Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/01/1996

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Thurston Avenue Extension (Dysprosium Street) was to be T.H.//47 realignment around Anoka, but plan has been abandoned and wilI be local collector street only; and Probably one additional pubIic street access onto CSAH//5 from West probably midway between 146th Avenue and Dysprosium Street (Thurston Ave. Extension). SITE DEVELOPMENT FEATURES Location The Lord of Life Lutheran Church property is located in the northwest quadrant of the T.H. //47 - CSAH fi5 intersection near the southeast comer of the City of Ramsey and is, largely, triangular in shape. The church site has approximately 2200' of frontage along (3SAIl t/5 which abuts the church's southwest property line. The church's east property line fronts onto T.H. #47 for the first 1000' north of the CSAH g5 intersection as welI as another 330' of frontage located directly east of the present church buildings between two (2) single family residences. And the church's north property line is located about 660' south of the easterly extension of Sunwood Drive. Accessibility of Site The County State Aid Highway (CSAH)//5 approach to T.H. #47 is proposed to be realigned within the next few years, east of the Dysprosium Street (Thurston Avenue) intersection, to intersect T.H. #47 at a right angle in line with existing Xtdmo Avenue on the east side of the highway. With this new horizontal alignment, the nearly twenty feet (20') of elevation difference and the relatively short 500' spacing between T.H. #47 and Dysprosium Street along CSAH gS, no access is recommended along this segment of CSAH g5 until, at least, 250' beyond the Dysprosium Street intersection to the northwest. Beyond that point, the elevation of the church property and CSAH//5 are nearly the same and the horizontal and vertical alignment of CSAH #5 permit good access along the remaining frontage with the exception of several hundred feet either side of the current access location due to a horizontal curve and mature trees on the inside of that curve which Iimit sight distance. The church's south 1000' of frontage along T.H. #47 (to the north of the CSAH ge5 intersection) is elevated about 15'-25' above the highway grade with the steepest slopes located near the CSAFI//5 intersection. That elevation difference and sIope steepness diminish as you proceed north from the CSAH #5 intersection. And to meet the City's and MnDOT's desired intersection spacing standards, any new access should be a minimum of 1/8 mile (660') north of the proposed CSAH fi5 - T.H. #47 realigned intersection. However, the current horizontal and vertical roadway geometries of T.H. #47 near the southern most single family residence (about 800'-1000' north of the CSAH fi5 intersection) do not provide adequate sight distance for a safe access to or from the church property at this time. A designated wetland lies about 100'-400' west of T.H. #47 along the entire 330' of frontage to the east of the current church buildings. The church buildings are situated about 30' above the wetland elevation with a rather steep embankment located immediately east of the buildings. Therefore, this segment of T.H.///47 frontage offers little opportunity for economical and environmentally sensitive access onto T.H.//47. The construction of the Sunwood Drive - 149th Avenue connection between CSAH//5 and T.H. #47 is not expected to occur within the next 10 years. That connection appears to be dependent on the widening and reconstruction of T.H. #47 between CSAH g5 and 153rd Avenue which would result in the d~velopment ~ redevelopment of the properties to the north of the Lord of Life property. Therefore, an aec. ess to the north to Sunwood Drive - 149th Avenue is not expected to happen soon enough to meet the immediate and short term needs of Lord of Life Church.