Minutes - Public Works Committee - 01/18/2005

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Elimination of the Argon Street Emergency Access into Mallard Pond Subdivision City Engineer Jankowski stated that Anoka County is in the process of preparing plans for a project, which is scheduled for August of 2005 on CR 116 between TH 47 and Iodine Street. This project will provide signalization of the Dysprosium/Thurston Avenue intersection and will establish a roadway section having two through lanes in each direction with a raised center median. This project also proposes the closure of a number of existing access points to enhance the safety of this roadway. One of the proposed closures includes Barium Street, a private roadway into the Mallard Ponds townhomes subdivision. The closure of this access point does raise a staff concern over the ability to provide good access into the Mallard Ponds subdivision since a total of 94 housing units would now be dependant upon a single unobstructed access point, 140th Avenue. At the time Mallard Ponds was platted the City allowed an emergency access point between Argon Street in the Flintwood Hills subdivision, a public roadway, and the private Argon Street in the Mallard Ponds subdivision. This emergency access does not allow free travel between these two roadways as a locked gate has been constructed on the private segment of Argon Street. Staff is concerned about the effectiveness of this gated access and feels that the City erred in allowing it to be established. Within several months the City will be asked to enter into a joint power agreement with Anoka County to facilitate the construction of this project and also sign the plans approving the project design. Staff supports this closure primarily because it will increase the safety on CR 116, but also because traffic uses this private street and 140th Avenue to bypass the Dysprosium/Thurston intersection. Staff also feels that this would be an appropriate time to consider removing the gated access separating the two segments of Argon Street. It was noted in the case the notice was sent to Mallard Ponds and selected portions of the Flintwood Hills 2nd and 3rd additions, but those notifications were not sent out to those residents. Staff recommended that the Public Works Committee support the closure of the Barium Street access onto CR 116 as an element of the 2005 construction project, and that the City enter into discussions with the Mallard Ponds townhome association to remove the gated access on Argon Street. Councilmember Cook inquired as to why the gate was initially installed. City Engineer Jankowski replied that it was an agreement that was made between the City and Mallard Ponds as a way to stop cut through traffic into the existing neighborhood. Randy Backous, 14148 Argon Street, explained that the gate was installed as a way to prevent cut through traffic from TH 47 to Dysprosium and CR 116. At that time the City agreed to install the gates and force the development to construct private roads. If the City now decides to remove the gates it may eliminate cut through in the townhome location but it will only increase the traffic for him. Councilmember Cook stated that he was very uncomfortable with there being only one access into the Mallard Ponds development. Public Works Committee/January 18, 2005 Page 10 of 27