Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/14/2010

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Consider Extension of 167 Avenue from Quartz Street to Variolite Street By: Tim Himmer, City Engineer Background: The idea of having an east -west roadway connection through the middle of the City has been a priority for many years. The extension of 167 Avenue from TH 47 to Armstrong Boulevard was included in the last Comprehensive Plan, but during the 2030 update residents lobbied to have the segment between Variolite Street and Armstrong Boulevard removed from the final plan that was recently approved by the Metropolitan Council. Due to this change the final touch -down point of 166 Avenue on Variolite Street was moved approximately 500' to the south to line up with the 165 Lane cul -de -sac; the thought behind this relocation was to deter westbound traffic that reached the intersection at Variolite Street from continuing westerly. In the past the City was successful in securing a 66' corridor for a future extension of 166 Avenue between Quartz Street and Variolite Street. The segment across the property at 16554 Quartz Street was acquired as a roadway easement during a waiver of subdivision review, and development of BROOKFIELD ESTATES. The segment across the properties at 16591 and 16641 Variolite Street was acquired as a drainage and utility easement for the installation of trunk utilities to serve BROOKFIELD ESTATES and the northern portion of the City. This easement was also intended to serve as a future roadway connection over the top of the utility lines, but would most likely need to be investigated to determine whether additional compensation would be required for roadway purposes. One of Council's strategic goals is to examine the feasibility of now making this important east -west roadway connection. Staff is looking for direction on how to proceed with making this connection possible. Based upon the information provided a few options to consider include: 1. Follow the new Comprehensive Plan alignment and pursue the required appraisals and acquisitions. This would include 2 — 3 total acquisitions, and /or 1 — 3 partial acquisitions. 2. Go back and utilize the existing easements already acquired to construct this roadway. This would obviously include revisions to existing plans (transportation, MSA, etc.) and additional resident interaction. 3. Perform an alignment review to determine a new touch -down location at Variolite Street, and the implications associated with each. 4. Do nothing at this time. This proposed roadway connection is currently shown on the City's State Aid map, and is eligible for financing through state gas tax proceeds. A right -of -way plan, and potentially an environmental review document (wetland impacts), would need to be submitted for review and approval if the City