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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Packet 02-15-2000 SpecialAgenda City of Plymouth Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, February 15, 2000 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers 1. Call to Order 5:30 p.m. 2. Review County Road 101 Plans 5:30 p.m. 3. Adjourn 7:45 p.m. DATE: February 11, 2000 TO: Mayor and City Council through Dwight D. Johnson, City Manger FROM: Fred G. Moore, P.E., Director of Public Works SUBJECT: COUNTY ROAD 101 IMPROVEMENTS CITY PROJECT NO. 9005 The City Council has scheduled a study meeting on the County Road 101 Improvement project for February 15 at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for a presentation by Hennepin County and review of the plans for the project. On October 19, 1999, the City Council gave preliminary approval to the County Road 101 Improvement Project. That approval contained 12 items which were to be addressed during the final design process for the project. The construction plans are now approximately 75% complete and the County would like to review the plans with the City Council to ensure that the issues that the Council wanted addressed are being addressed correctly. Attached is a letter from Craig Twinem, the Senior Project Manager for this project. Also attached is a copy of the latest plan layout. Mr. Twinem's letter lists what has been done to respond to each one of the issues in the City Council resolution. I am also attaching a copy of the City Council resolution, although the items are restated in the letter. The County has completed the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the project and it has been out for public review and comment. The review period closed on February 9, but the County extended the period until February 18 for two residents of Plymouth. Attached is a letter from Hennepin County on the extension. Replies received at this time do not recommend the need for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). No action is being requested by the City Council at the study meeting, but input from the Council is requested if issues are not being addressed as listed in the City Council preliminary approval resolution. More detailed plans will be available at the meeting along with a preliminary landscaping plan for the project. attachments ply_nt\ntdisk l\pw\Engineering\PROJECTS\9005\Memos\cc_2_15.doc H CountypporlunityEmployer February 11, 2000 Mr. Fred Moore, P.E. A e Director of Public Works City of Plymouth - 3400 Plymouth Boulevard .- Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 a 600Z l t 833 a, CSAH 101 (FROM SOUTH OF CSAH 24 TO TH 55) 03AP333;* COUNTY PROJECT NO. 8911 ` , Dear Mr. Moore: The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 101 project. At the October 19, 1999 Plymouth City Council meeting, a resolution was adopted which approved Preliminary Layout No. 2 and which authorized the County to proceed with the final design and to acquire all rights of way, permits and/or easements necessary for the proposed improvements. The resolution (No. 99-457) also included twelve issues to be addressed during the development of the detailed construction plans. The construction plans, which are approximately 75% complete, are being prepared in accordance with the approved preliminary layout. The proposed improvements include reconstructing CSAH 101 from south of CSAH 24 to TH 55 as a four -lane roadway with a center median and left and right turn lanes at intersections. The roadway is proposed to be urban" in character, including concrete curb and gutter and storm sewer systems. Trails are proposed on both sides of CSAH 101. New traffic signal systems are proposed at the intersections of CSAH 101/CSAH 24 and CSAH 101/Medina Road. The intersection of CSAH 101 and CSAH 24 is proposed to be constructed to its ultimate configuration so that further reconstruction will not be necessary in the future. The preliminary layout and final design have been developed based on the needs identified in the City and County Transportation Systems Plans, the City of Plymouth Park and Trail Plan, and the Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan, and based on the Minnesota Department of Transportation State Aid design standards. The Project Management Team PMT), which consists of representatives from the Hennepin County Transportation Department, the engineering consultant designing the project (SEH Inc.), and City of Plymouth staff, has met on a regular basis during the preliminary and final design processes to keep the project on schedule and to ensure that the needs of the City and County are incorporated into the construction plans. Transportation Department 1600 Prairie Drive Recycled Paper Medina, MN 55340-5421 612) 745-7500 FAx: (612) 478-4000 TDD: (612) 852-6760 Mr. Fred Moore, P.E. Page 2 Since approval of the preliminary layout, the PMT has been in contact with various individuals and neighborhood groups to discuss project impacts, berming, and other issues. When the right of way acquisition process begins, the County's Real Estate Division will be in contact with the owners of properties where permanent and/or temporary easements are necessary. The project does not necessitate the total acquisition of any property; however, the County will continue to work with the City regarding the acquisition of the eight properties most impacted by the proposed improvements. The twelve issues included in the resolution approving the preliminary layout are itemized below (in bold), with a progress update/response following each item. The item number corresponds with the numbers shown on the attached plan sheets; for example, a number "1" is shown on the plan sheets in the areas where turn lanes were shortened during the final design process. ADDITIONAL ISSUES IN RESOLUTION NO. 99-457 1. That the length of turn lanes continue to be reviewed and ifpossible shortened during the final design process if not necessary for projected traffic volumes. This includes the necessity of the right turn lanes for both eastbound and westbound County Road 24 at County Road 101. All turn lane lengths have been evaluated during the final design process. Turn lanes must be long enough to provide for deceleration of vehicles approaching the intersection and to accommodate sufficient stacking of vehicles. The overall turn lane length consists of the full width of the turn lane and the taper, or transition length, necessary to develop the lane. The turn lanes have been shortened on the plans to minimize impacts to properties while still providing safe and efficient intersections. The right turn lanes at the non -signalized intersections have been shortened to the minimum length of 360 feet including taper). The maximum length of the right turn lanes shown in the approved preliminary layout was 480 feet. At the CSAH 24 intersection, the westbound to northbound right turn lane was eliminated based on a reevaluation of the future traffic patterns and turning movements in this area. Input from a resident of the Heather Run neighborhood was very useful in determining that the projected right turn volume will remain approximately the same as the existing volumes with the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of CSAH 101/Medina Road. Input from a resident of the Heather Run neighborhood was very useful in determining that the projected right turn volumes will remain approximately the same as the existing volumes with the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of CSAR 101 and Medina Road. The northbound CSAH 101 to eastbound CSAH 24 right turn lane was previously shortened by 60 feet by utilizing a sharper taper rate. The plans have been revised so that the trails are now directly behind the curb in the right turn lane areas, which pulls the limits of construction in approximately 5 feet, thus minimizing impacts to adjacent properties. Mr. Fred Moore, P.E. Page 3 2. Install berms where possible to mitigate impacts on adjacent properties if the adjacent property owners will grant the necessary construction access at no additional cost to the project. The Project Management Team has been working with the Fischer's Pond, Heather Run and Queensland Lane neighborhoods to help the residents determine whether or not they want berms. Alternative berm options have been presented to representatives of the neighborhoods, and construction limits will be staked in the near future to help the residents in their decision. The County is committed to providing earthen berms where right of way allows or where private property is made available, as long as construction of the berm is acceptable to the adjacent property owners and other adverse impacts are not created. 3. The project is to have a landscaping plan, including possible screening fences, prepared by the City after roadway construction is substantially completed. The County and City shall share equally in the implementation of the landscaping plan with a maximum budget of 2% of construction costs. Adjacent property owners shall be involved in the plan preparation. Replacement trees shall be as large as possible. The County and City are committed to developing a landscaping plan for the project corridor. The goal of the landscape amenities will be to enhance the experience of the roadway and trail users, to provide shade for those walking, jogging, rollerblading or biking on the trail, and to provide some visual screening for the adjacent residences. The City is taking the lead in developing the landscaping plan. A concept plan has recently been completed. The plan will be refined as the roadway construction nears completion. Adjacent property owners will be involved in the plan preparation. The landscaping project will be separate from the roadway project; plantings will occur after completion of the roadway construction. The City will administer the landscaping construction contract. The County will increase its share of the landscaping budget from $50,000 (or I% of the construction estimate of $5.0 million) to a maximum of $125,000. With the City contributing 1%, the total budget for the landscaping plan is $175,000. Sizes of trees will be determined during the development of the plans, but typically coniferous trees will be 6 feet to 8 feet in height and deciduous trees will be of 2'/2 inch caliper. 4. The County shall continue to work with City staff in order that there is future connection for the frontage road shown as part of the City's Transportation Plan which extends westerly between Median Road and Highway 55. The County and the City have been working to ensure that the plan accommodates a future connection for the frontage road on the west side of CSAH 101 between Medina Road and TH 55. The median opening for the frontage road on the west side of CSAH 101 needs to be coordinated with the request that additional access is provided on the east side of CSAH 101 for the commercial property at the southeast corner of the TH 55 intersection (see Item No. 9). The location of the median opening shown in the attached Mr. Fred Moore, P.E. Page 4 plan represents a revision from a previous alternative. The median opening has been shifted to the north to better accommodate the future frontage road on the west side of CSAH 101, and to provide a more desirable location for the access to the commercial property on the east side of CSAH 101 while minimizing impacts to the Glory of Christ Lutheran Church property. The County and the City will continue to work together with the affected property owners in this area of the project to resolve this issue. 5. Retaining walls and/or tree walls shall be used where feasible to retain specimen trees. As shown in the attached plan sheets, retaining walls have been added throughout the project to minimize property impacts and tree loss. The Project Management Team is working with the residents of the Fischer's Pond neighborhood to determine the feasibility of a retaining wall/berm to minimize tree loss in this area of the project. 6. Adequate water quality treatment for the added impervious surface shall be provided CSAH 101 is being converted from a two-lane rural highway to a four -lane urban roadway. This will approximately double the amount of impervious highway surface in the corridor. The quality of direct runoff will not significantly change; however, the quantity of runoff will increase because of the increase in impervious surface. The increase in the volume of runoff and pollutants will be addressed and managed by use of new detention facilities and the expansion of existing ones. Various pollutants are commonly encountered in roadway runoff generated during storm events. Some of the pollutants include soil, nutrients, de-icing salts, metals and oils. The surface water runoff conveyed into the roadway will be accommodated by a storm sewer system and then discharged into storm water ponds prior to discharge into receiving water bodies. Stormwater ponds will provide rate control as well as treatment, and will be designed according to National Urban Runoff Protection (NURP) standards. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit will be required for this project. Erosion prevention and sediment control best management practices BMPs) will be followed in accordance with the NPDES permit, which includes an erosion control plan, as well as BMPs contained in Minnesota Department of Transportation's (Mn/DOT) standard specifications, details, and special provisions. Temporary and permanent erosion control features include timely revegetation of disturbed areas, hay bales, silt fence, flotation silt curtain, and sediment ponds. 7. Environmental impacts and proposed mitigation that are addressed in the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EATS, including noise, shall be considered with the final design. In the EAW, a comparison of the "build" and "no -build" scenarios predicts that construction of the project will result in noise level increases of less than 3 dBA at each modeled location. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency "Rules of Thumb" for perceived change in loudness, a 3 dBA increase in noise is considered barely perceptible". Mr. Fred Moore, P.E. Page 5 Hennepin County is not proposing to include noise mitigation practices such as walls as part of the project. The County will provide earthen berms where right-of-way allows or where private property is made available, as long as the construction of the berm is acceptable to the adjacent property owners and other adverse impacts are not created. Minnesota Statute 116.07, Subp. 2A, exempts County roadways, such as CSAH 101, from compliance to the State noise standards. Impacts to wetlands have been minimized to the extent practical through the design process. There are unavoidable impacts from filling six wetlands totaling approximately 0.25 acres of wetland habitat. Portions of two wetlands will be excavated to provide treatment of runoff from the roadway prior to discharge downstream and eventually into a nearby MDNR Protected Wetland. All filling impacts will be mitigated in accordance with the Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Act. All roadway runoff will be collected by catch basins in the roadway and routed to storm water quality detention ponds. 8. During final design if several specimen trees could be avoided by a slight alignment shift, this should be considered. The alignment as designed represents a balance of property impacts on both sides of the roadway. Slight changes in the alignment would not save any specimen trees located on private property. 9. The County shall continue to work with City staff in order that additional access from County Road 101 might be provided for the commercial property at the southeast corner of the Highway SS intersection. As detailed in Item No. 4, the County, City, and adjacent property owners have been and will continue to work together to provide additional access to this property. 10. Advance flashing beacons to provide warning of the pedestrian crosswalk at Medina Road shall be considered. A traffic signal system with pedestrian phases will be installed at the intersection of CSAH 101 and Medina Road with the proposed project. The Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) discourages devices, such as flashing beacons, which detract from the traffic signal indications. It is the County's position that flashing beacons should not be installed at this location because they may distract from the effectiveness of the traffic signal. 11. There shall be a study session with the City Council to review the final plans before right-of-way acquisition is started and before approval offinal design. A study session with the City Council has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 2000. The County has not yet begun the right of way acquisition process. I Mr. Fred Moore, P.E. Page 6 12. Consideration shall be given to reducing the width of the center median in areas where substantial trees or existing vegetation could be avoided. Consideration has been given to reducing the center median width, but compromising the design in this manner would have little to no effect on avoiding substantial trees or vegetation. The median width as proposed will provide an opportunity for planting materials, other than trees, if desired. The median width on CSAH 101 south of CSAH 24 was previously narrowed by approximately 4 feet. Another issue of importance to the residents along the corridor is the speed limit. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) determines traffic speed limits. The County has been working with Mn/DOT to lower the speed limit on facilities such as this segment of CSAH 101 from 50 MPH to 45 MPH. The County's rationale is that in urbanizing areas, where the character of the roadway is changing from a two-lane rural highway to a four - lane divided roadway with curb and gutter, a 45 MPH speed limit is more appropriate and is more consistent with similar facilities in the County roadway system. Adding medians and trails, along with landscaping the corridor, helps to emphasize the suburban character of the roadway and therefore a lower speed limit than a rural highway. The County is cautiously optimistic that Mn/DOT will agree with this approach and will allow the reduction in speed limit sometime in the future. The current schedule for the project is to begin construction in July 2000. The final construction plans and construction cooperative agreement must be approved by the City Council. It is anticipated that the plans and agreement will be ready for approval in April 2000. An Informational Open House will be conducted sometime before seeking City Council approval. If you have any questions, or if you require additional information, please feel free to call me at 612/745-7653. Sincerely, Craig M. Twinem, P.E. Senior Project Manager, Design CMT:mak CSAH 101 (FROM 301H AVENUE TO TH 55) COUNTY PROJECT NO. 8911 Right of entry from property owner necessary to construct berms will be provided at no cost. Trees may need to be removed in the berm area. No compensation will be made to the property owner for the removal of trees necessary to construct berms. The property owners can transplant trees to a location outside of the construction limits prior to the beginning of construction. Fences would need to be placed on private property. The right of way line and the top of the berm don't always match, which may be important because a fence at the top of the berm would provide more height for screening. A fence located lower than the top of the berm would not provide as much screening. Landscaping will be provided for the corridor under the separate landscape project, but the number of trees provided must fit within the budget. The residents should consider the amount of trees being removed to construct the berms in their decision on whether or not they want berming. The berm can be flexible in height (undulating), but needs to be consistent across properties. Drainage needs to be considered. Constructing a berm may require catch basins on private property to accommodate existing drainage. P M February 7, 2000 Mr. Christopher M. McGlincey Leonard, Street and Deinard Suite 2300 150 South Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 RE: CASH 101— 30`h Avenue North to TH 55 Environmental Assessment Worksheet Dear Mr. McGlincey: In response to your February 4, 2000 letter seeking an extension of the February 9, 2000 deadline for comments for the CSAH 101 (30th Avenue North to TH 55) Environmental Assessment Worksheet, I am willing to extend the comment deadline for your clients, John Rosendahl and Michael Melnychuk, to February 18, 2000. Sincerely, James N. Grube, P.E. Director, Transportation Department JNG/rr PC: Julie Bowman Transportation Department 1600 Prairie Drive Recycled Paper Medina, MN 55340-5421 612) 745-7500 FAX: (612) 478-4000 TDD: (612) 478-4030 FEB 04 2000 13=16 FR 15 FLOOR February 4, 2000 VU FACSEVIDLE 6123351657 TU 94784000 r . ud LEONARD, STREET .AND DEINARD P20PESSIONAL ASSOCIATION James N. Grube, P.E., Director Hennepin County Transportation Department 1600 Prairie Drive Medina, MN 55340-5421 Christopher M.McGlincey 612-33.5-1490 Chris. McGhncey@loonxdd.coun Re: C.S.A.H[.101-Mth Avenue to TX. 55 -Environmental Assessment Worksheet Dear Mr. Grube: We represent Plymouth residents John Rc sendaht and Michael Melnychuk in e on With this their review of the referenced Environmental. AssessmentasWorksheet ( comprePlPlease ac ive commentcorrespondenceasacommenttotheEAW. We are preparing or letter on this EAW I, which will be submitted, if necessary, by the current deadline for comments; February 9, 2000. However, we request that Hennepin County issue an extension to the comment period for this RAW. In order to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the information in the EAW and potential impacts that may warrant further investigation, it is necessary to review and analyze the documents and data relied upon by Hennepin County in preparing the EAW_ We have been systematiciilly reviewing materials referenced in the EAW and have found that each documerd, or data set, refers to other documents or data sets. We have made a series of requests tv Hennepin County to obtain this information at the time it became apparent that such additional information was necessary for a complete review_ Responses to our requests have not always been timely. Among the materials requested was a Special Project Analysis Report (SPAR), dated July 23, 1999, and revised Decomber 17, 1999. While the body of this report was faxed to us oft or about January 19, 2000, we have spent the last ten days trying to obtain the exhibits to that SPAR report, as well as certain other traffic volume information. After a series of telephone requests led to conflicting responses concerning the availability of these data, we were informed via a voicemail message on January 26, 2000 by Julie Bowman of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, that a formal written Data Practices Act request would be required. We produced the written request on the same date and delivered that via facsimile to Ms. Bowman and Mr. Byers at Hennepin County. Another series of follow-up telephone requests ensued, and the data was finally delivered to us today, February 4, 20D0, Iso SOura FIFIIi STREET SUITE 2300 T49N IAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402- TSL 412•3$5-1500 VAx 4=.2'395'=557 1905951v (140AN301010G) LAW OFFICFS IN MI"'AP0116, SAINT PAUL AND DEAN&ATO t-Ld 04 ;1MW 15. 1'f I'K 1n I-LUUK IU 74fb4KIV-C r. U-) James N- Grube, P.E. February 4, 2000 Page 2 Given the significant delay in obtaining the underlying traffic data, an extension to the EAW continent period is necessary for our clients to have an adequate opportunity to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the information and the potential for impacts from this project. Our clients will be prejudiced if they are not afforded an appropriate period in which to review and evaluate this technical data. There are other reasons for extending the comment period as well. For example, traffic demand on a particular transportation corridor is dependent in large pleasure on existing and proposed future land use xri the surrounding areas. As you are probably aware, the City of Plymouth is in the process of revising its Comprehensive Plan- Among the elements being revised are the Transportation and Land Use Plass elements. Wbile the Comprehensive Plan is being reviewed by the City, it has placed a moratorium on building in the City's northwest corner. Given the extreme range in trip generation that exists between agricultural land use, on the one hand, and a mix of residential and commercial use on the other, this uncertainty in the prevailing land use controls counsels in favor of extending the comment period. We look forward to hearing your response to this request for an extension, at your earliest convenience. Very truly yours, LEONARD, STREET AND DEI;NARD iZ7By Christopher 1V1_ McGlincey rv, 2vfm:seo cc: Mr. John Rosendahl W. Michael Melaychuk 1905951v1(149fMO1I DOQ TOTAL PAGE.03 ** CITY OF PLYMOUTH RESOLUTION NO. 99-457 APPROVING PRELIMINARY LAYOUT COUNTY ROAD 101 HIGHWAY 55 TO COUNTY ROAD 24 CITY PROJECT NO. 9005 1 WHEREAS, Hennepin County has prepared and is presenting a preliminary layout Layout No. 2) County Project No. 8911 showing the proposed improvement of County Road 101 from Highway 55 to County Road 24; and WHEREAS, the City is desirous of the completion of County Road 101 improvements within the City of Plymouth and has the proposed project in the City's Capital Improvement Program for the year 2000; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA: That said layout (Layout No. 2) be in all things approved and that Hennepin County is hereby authorized by the City to proceed with final design and to acquire all rights-of-way, permits and/or easements required for said improvements in accordance with said layout with the following additions or issues to be addressed: 1. That the length of turn lanes continue to be reviewed and if possible shortened during the final design process if not necessary for projected traffic volumes. This includes the necessity of the right turn lanes for both eastbound and westbound County Road 24 at County Road 101. 2. Install berms where possible to mitigate impacts on adjacent properties if the adjacent property owners will grant the necessary construction access at no additional cost to the project. 3. The project is to have a landscaping plan, including possible screening fences, prepared. by the City after roadway construction is substantially completed. The County and City shall share equally in the implementation of the landscaping plan with a maximum budget of 2% of construction costs. Adjacent property owners shall be involved in the plan preparation. Replacement trees shall be as large as possible. 4. The County shall continue to work with City staff in order that there is future connection for the frontage road shown as part of the City's Transportation Plan which extends westerly between Medina Road and Highway 55. 0:TEMPPAppPrd_LJYMI CRIOI.Jw 1 5. Retaining walls and/or tree walls shall be used where feasible to retain specimen trees. 6. Adequate water quality treatment for the added impervious surface shall be provided. 7. Environmental impacts and proposed mitigation that are addressed in the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), including noise, shall be considered with the final design. 8. During final design if several specimen trees could be avoided by a slight alignment shift, this should be considered. 9. The County shall continue to work with City staff in order that additional access from County Road 101 might be provided for the commercial property at the southeast corner of the Highway 55 intersection. 10. Advance flashing beacons to provide warning of the pedestrian crosswalk at Medina Road shall be considered. 11. There shall be a study session with the City Council to review the final plans before right-of-way acquisition is started and before approval of final design. 12. Consideration shall be given to reducing the width of the center median in areas where substantial trees or existing vegetation could be avoided. FURTHER, that the City will not be using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for any portion of its share of the project cost. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City will adopt a "No Parking" resolution as part of the final plan approval for the roadway. Adopted by the City Council on October 19, 1999. D:1.TEMPAPPPrcI_L 1Y0U1 CR101.Joc