Agenda - Council - 02/22/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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would be accessed that cannot be dOne now. Hd is very supportive of the closure at 142nd Avenue; they have had at least one death there and there will probably be another. Jan Mazzitello, 5345 - 140th Lane NW,. questioned why it is important to have the gate open now. She stated the residents bought the property to live in peace and quiet and do not expect to have all this traffic coining through. They walk everY day, and if they are going to start having cars corning through, half of them wilt:not be surviving to walk one mile. They bought this as private property and she would like to know why thc City thinks it is important to change it. Doris Boos, 5359 140th Lane NW,. stated Dyspr{sium Street is solid cars all the way up to CR 5 fi'om Bunker Lake Boulevard in the morning: If;more cars are funneled through out to Dysprosium Street there will be a lot more Problems at that intersection. Randy B ackous, 14148 Argon Street, stated this is a very uniquely situated neighborhood that is surrounded by Highway 47, CR 116, DysprOsium Street, and CR 5. They are surrounded by mai or traffi c, and anything to keeP the cut-through traffic down is absolutely vital to the safety of the neighborhood. : Councihnember Jeffrey stated he has heard from a number of the residents and visited with some of them. He asked what gating both of the accesses at Argon Street and Barium Street creates for a risk t~qctor. Public Works Director Kapler stated he sympathizes with these residents. Staff is looking at this from a public safety aspect. What has changed is the County is now telling the City to close off one of the accesses in and out of the area, Which means this entire area is accessed by one access on a very busy street. It is his opinion that there should be at least two unimpeded accesses into ally development in the City, the reason being if sOmething happens on one you have another immediate way to come in. Councihnember Jeffrey expressed concern With snow on either side of the gate further hampering the ability to get into the neighborhood. Councilmember Pearson inquired about thewidth of the road. Public Works Director Kapler replied the width is :24 feet. Mayor Gamec stated he does not like gates, buthe has a problem on this one. He would like to open this street up, but the problem is the streets are 24 feet wide and cannot be widened. They would be running traffic: from a City street to :a private street; there would be wear and tear on the streets and the Association would haVe to pick up the costs. Even if there is a sign that says "No Through Traffic - Private Street", peoPle st!Il cut. through. However, they do need to close off the access on Barium Street, and he does n6t likethe idea of one access. The snow removal is another problem. This is a bad situation, but the biggest thing is going from a City street to a private street. City COuncil/February 8, 2005 Pagel 9: of 30