Minutes - Public Works Committee - 02/19/2002

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Councilmember Hendriksen inquired if the lots along the street where the emergency gate is required have been sold. Mr. Baird replied that some of the lots in the 4th additional had been sold, but none of the lots on that particular street had been sold. Councilmember Zimmerman stated that as traffic along T.H. #47 increases it will be increasingly more difficult to access the road, which would probably increase the traffic through the existing development to access C.S.A.H. #5 if the emergency gate is not installed. He stated that the gate was part of the original agreement and should be required to be installed. Mayor Gamec stated that he thought it was ridiculous to include the gate. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the On'in Thompson Homes development is a much higher density then the adjoining neighborhood and the residents from the existing neighborhood were very concerned with the additional traffic that would go through their development. When the development was approved On-in Thompson Homes agreed to include the emergency access, and even though the emergency gates are not something he personally favors it was the option that was presented to the neighborhood and they were willing to accept and because of that to now remove the emergency gate as a requirement would be wrong. Mayor Gamec stated that he felt the Council needed to look at the best scenario for the City. Councilmember Hendriksen replied that all of the issues were brought up when the decision was made years ago. Mayor Gamec stated that he felt that the decision to require the emergency gate was a mistake. Councilmember Hendriksen replied that he agreed that the decision at that time was a horrible mistake, but people made their decisions based on the fact that they would not have traffic through their neighborhood. There is only one lot that fronts on the street where the emergency access is being proposed so if they were to make the street a cul-de-sac then there would be no need for the street. Councilmember Anderson replied that if the road is turned into a cul-de-sac then there would only be one access to the Orrin Thompson Homes development, which is what she thought they were trying to avoid. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the area could be turned into a park so that it would not be routinely plowed or maintained, but could provide access if necessary. Principal City Engineer Olson noted that if the area is not plowed regularly it is not good for access for emergency vehicles. Public Works Committee/February 19, 2002 Page 5 of 11