Minutes - Council - 03/08/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Senior Planner Anderson replied that is correct. Councilmember Musgrove asked Police Chief Katers to respond to resident concerns about traffic and student driving and asked about any issues with current traffic issues around the current PACT Charter School. Police Chief Katers replied he didn’t have any comments on student driving but has worked with PACT Charter School on traffic issues relating to dropping off students. He stated PACT has been receptive to it and resolved the issues. Councilmember Musgrove referenced the concern about a turn off of Variolite and asked if the plan is to have traffic come off of Variolite and asked if it was just the buses. She stated she st thought the presentation had said traffic would come in and out of 161 Street. Senior Planner Anderson replied from the conceptual plan, the student drop off would access the site from Variolite Street, would travel south and west to drop off students at the school and then do a U-turn through the parking lot and exit back on to Variolite Street. The buses would circulate stst through the eastern entrance off of 161 and exit off of the western exit off of 161 Street. The st students driving themselves would enter and exit off of the western entrance off of 161 Street. Councilmember Musgrove suggested a right turn out only and consider another way of traffic flowing in and out of there. She stated regarding water runoff that it goes through a lot of different committees before that is determined and that there are some new concepts with Riverstone South development with a unique way to manage water runoff. She asked for an explanation of the ability of engineers to mitigate concerns regarding the landscape and water runoff. Senior Planner Anderson replied there is no doubt that there could be a solution engineered regarding water runoff, both the retention and infiltration, but the question would be how expensive that would be and noted that would be borne by the school. He stated for the benefit of the public, that it is not only reviewed by City Staff but also by the Lower Rum River Water Management Organization so there are multiple agencies involved to verify that storm water management are meeting the standards. Councilmember Specht stated, for full disclosure and because there were questions about it, that several years ago he was the Chair of PACT Charter School although he is not currently and his children don’t go there. He thanked everyone for their feedback on both sides. He felt that PACT had a really good relationship with the City and appreciated the benefit. He saw having another church and school in Ramsey as a benefit to the community to draw families to the community. He addressed the question of the school of if the school would be able to manage things well and if the site is big enough by stating that charter schools don’t have to follow all the rules of the MDE yet. He stated this expansion would have to be approved by MDE and that the expansion would be for the school and MDE to work out, the Council’s decision is rezoning. He stated that he supported this as a benefit and felt the concerns raised will be addressed. City Council /March 8, 2022 Page 12 of 38