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Home My WebLink About2003 08-11 City Council Manager Workshop PacketD. NEW BUSINESS 1. County Road D Realignment (TH 61 to Highridge Court, Project 02 -08 -Joint Meeting with City of Vadnais Heights City Council E. FUTURE TOPICS 1. Sidewalk Study - Overall City Plan-Fall 2003 2. Roseville School District Meeting D'. .ADJOURNMENT AGENDA ITEM AGENDA REPORT TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Richard Fursman, City Manager Charles Ahl, Public Works Director /City Engineer Action by counci, Daf� 1 Endorsed County Road D Realignment (TH 61 to Highridge Court), ProjE 0 - u 6:00 P.M. - Joint Meeting with Vadnais Heights City Council DATE: August 5, 2003 Introduction The Vadnais Heights City Council has requested a joint meeting to discuss some issues with the proposed County Road D Realignment project. This is a workshop and no action is proposed, although Vadnais Heights has invited a couple of residents from their community who have been active in the project. The Vadnais Heights staff understands that resident testimony may not be taken. Representatives from MnDOT and Ramsey County have also been invited to attend this joint meeting due to the multi jurisdictional nature of the proposed improvements. Attached is the letter from the Vadnais Heights administrator requesting the joint meeting. Background Vadnais Heights has been involved in the two -year discussion of these improvements. A staff member, Rick Terway, attended all the original planning sessions for the original traffic study where an alignment was selected. Additionally, on December 9, 2002, when the council adopted an alignment for further study, a member of the Vadnais Heights Council and Mr. Terway attended and were recognized at the meeting. On May 6, 2003, our staff was prepared to present the proposed final alignment study to the Vadnais Heights Council and Planning Commission. This presentation was delayed due to a scheduling problem by the Vadnais Heights staff. The Maplewood public hearing was held on May 12, 2003, when a final alignment was adopted. The rescheduled presentation to Vadnais Heights wa 0 The major issues for Vadnais Heights are listed within the letter. Following is some background on those issues: • Potential access to parcel east of TH 61, adjacent to Burlington Northern Railroad: Maplewood has included considerations for access and water service to this parcel in all proposals. Until abandonment of the rail line is concluded, however, access will need to be maintained as a right in /right out at TH 61. Traffic issues on County Road D, west of TH 61: Maplewood's proposed project meets Ramsey County's standards for a County State Aid Highway. While traffic certainly has grown on this section of County Road D in the past 30 -50 years, the urbanization of the county requires that the county road handle a heavier volume of traffic. Development of the region will continue to increase the volumes of traffic. The Maplewood traffic study does not indicate that this project will increase traffic but recognizes that the continued development of the region will increase traffic volumes on County Road D by up to 3% per year. Over a 20 -30 year planning period that will be a doubling of traffic. Additionally, as Interstate 694 continues to see increase congestion, local traffic will use County Road D as alternatives to the congested freeway. Finally, the Maplewood proposal provides for a less than 35 MPH design. City Council Agenda Background Vadnais Heights Joint Meeting August 5, 2003 Page Two Vadnais Heights has suggested some median treatments or stop signs at the new intersection at existing County Road D. This seems to be a reasonable compromise, along with the addition of a trail extension westerly to at least Walter Street. Access for business west of TH 61: MnDOT has proposed closing the existing right in /right out and left in median opening on TH 61 at existing County Road D as shown on the attached map. MnDOT's proposal includes the construction of a merge lane on TH 61 for the exit ramp from 1 -694 and a culdesac on existing County Road D. While this provides some of the traffic calming on County Road D, it revises access to the businesses in both Vadnais Heights and Maplewood (the Hillcrest Animal Hospital). The Maplewood project does not propose the closing of this access; however, the project certainly allows MnDOT to facilitate their improvement. MnDOT has requested that Maplewood include the project when we construct the improvements (no agreement has been negotiated for this). Maplewood, MnDOT and Ramsey County's position is that the regional nature of County Road D requires relocation of the access point to TH 61 away from 1 -694. While the culdesac approach will revise the access, the type of business is' not an impulse - related business (like a fast food restaurant or gas station) and does not require direct access. Drainage issues from High Point Ridge development: We are not aware of the specifics of this issue. A pond exists for the drainage increase related to High Point Ridge that discharges through a long- standing ditch northerly to the 1 -694 right of way. Further flow restrictions in the ponding area are possible and expansion of the drainage controls is included within the Maplewood drainage plans for the area as development of the project proceeds. Project note: The proposed improvements for the realignment of County Road D, west of TH 61 are not currently scheduled for a public hearing. A number of right of way and coordination issues with the developer of the property north of Guldens remain to be resolved, along with resolving these issues with Vadnais Heights and MnDOT. The proposed hearing for County, Road D realignment between, TH 61 and Hazelwood is currently planned for September 8, 2003. The hearing for this segment, west of TH 61, is not likely until October or November 2003 at the earliest and may be delayed until 2004. Recommendation Staff recommends that the city council discuss the various issues with Vadnais Heights and the MnDOT and Ramsey County representatives. All issues should be referred to Engineering staff for further study. jw Attachments: Letter from Vadnais Heights Overall Preferred Alternative Map Two Maps of Improvements West of TH 61 Gerald I Urban City Administrator 651.204.6010 Phone 651.204.6110 Fax gurban @ci.vadnais- heights.mn.us June 25, 2003 The City of Maplewood Attn: Mr. Chuck Ahl 1830 East County Road B Maplewood, MN 55109 Dear Mr. Ahl: The City of Vadnais Heights 800 East County Road E Vadnais Heights,. MN 55127 The Vadnais Heights City Council has requested a joint meeting with the Maplewood City Council to discuss the possible re- alignment of County Road D. Our council has had joint meetings with neighboring city councils to discuss projects of mutual interest, in the past, and feel it is appropriate at this time. Our city council understands the need to make traffic improvements to accommodate the mall area traffic, but feel that the interests of Vadnais Heights properties need to be taken into consideration also. The major issues that our city council would like to address at the meeting are potential access to the Vadnais Heights parcel east of Highway 61, traffic issues on County Road D west of Highway 61, access for the business west of Highway 61, and drainage issues from the High Point Ridge development on Vadnais Heights properties. Please let me know some potential meeting dates for our councils to meet so that we can schedule a meeting. Sincerely, The City of Vadnais Heights k C Gerald J. Urban City Administrator I Weightsladministration I City Admin12003 correspondence 1062503 ahLdoc 0 z \ \\ \ IIII I a • 1 + I I l Fu r I iijl �I ' II 11q p r — I + Y t l 1+ 00 a il ' 11 ® a: z +� I m III Ij ( m ii � j 11 11 II I+ 11 1+ II 11 11 _ f� / ►1 MIDI`►- � II 111 Cl & W r IIII 1 111 I k r p,m I O X. M 1 I 1 �• 1 1 - -_ 1 1 1 1 �• f rl �� I il II 1 t� 1 ��`� � � ♦ I / 1' I t L I 1 \\ Z F- J � �z a �-' I t ► r`. �� t Zf � y 111+ 1� �1 I I t I i„Ii+r — I , I1 I 1 li. r t i+ I 1 ( I I — ' I I I I, I, I, 1, '+ Ir I, t, f I + I t 1 1 1 II II I f 1 + II II II p I, I wC 9x z , + I C I, I, I r ( r r t I, I o 0- 1 -"dlb H JJ J J / 11/ 000 ol lop ----------------- - - - - -- — — - - - - - - - - - -- ----- - - - - -- —c - - - - -- // --------- - - - - -- ------------- —7 _ - - - - -- _------ - - - - -- ------------ - - - - -- / // / �� _----- - - - - -- -- j ITTi � `� �/ � /APPROX.. SCAN - • 1 .APPROX. 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