Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/03/2006

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Matt Tews - 5844 151 st Lane N.W. - Not opposed to development the property; actually looking forward to a development that the entire neighborhood can agree upon. Last February, Commissioner Johnson said that he could not see a compelling reason to change the land use from low to medium density residential. Mr. Tews said that he feels that there is still not a compelling reaso~ to increase the density, other than to benefit the developer. It was stated that the traffic counts did not include school traffic as that traffic occurs outside peak traffic hours. There is already a traffic problem on Nowthen resulting from school traffic; that will increase with this new development. There is an existing traffic problem on 151st. Mr. Tews noted that people pull onto 151 S\ retrieve or drop off children and then turn around in residential driveways to leave the neighborhood again; this practice is safer than trying to enter and exit at the school. Mr. Tews referred to the traffic generation analysis. It was reported at a previous meeting that Shade Tree Creek, for instance, will generate 10 vehicle trips per day per home. If the plan here is for 62 units x 10 trips a day, that equals 620 vehicle trips a day. The traffic report states that 70% of that or about 434 cars, are expected to make that turn onto 151 st. With the existing traffic from the neighborhood, the traffic count will increase to 800 cars per day at 151 st and Nowthen. Mr. Tews suggested that perhaps this case has to be tabled until the school is in session and redo the traffic counts at that time. Mr. Tews stated that he is opposed to the change iridensity based on traffic issues. Sarah Narr - 6100 151 st Lane N.W. - Stated that she doesn't want to see the density change on 151 st. She and her neighbors previously delivered a petition to the Planning Commission that is on record. Traffic is a big concern. Today it took her husband 12 minutes to get from Minneapolis to the intersection of Ferry Street and Hwy. #10. It took him 22 minutes to get from Ferry Street railroad crossing to 15lst. Cars make illegal bypass lanes when you try to turn onto 151 st fromNowthen. Adding this many homes and cars is dangerous. The City looks at the land and thinks it is perfect for towrihomes; the existing residents bought into a beautifully single family neighborhood. The residents want to maintain what they bought into. Ms Nar urged the Commission to do what is best for the residents and the City of Ramsey and not what is best for the developers. The residents should be # 1; make a place where people want to come and live but we don't want buildings everywhere just for the almighty dollar. Chris Weiss - 5907 151 st - Stated that the Planning Commission and City Council made it clear that density should match existing development; what has been presented is not even close. Mr. Weiss stated that it seems like the developer keeps coming back again and again to finally get their plan approved. He stated that he has not heard one good reason why density should be changed. The new development on the east side of Nowthen will be single family homes; residents on 151 st want something that matches their development. Robert Knoll- 6020 151 st Lane N.W. - Inquired as to the current classification of 15151. . City Engineer Steve Jankowski replied that it is a residential street; it will not be upgraded to a collector based on the additional traffic. Mr. Knoll referred to the Interim Policy for Comprehensive Plan Amendments, specifically the criteria that addresses traffic patterns, and inquired if Anoka County has denied access to County Road #5 from this proposed development. Planning Commission/July 10,2006 Page 5 of 14 P5