mayor Ramsey responded it was the Casey's business as well as past history, in his opinion, that the County did not care about the businesses in the City. He stated in the past, the City had to close local neighborhood streets because those streets became a major thoroughfare, City Council Work Session / September 15, 2009 Page 3 of 8