Minutes - Planning Commission - 04/18/2000 - Jt Mtg w Park and Rec

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Commissioner Dempsey suggested attempting to resolve the ordinance by only addressing urban subdivision design, and Mr. Boos agreed that the rural and commercial areas could be addressed at a later date. Mr. Boos mentioned that the Public Works Committee suggested not taking on maintenance. If a particular subdivision wants maintenance, a maintenance fee should be considered. Chairperson Anderson stated maintenance should not be a part of the ordinance. Commissioner Dempsey stated that sidewalks should be for pedestrian traffic not for recreational use. He also felt the policy should have no variation in construction material. Commissioner Nixt suggested there be a distinction of sidewalk vs. path. Consensus was reached that a sidewalk constitutes a five-foot wide ribbon of concrete, and a trail constitutes an eight-foot wide strip of bituminous limited to locations within the City that meet the criteria for expansion of the existing trail corridor system. Commissioner Nixt summarized the commissions' consensus that sidewalks will be located within the right-of-way; will be required only in the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) with the exceptions of arterial streets and the Trail Plan; will have a width of five feet; will be constructed of concrete; will be maintained (repaired) as an assessment on the utility bill; and will require snow removal by the resident. He noted there was still a decision to be made regarding whether to require them on one or both sides of the street. Discussion ensued regarding whether sidewalks increase the value of a lot, and whether the sidewalks should be placed on one or both sides of the street. It was suggested that placing sidewalks on only one side of the street would facilitate the convenience of plowing to the other side. Consensus was to direct staff to solicit the cities of Prior Lake, Lakeville, Eagan, Shakopee, Champlin, Andover, Maple Grove, and Elk River to obtain copies of their sidewalk requirements. A committee was formed to review the data received from the various cities and to return with recommendations for all unresolved issues. Subcommittee members are Chris Dempsey, Steve Ostrum, Mike Rolfe, and Joe Wivoda, with Mike Nixt serving as an alternate. Consensus was to focus only on the MUSA area. The committee will meet on May 11 following the regular Park and Recreation Commission meeting. Upon inquiry, Mr. Boos advised that MSA dollars are available for trails and trees on MSA streets. ADJOURNMENT Planning Commission-Park and Recreation Commission/April 18, 2000 Page 3 of 4