Agenda - Council - 04/10/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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station. He strongly objects to placing that type of development in an area that has been preserved as an industrial area for many years. ~i~ A';-'. '.'/J Ms. Steffen replied that she is prepared to deal with that issue. She explained that o'ne of the difficulties is that there are so many things on the plate and the City has to presented a map from the County and explained that two weeks ago a meetLn~ ~s calledb~ the counties of Hennepin and Anoka which involved two County engineers, rdp~eSentatives of MnDOT, Mayor of Ramsey, Mayor of Maple Grove, Mayor of Daytpn;~,,and i~s~tf,. During tl~a~:i!':i'~.:, meeting it was the first time that she has heard MnDOT really tip th~r'~hd to ,~h~i{ they see might occur at a bridge crossing between Elk River and RamseyS~M~0Tdges not want to be the lead agency and it has been suggested that one of the citieS!¢~b>'~he lead ~ncy. MnDOT did not feel that they have the resources so it was felt there shoiiid'~e a joint-'powers agreement between the two counties and MnDOT and one of the,counties would takb/the lead. Nobody has talked about the location of the bridge being moved.'::~OT'has indic~t~d that,their interest is to have as direct a connection to 1-94 as they can get ~d the~il~ve lai~i~;~t a~'~mbitious schedule. $250,000 has been designated to complete a scoping3~d{;rd~nt which will identify three routes through Hennepin County and should be completed by~t,h~end of the,year. Once that is completed MnDOT will immediately begin an EIS, which is tyPi~ly a ~'~ear process. Then once that phase is completed MrLDQT expects a preferred route to b'~-~bl~;t'dd and begin to buy right of way immediately. Dufing_thkt 'meeting the questioned was asI~bd"~s to how much land would be needed for an oveCa'SS a~nd someofie' responded 12 acres.'~e City of Ramsey has always indicated that they want the ove~hss to go over the rail i'oad ~acks and so MnDOT needs to know how much land they will need. MS, Steffen had: converaafidfi~s with the County Engineer regarding the possible alignments of the o~;~ass.and-he indicated. that section 29 is a crucial area if the City is in agreement with the location, 6f the bridge. ')t was suggested that the City should place moratorium.on_Section 29 while-the study is being completed. Councilmember Hendriksen~stated that where there ~_i.s higher traffic volumes many of the businesSe~ that currently exist at Armstrong BOUle¢'ard and Highway #10 will probably be repla~ed With businesses that accommodate',~o{~ people. He does not think that the City should around the eXistin~businesse~,. ~H~ als6indicated that it might make sense to merge plan Armstrong Boulevard into the entire dexJ~l:0pment. -. ._ _. ..... Ms~, Steffen ~replied that n~erging Armstrong Boulevard is a possibility being considered by MnDOT~ ':MnDOT would'liketo:see section 29 preserved on both sides of Highway #10. Councilmeml5er Hendrik~i~n~inquired as to why the City needs to include the railroad station to the Comprehensf;ce Plan. He felt that the Council could achieve more by separating those issues and then do a ~sportation overlay when they have answers ...... Ms. Steffen replied that there is a time element involved. She explained that the opportunity grant is'one ~hat the Governor is interested in and would like to get planning started. If the City warr(s th~-opportunity grant then they need to move forward with the Comprehensive Plan. If the Coundil is in favor of moving the station to the west of Armstrong Boulevard then she has City Council/January 23,200t Page 4 of 10