02-20-1991 Planning Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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‘ )i * i.. PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1991 down? Do you have any suggestions of how to deal with that issue? I agree with Mr. Anderson's comments about the congestion and safety problems. It scares me sometimes when I try to get around the City of Long Lake. The town of Long Lake has been in this location for some time. I may not be the most beautiful town, but there is a lot of history and historical buildings." Alan Carlson, Fox Street, stated that there would be no discussion involvin-^ alternative routes if no one was concerned about Long Lake. He said, "The City of Long Lake is the basis of the problem. We are trying to be fair to the City of Long Lake, However, that is where Highway 12 is today, and that is where it would be automatically upgraded, were it not for the people of Long Lake. It is a difficult problem to solve. It is clear that the people coming from the west could use Highway 55, 494 and 394 to get downtown. I found the recent census figures interesting. It showed that Eden Prairie's population increased by 141%-they need a freeway. Brooklyn Park increased by 30%, Maple Grove increased by 83%. Those cit: i need a freeway. Ovono increased by 6% in tan years and Minnetonka Beach lost population. It is apparent that we are not building a highway for ourselves and we are trying to take everyone else into consideration. It would be one thing if we needed the freeway and did not want in our backyard. However, that is not the case." Kelley added, "Population projections for the years 1980 and 1990 were done after the 1970 census. Orono's 1990 population is what was projected for 1980." Eleanor VJinston Comprehensive Plan, development." said, "That in because of the City's The City of Orono is not planning for Sherokee Use, 3530 Eileen Street, stated that the Planning Commission and Council have stuck with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan. She said, "Many of us are here to supporc you (the Planning Commission) in your efforts to continue doing that. I agree that we must not negate our neighboring cities. I don't think we should just accept MNDOT's mandates. We need to be creative and find other alternatives, while upholding the City's Comprehensive Plan. I am here to ask what we can do to assist the Planning Commission toward that goal." Bruce Carlson, 59j Northstream Road, stated that everyone present this evening is more than likely in favor of safety. He said, "There are definitely places along Highway 12 where safety improvements ate not o.nly necessary, but are planned tvu occur. Whether or not safety improvements include widening to four lanes is an e.ngineering issue. Ingenuity could be used 'O design a more safe highway with only modest widening. It seems to me that if Highway 12 is moved off of its existing corridor, that the businesses in long Lake will suffer. They rely on the traffic - 5 -