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<br /> <br />COUNTY <br /> <br />OF <br /> <br />ANOKA <br /> <br />Public Services Division <br />HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT <br />1440 BUNKER LAKE BLVD. N.W., ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304.4005 <br />(763) 862-4200 FAX (763) 862-4201 <br /> <br />May 7, 2007 <br /> <br />Breanne DaInes <br />City of Ramsey <br />15153 Nowthen Blvd. N.W. <br />Ramsey, MN 55303 <br /> <br />Re: Sketch Plan - 14544 Nowthen Boulevard (Previously Reviewed 7/22/2004) <br />and Plat - Pine Prairie <br /> <br />Dear Breanne, <br /> <br />We have reviewed the Sketch Plan for 14544 Nowthen Boulevard, located south and west of CSAH 5 (Nowthen <br />Boulevard) and the Plat for Pine Prairie, to be located on the west side of CSAH 5 at 145th Avenue NW within the City of <br />Ramsey, and I offer the following comments: <br /> <br />The existing right of way adjacent to CSAH 5 is 60 feet west of centerline CSAH 5 should be adequate for future <br />reconstruction purposes, and no additional right of way will be required at this time. It is possible that when this <br />section of CSAH 5 is reconstructed at some future date, additional permanent easements in the form of trail, sidewalk, <br />utility or temporary construction easements may be needed. <br /> <br />The Sketch Plan for 14544 Nowthen Boulevard and the Plat of Pine Prairie do not provide an appropriate level of local <br />connectivity, thereby forcing direct access onto CSAH 5. As proposed these developments would add (2) additional <br />access points onto the county highway system, which is not desirable or acceptable from a county highway standpoint. <br />CSAH 5 is a high speed arterial roadway carrying in excess of 7000 vehicles per day. While it is a 2-lane undivided <br />roadway presently, CSAH 5 is a potential candidate to become a future 4-lane divided roadway, and future access to <br />CSAH 5 within this area will likely become right in/right out (RI/RO) at some point in time. The proposed access <br />points associated with these developments onto CSAH 5 do not meet the access spacing guidelines. Additionally, the <br />location and proximity of the access locations would not allow for standard turn lane construction, and do not meet <br />Intersection Sight Distance Requirements. The addition of full access points onto CSAH 5 will have a negative effect <br />on the safety, integrity and operational aspects of the roadway corridor. Safety issues and the incidence of crashes are a <br />direct result from turning maneuvers on roadways. With increasing traffic volumes and congestion, the importance for <br />limited access to county highways cannot be overstated. The proliferation and inappropriate spacing of access points <br />reduces a roadway's capacity and safety. Limiting access is critical in minimizing highway congestion, and is the <br />single most important factor in reducing crashes on highways. From a county highway perspective, the developments <br />should be reconfigured to remove the direct access points onto CSAH 5 and receiving access via the local City street <br />system (l46th Avenue NW). However, it is our understanding that access to 146th Avenue NW cannot be achieved at <br />this time. As a result, we would be willing to issue (1) temporary access permit to CSAH 5 to serve both <br />developments, provided that there is a commitment from the City and the affected property owners to work together <br /> <br />-186- <br /> <br />Affirmative Action I Equal Opportunity Employer <br />