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City Staff is supportive of working with the applicant to move some of the trees around to provide <br />more of a buffer along 175th Avenue. <br />Councilmember Howell stated residents expressed concern about the traffic study, that numbers <br />were low due to Covid. <br />Vernon Swing stated Covid does impact traffic counts, but recent metro area counts have shown <br />that daily numbers are very close to what they were pre-Covid. He added counts were taken when <br />school was not in session. <br />Councilmember Musgrove stated the traffic study indicates that there was an assumption that <br />traffic would exit the neighborhood on 173rd Avenue. <br />Mr. Swing confirmed this. <br />Councilmember Musgrove stated she would support a contingency for a recommendation from <br />Anoka County related to traffic. She added she would like to address the acceleration lane that <br />was mentioned by a resident. <br />Councilmember Musgrove stated the traffic study recommends three improvements to Nowthen <br />Boulevard — left turn in, left turn out, and southbound turn lane in. She added she would support <br />having all 3 improvements incorporated into the contingencies. <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked whether the City has received a letter regarding the natural gas <br />easement. <br />Senior Planner McGuire Brigl stated that information has been requested by City Staff. <br />Darren Lauzon, representing Platinum Land, owner of the property, stated proposed improvements <br />at 173rd Avenue will be substantial, and will exponentially increase the level of service at that <br />intersection beyond the error of margin related to current conditions, such as Covid or school <br />hours, as well as variations in traffic counts. <br />Mr. Swing stated there is a benefit to restriping Nowthen Boulevard to a dedicated turn lane as it <br />increases safety by removing left turning traffic from the traffic flow. <br />Mr. Lauzon stated the developer has been working with Northern Natural Gas on the site and <br />received their review of the preliminary plan, which includes no new trees in the easement and no <br />parallel utility crossings. <br />Motion by Councilmember Woestehoff to adopt Resolution 21-248, Granting Preliminary Plat <br />Approval for North Brook Meadows, with options A, B and C. <br />The City Council requested additional discussion. <br />Councilmember Woestehoff withdrew the motion <br />