11-20-1995 Planning Commission Minutes

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• MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 20, 1995 ( #4 - #2085 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Continued) Jerry Gray asked if the right turn lane would be for parking access only and was told it was not for the exclusive use of the access but a continuation of a right lane. Gray felt the traffic flow would result in a circus. Peterson said the traffic has been discussed in great detail including the right turn lane. Gray asked if the plans could be changed if they found this plan does not work. Linnell suggested staying in the driving lane and turning directly onto Tonkawa. It was said a car can turn right from the center lane but Gray questioned whether the County would consider this to be legal or not. Hurr said there would in effect be two lanes of traffic onto Tonkawa. There would be 300 -400' of stacking area in the turn lane. No parking signs have been installed. Gray was concerned that the no parking would not be enforced. Linnell noted that the three ramps would aid in the traffic flow also. Barry Knight, 425 Tonkawa, was concerned with traffic flow at peak times. He asked about the normal traffic for a ramp and was told 25 spaces per ramp is standard. Knight was concerned with left turns coming out at dusk. He felt if there was parking for 80 cars, and with the traffic configuration pattern, it would want to head both north and south on Tonkawa. He saw this as a potential problem during "rush hours ". Peterson commented that a boat launch creates less traffic than a marina and less turnover. • It was noted that Gayle's Marina originally had 140 slips. With a boat ramp, boaters come early and leave late. If Gayle's had no problem with traffic, Peterson said he saw even less here. Gray asked if a traffic count was done at Gayle's but that was unknown. • Knight said he was less convinced than the Planning Commission on the amount of traffic considered to come out of the access area. Linnell said Gayle's Marina also had 2 double access, launch ramps. Knight asked about hardcover and was told the access was designed to standards. Knight asked what enforcement would be done of the access traffic and local traffic on Tonkawa in order to maintain the 3 0-3 5 mph limit and how this would be dealt with in the residential area. Peterson said if speed became a problem, the police department would have to enforce the law. Killien said the DNR had made suggestions to the City regarding overflow parking suggesting no parking signs and an ordinance to uphold that. He felt the DNR was dealing with this issue up front. Killien felt education right from the start was important. Killien said he would not recommend cars towing boats to travel on Tonkawa with the snake -like hills. He felt that Tonkawa as a route from the north probably would be used mainly during peak times. He said he would check with the County on this.