Agenda - Council - 03/23/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Access Onto T.H. #47: A major element of discussion regarding this plat concerns the question of an additional aCCess onto T.H. #47. In accordance with recommendations at the time of sketch plan review, the developer has provided an outlet from the proposed subdivision onto T.H. #47 that aligns with the future intersection of Sunfish Lake Blvd. and T.H. #47. Staff has solicited comments from Mn/DOT on this additional access point onto T.H. #47. Mn/DOT comments have not been received at the time of this writing, however, a meeting with Mn/DOT officials leads staff to anticipate that the following concerns will be expressed in their review letter which may be available by the night of the Council meeting: a) Mn/DOT is concerned about the need for an additional access onto T.H. #47. It is my estimate the City Engineer's estimate that the fully developed Amber Ridge and River's Bend will generate approximately 620 trips per day at this intersection. This does not represent a level of traffic which exceeds residential street standards, but does compare well with current traffic volumes on access streets east of R.H. #47. Latest available traffic counts on 156th Lane and 14~th Avenue east of T.H. #47 are 627 and 397 vehicles per day, respectively. More importantly, the proposed 149th access point is intended to line up directly with the extension of Sunfish Lake Drive, a future east/west collector street which will create an additional intersection on T.H. 8,47. b) Mn/DOT is concerned about the proximity of the new access to the existing access at 149th Avenue. Their standards would prefer accesses to be approximately 1,300 feet apart. The proposed access is approximately 950 feet south of 147th. The plat could be modified in accordance with Mn/DOT's 1,300 foot separation guide by extending 147th Lane as the access point. This may provide better access from both Amber Ridge and River's Bend subdivisions by eliminating turns for many trips coming out of the subdivisions and reducing travel distance for residences on the south end of Argon Street. However, this alternative has negative aspects also: (~) The existing vertical alignment of T.H. #47 is such that this access point could not be constructed at this time because the available sight distance is unsafe. The grade of T.H. g-47 could be modified as a portion of some future highway project such as relocating the C.R. #5 intersection. However, there are no such projects contemplated in the next five years. (2) This alignment would require the existing Katnis residence (west side of T.H. #47) to be removedto facilitate the extension of Sunfish Lake Drive at this location. (3) The location at this point would require a relatively severe reverse curve (ess curve) to meet its present alignment on the eastern end of Sunny Ponds. (4) The development of the Katnis property may become more difficult as a result of needing to deal with this reverse curve. In deciding the access connection to T.H. #47, the following three alternatives may be considered: a) Allow no additional access to T.H. #47. This option is favored by Mn/DOT. It would have the least impact upon T.H. g47 initially, but would not be as efficient in moving east/west traffic from the subdivision after Sunfish Lake Drive connects with T.H. #47. The connection would also cause additional traffic onto Waco Street. Although no traffic counts on Waco Street are available, the City Engineer would estimate a traffic volume of approximately 1,200 vehicles per day on Waco Street east of the pumphouse. It is estimated that this alternative would add approximately 210 vehicles per day when Amber Ridge is fully developed.