03-24-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mlnnasota Department of Transportation Metropolitan Division Waters Edge 1500 West County Road B2 Roseville, MN 55113 612-582-1293 March 14, 1997 received MAR 1 8 1997 CITY OF ORONO Cities; Long Lake, Orono, and Wayzata Agencies: Mn/DOT, BNSF Railroad, Hennepin County, DNR, MCWD, Hennepin Parks RE; Selection of TH 12 Design Review Committee Dear Proposed Committee Members: As you know, the Transportation Planning Section of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is developing and working on the Environmental Assessment (EA) and layout for approximately 5 miles of highway improvement on Trunk Highway 12 (TH 12) through Long Lake and Orono. The city councils of Long Lake and Orono have approved, by resolution, the corridor selection of an alternative along the north side of the Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) Railroad tracks. Mn/DOT will now proceed with the highway development process and evaluate this alternative, and the Nobuild, in the EA. We wish to include the agencies and cities in the development of the proposed layout and t.ie mitigation of impacts being identified in the EA study. We will strive to complete the draft EA and furnish the layout to the cities by Nov./Dec. of 1997. As part of the project development process, involvement by the cities, the agencies and the public is essential for creating a project that all affected parties will consent to. Mn/DOT is proposing to begin a “Design Review Committee” that will meet monthly for the life of the highway development process of this project. Membership on this committee will require a long term commitment to the project for quite possibly 3-4 years. This technical committee will be given the responsibility of leviewing all the important design elements of the project and design process and act as liaison to the community. As the layout is developed and the preliminary design phase transitions into final design, the committee would be included in the aesthetic treatment selection such matters like lighting, landscaping, and noise and retaining wall design. It is emphasized, we will not be revisiting past decisions and considering other corridors alignments, but rather focusing and moving forward on the corridor alternative approved along the BNSF railroad tracks. The meetings will be mostly likely held in Orono at the Orono City Hall and be on either a Wednesday or Thursday night. Meeting time and location will be discussed at the first meeting. An equal opportunity employer