HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 12-12-1994 Special 2MINUTES
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 1994
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
7:10 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Center, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on
December 12, 1994.
PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Anderson, Edson, Lymangood, and
Helliwell. Tim Wold was also present.
ABSENT: Councilmember Granath.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Public Works
Director Moore, Park Director Blank, Public Safety Director Gerdes, and City Clerk
Ahrens.
About 25 residents were in attendance.
COUNTY ROAD 9 PROJECT
Public Works Director Moore described the proposed plan for the County Road 9
project. The plan proposes a trail on both sides of the roadway, and there is an
existing pedestrian underpass that connects to the west of Minnesota Lane.
Pedestrian crossing of County Road 9 would be at signalized intersections at
Fernbrook Lane and Annapolis, as well as the existing underpass. There is no
proposal for signals at other intersections.
He explained the proposed design for the Fernbrook Lane and County Road 9
intersection. He said that roadways are typically designed to serve a 20 year
period. It is critical to get a large volume of traffic through the intersections of
Annapolis Lane and Fernbrook Lane with a demand for separate phases for turning
movements, and he doesn't believe the County has overdesigned the intersection.
When the intersection improvements are completed and the roadway opens for
traffic, Fernbrook Lane would immediately serve at no better than a Level C - a
medium level of service. Within five years after the intersection improvements are
completed, the intersection is projected to drop to a Level D - a lower level of
service. At the end of the planning period, 2015, the intersection would operate at
an even lower level of service - Level E.
Councilmember Anderson asked about the trail width.
Director Moore said the trails are proposed at a standard 8' width, similar to the
County Road 6 and County Road 10 projects.
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December 12, 1994
Page 2
Councilmember Helliwell asked about acquisition of right-of-way at the Fernbrook
Lane/County Road 9 intersection.
Director Moore said right-of-way will have to be acquired from properties at that
intersection, including the home at the northwest corner of the intersection. He
said that the County will not begin with property acquisition until the plans are 80
percent complete. Acquisition will probably begin in about March. The County
will also be required to do an environmental assessment for the project.
Councilmember Lymangood asked if including a trail on both sides of the roadway
increases the size of width/footprint of the project.
Director Moore said the trail does not increase the width of the project because the
trail is proposed immediately abutting the roadway. There will be a boulevard in
that area, whether it contains a trail or a flat grass area.
Councilmember Lymangood said that some residents are concerned with the safety
of the trail immediately abutting the roadway due to the possibility of vehicles
jumping the curb.
Director Moore said there are many areas in the City where the trail immediately
abuts the curb.
Public Safety Director Gerdes said that he checked on pedestrian -involved
accidents. There have been a total of 25 accidents in a 5 year period. Seventeen
of those involved crossing movements. Nine occurred mid -block, and three
occurred in parking lots. There were none that were the result of a vehicle
jumping the curb.
Councilmember Helliwell said that residents near Juneau Lane would like
assurance that there will be landscaping and fencing abutting their property.
Director Moore said the only way to guarantee that fencing will be installed is for
the City Council to pay for the installation. He said the City will pay 30-40 percent
of the project cost. He suggested that before guaranteeing installation, the Council
should consider other minor arterials throughout the City. To date, the Council
has only installed screening or fencing where a new roadway was installed that was
not known prior to the development. He cited four or five lots along Northwest
Blvd. where the City installed fencing/landscaping. He noted that it is unlikely that
the County will consider installation of fencing.
Councilmember Helliwell said that in retrospect, fencing should have been installed
with the County Road 10 project at Zachary Lane. This is a similar situation
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December 12, 1994
Page 3
where the road will be widened quite dramatically and the roadway will be getting
close to some existing homes. She believes there is a safety issue involved of
vehicles leaving the roadway, and would like to see the issue of fencing addressed
by the County.
Director Moore stated that the type of fencing suggested by residents would not
stop a vehicle if it left the roadway. He also noted that the right-of-way location
was established before the developments abutting this section of County Road 9
were constructed. He said the County's policy is that the maximum amount that
can go into landscaping improvements is 1 percent of the total project cost. It is
unlikely that the County will share in the total cost of fencing.
Councilmember Anderson said the focus of this meeting is to consider two aspects
of the proposed County Road 9 project: 1) Should a trail be included on the north
side of County Road 9, in addition to the south? and 2) How many lanes should be
constructed at the Fernbrook Lane/County Road 9 intersection. He asked
residents in attendance for their comments.
A resident said there is no concern with trails on both sides as long as the right-of-
way is not made wider. There is a concern with safety since the trail would be
separated from the roadway only by a curb.
A resident asked about the accuracy of the traffic projections? During a recent
discussion on Schmidt Lake Road, the projections changed. There is a concern
that fencing needs to be included because of the grade of the roadway and the
much lower properties. It would be very unsafe if a vehicle left the roadway.
Director Moore explained that the traffic projections on Schmidt Lake Road
changed as the result of including projections for the development of the rural area
of the City.
Councilmember Anderson asked about the grade of the proposed roadway and
guardrails.
Director Moore said there may be some guardrails in the final design. The
proposed elevation is needed to meet the elevation of Juneau Lane to connect the
streets.
Mayor Tierney asked what developers have done to accommodate for this
elevation difference between the roadway and the adjacent properties.
Director Moore stated that developers have not installed a lot of landscaping for
this purpose.
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December 12, 1994
Page 4
Councilmember Lymangood said the options are to install no fencing, to install
fencing which wouldn't stop a vehicle leaving the roadway, or to install a guardrail
for safety.
Director Moore explained that guardrails, if any, would be included as part of the
final design. The County must meet state standards because it is a state -aid road.
Speed limits and obstructions will determine where guardrails are needed. The
safety standard considered is for the vehicles on the roadway; not for the homes or
properties.
Councilmember Anderson asked that staff discuss fencing now with the County
and determine the cost sharing formula.
A resident near 40th Avenue said that safety is important and they would like
guardrails and fencing. They were informed that trees would not be removed
when they purchase their property. Now they have learned that the roadway is
moving closer to their property.
A resident expressed concern with noise pollution, and said that a guardrail won't
address that problem as well as fencing.
A resident asked why developers were not required to install fencing or guardrails
in this area.
Councilmember Lymangood explained that some berming was installed by
developers for properties abutting County Road 9; however, fencing and landscape
improvements could not be installed until the roadway is completed.
A resident asked why the curving is being removed from the roadway.
Director Moore explained the roadway is being aligned only to reduce the steep
grade of the Juneau Lane connection.
A resident supported the proposed design of the Fernbrook Lane/County Road
intersection and the plan for a trail on both sides of the road. The resident also
supported the need for a pedestrian underpass just west of Juneau Lane and
guardrails.
A resident said that this segment of County Road 9 is different because there is no
other area with residences as close to the roadway. He believes that trails are
needed on both sides of the roadway, but is concerned with the high vehicle speeds
and separation of the trail and road by only a curb. The speed limit should be
reduced to 40 mph between Vicksburg Lane and I-494, and the number of lanes at
the Fernbrook Lane intersection should be reduced.
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December 12, 1994
Page 5
Councilmember Lymangood said that two left turn lanes on County Road to
Fernbrook Lane will provide stacking room. He asked how many left turn
movements are currently made at that intersection.
Director Moore said that twice as many vehicles will also get through each
allocated green time. He said that 379 left turns in the a.m. peak hour are
projected in 1995.
Councilmember Helliwell said the intersection will need to handle traffic for
businesses going in on Schmidt Lake Road.
A resident recommended that the speed limit be reduced on County Road 9, and
said the City needs to consider where County Road 9 fits in the overall
Transportation Plan. The overhead electrical wires are an eyesore and should be
placed underground as part of the project.
Director Moore said that the power company has indicated they will not bury the
lines unless it is paid. Also, homes must then upgrade their service. Staff will
check with the County on that issue.
A resident questioned the usefulness of the large intersection at Fernbrook Lane
when the number of lanes on the I-494 bridge is limited.
A resident whose rear yard abuts County Road 9 on the north side said it appears
he will lose some of his property for the trail. He believes it would be better to
spend more money to ensure a safe trail on only one side of the road.
A resident said that there is additional traffic now that Schmidt lake Road has been
opened from Northwest Blvd.
A resident objected to the number of lanes proposed at the Fernbrook Lane
intersection, and asked if fewer lanes could be constructed and the right-of-way
retained for future construction.
Director Moore said it is more cost effective to install all of the lanes now. In the
future, landscaping will have to be removed and work would be done on abutting
yards to widen the roadway. Director Moore said that the City has been
requesting that the County do this project for 15 years and that is the reason the
intersection is proposed to go from no left turn lanes to two left turn lanes to the
south on Fernbrook Lane.
Councilmember Lymangood asked about the functional level if only one left turn
lane is installed.
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December 12, 1994
Page 6
Director Moore said the intersection would operate at a " F' level, which is far
below satisfactory.
A resident asked if the intersection will be able to accommodate the commercial
area proposed to the north.
Director Moore said that neighborhood commercial use is proposed, along with a
30 acre industrial site. Traffic from those uses will go in several directions, and
that information was included in the traffic projections.
Mayor Tierney said the proposed intersection at Fernbrook Lane is needed to
serve the future development northerly on Fernbrook Lane.
Councilmember Helliwell said it will be more costly and inconvenient to residents
and drivers to amend the intersection later.
A resident asked about the grade at Juneau Lane.
Director Moore said that the Juneau Lane intersection will be moved southerly in
order to lessen the grade.
Councilmember Anderson summarized that the Council would like information on
the location of fences along County Road 9 along with the cost sharing formula,
the location of guardrails and cost sharing, the issue of reducing the speed limit
from 45 mph to 40 mph, location of electrical lines, burying the electrical lines and
cost, berming and landscaping, and consider trees/grass in the median as designed
without enlarging the footprint. He said that a similar meeting will be held when
the final plans are completed.
Director Moore said the median is not wide enough to support trees and grass.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Laurie F. Ahrens
City Clerk