Agenda - Planning Commission - 11/02/2006

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site plan indicates; Case of MN Skyline Partners, LLC, contingent on meeting all of the criteria for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Further discussion: Mayor Gamec questioned approving the Comprehensive Plan Amendment without an understanding regarding the preliminary plat. Councilmember Cook indicated he will be making a motion to go forward with the Comprehensive Plan Amendment contingent on approval of the preliminary plat. Community Development Director Trudgeon reviewed the findings in accordance with the above motion. He advised the Council should consider adding condition no. 4 to the resolution to state that the land use change will be contingent on preliminary plat approval of Skyline Pointe. Councilmember Elvig indicated there are two things that may impact his decision. One of these issues relates to the concerns regarding the traffic on 151 st Lane. Previously there was a discussion about the problems on 151 st Lane, and the possibility of broadening that. He asked if the City is prepared to proceed with condemnation and the taking of land to complete the sidewalk if the sidewalk being located on the south side of the road is the remedy to these problems. Public Works Director Olson replied the sidewalk would be in the existing right-of-way, which is generally about 14 feet from the curb. Mayor Gamec stated his main concern regarding the sidewalk is that it is too short to do a bit of good. Councilmember Jeffrey stated there are traffic concerns with the residents in the neighborhood. There is a long cul-de-sac with traffic in and out of here, and cars that park to pick up kids at school. It will be compound the problem to add another development that dumps onto 151 st Lane. The proposed sidewalk will take care of the children th,at will walk from the new development, but once they get past the subject property it will dump them onto the street. There is no provision for sidewalk all the way down to the end of 151 st Lane should this development go in. Councilmember Elvig inquired about the mouth of 151 st Lane being broadened where the traffic goes in and out. Public Works Director Olson indicated there will be turn lanes added at the intersection of 151 st Lane and CR 5. Specifically there was discussion of adding a dedicated lane northbound to westbound. No parking signs can be provided to alleviate the concern at the throat of the intersection heading east, or going forward with the project it could be widened a couple of feet. Mr. Olson explained the reason for the' sidewalk in the proposed location is due to concerns of the residents to the west of this development about the kids that will be walking. Also, there will be people to the north and west using the lowland trail that comes through Quicksilver, coupled with the idea of potential vehicular conflicts that can occur with southbound to eastbound turning movements from the development onto 151 st Lane. The intention of the sidewalk was to get the pedestrians off the street before the turning movement and conflict occur. That is why the sidewalk was recommended on the south side. In the latest project proposal the sidewalk is included on both sides of the road. It is correct that there was not a sidewalk extension included to the west into the existing neighborhood. This can be done, but it would not be a developer related expansion, nor was the sidewalk that was installed on 145th and Sunwood. Those are City extensions and if the decision is to initiate them after this project that can be done. Mayor Gamec suggested ifthe sidewalk is a concern it should be looked at the whole way down 151st Lane. Mr. Wayne Olson, 5830 151st Lane NW, requested clarification regarding the proposed location of the sidewalk. Public Works Director Olson indicated the sidewalk would be included on both the north and south sides of 151 st Lane. Councilmember Elvig stated ifthere is a dysfunctional situation already on 151 st Lane, he thinks it should be incorporated into the turn lanes, the broadening of the road, and sidewalks. This would need to be addressed in order for him to consider these findings of fact in the approval. City Council / September 26, 2006 Page 20 of 38 P40