Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 07-12 McKnight project studied by milti-community group REVIEW McKnight pro1'ect studied ni..) WI* multi-community group By SCOTT CARLSON when the council began reviewing the Under normal circumstances Splinter North St. Paul Village Manager Jerry new Ramsey county road policy which added the County has no plans for con- Splinter told the Village Council Monday now stipulates only road construction and struction next year. that any attempts by Ramsey County to improvements of four lanes will be county widen McKnight Road will have to await concern. Two lane facilities will now not At such time when construction is the findings of multi-community com- be considered. considered hearings will be held. mittee to assess the impact of the proposed Homart shopping center Mayor Jack Whisler said, "This Splinter also said Maplewood's com- development on all roads. assumes they will get rid of roads then not prehensive plan would not be approved by designed for four lanes." the Metropolitan Council until this impact The McKnight matter was brought up committee released its findings. Splinter and the Council agreed that McKnight would be a four lane road in a matter of time. "The people realized this when we had hearings two years ago, and I think its a foregone conclusion McKnight will be a four lane road 10 years from now," Councilman Curt Johnson said. "But I wouldn't want it to be a freeway." Councilmen Johnson and Charles Buehler asked Splinter how much traffic McKnight could handle with the Homart shopping center being planned in the area bounded by County Road D, White Bear Avenue, and Beam Avenue (to be ap- proximately the size of the Southdale shopping center). "Well McKnight has always been considered a major arterial," Splinter said. Buehler countered, "Thre may be a need for another collector road." Splinter agreed and said that a task force committee of all the communities which would be effected by the shopping center is being set up to determine traf- fic study projections. Included in the committee would be representatives from North St. Paul, Maplewood,White Bear Lake, Gem Lake, Vadnais Heights, and the County's engineering department. And until the findings are released any McKnight construction will be stalled.