03-18-1991 Planning Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD MARCH 18, 1991 (112)HIGHWAY 12 CORRIDOR RECOMMENDATION CONTINUED sununairized the Planning Cornrnission s corridor recommendations. location Bellows added t at the recommendation based on a series of policies and goals, such as the 1980 Comprehensive Plan, and the Planning Commission consensus that they did not wish to undertake rezoning if areas along the corridor. She said, "We also recognized that though we wanted to siipport the views of our residents, it is our responsibility to look at the proposal within the context of immediate and future transportation needs for the Community. Tho Planning Commission agreed that some upgrading of Highway 12 is required to a.idress safety factors. We strongly encouraged the improvement of all levels of communication between the Cities of Long Lake and Orono. We felt it v/o*.s necessary to establisn a corridor to eliminate the uncertainty for those washing to buy or sell property within the area. Th^* Planning Commission indicateid the need to limit residential impact and protect the natural environment." Bellows suggested that it may be appropriate for the Planning Commission to state soecifically that the Lece Line corridor is not to be considered." She said. "We do not want to give any implications that may lead MWDOT to pull the o.ld c<»rridcr plan out of their drawer." Hanson reiterated the importance of limiting the number of corridor considerations to only one. Kelley informed tliose present that the Planning Commission had voted unanimously to encourage the City ot Orono to work with MNDOT and the City of Long L.ake to expedite comprehensive safety improvements to Highv/ay 12. He advised that MNDoT is planning to upgrade Highway 12 with specific safety improvements in the year 1993. Kelley summarized the Planning Commission's recommendation regarding the design of the upgraded road. Hanson compared the recommended design to the old, four-lane Highway 12, though he notsd that the Planning Commission did not specify four-lane in their recommendation. Kelley stated that the traffic counts have not been provided, and that it is difficult to make a recommendation on number of lanes without that information. Mabusth stated that George Johnson and Councilmember Goetten confirmed that the current level of traffic on Highway 12 is 15,000 to 20,000 c-irs per day. She added that a four-lane road design is required for highways exceeding 10,000 cars per day. She asked the m«3robers present if they would still like their - 21 - .JIL^ 4