02-14-1994 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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/Residents angry after decision , • ,1 to leave Highway 7 ^«xit open By John Mugfocd Excelsior City Council members looked, listened, discussed, and decided Monday not to close an exit from Highway 7 onto Division Street. And as a result of their deci sion, several residents of the neighborhood near the exit ex claimed anger, vowing to take their request up to the Min nesota Department of Transpor tation (MnDOT). In April, several residents from Second and Third avenues in Excelsior said they were con cerned about safety in their neighborhood and asked the City Council to reduce speeds and add a stop sign, as well as close olf the Division Street exit from Highway 7. The City Council responded by putting in a slop sign at the cor ner of Division Street and Se cond Avenue, and asking MnDOT to consider reducing speeds in the neighborhood and examine the possibility of clos ing off the exit. MnDOT officials recommend ed a lower the speed limit on Third Avenue from 30 mph to 2S mph. But the top pnohty of residents in the area just south of Highway 7 is to have the Divi sion Street exit closed. They say theu* neighborhood is becoming increasingly un safe, especially for children, because a growing number of motorists are taking the Divi sion Street exit, traveling down Second Avenue and connecting with Mill Street, which leads to new housing projects and retail areas ui Chanhnssen. They say traffic has increased for two years, since Shorewood made Christmas Lake Road a dead end. cutting off its access to Mill Street. ' "Our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks and many of the yards there are very sleep so the children have to walk and ride their bikes in the streets. ’ said Kammy Houghton, a Second Avenue resident. ’We re bring ing this issue up for safety s sake. The safety of the children has to he put above the businesses in town.** In referring to the businesses in town. Houghton was talking about the Excelsior Area Chamber of Commerce ’s posi tion that the exit should remain open. Several residents who spoke mentioned a letter from Bdl Mason. president of the chamber. sUUng that the chamber was opposed to closing the exit Mason also presented a mA petition with the nan^ of more than 100 people opposed to clos ing off the exit Many of those who signed the petition live in apartments on the south side of Highway 7, in the Excelsior Nursing Home, and on Linden Street. Excelsior United Methodist Church also wrote a letter opposing the clos ing of the exit Several residents from Second and Third avenues questioned why the chamber would take (he stance it did. They said motorists traveling west on Highway 7 have already passed Excelsior's downtown by the time they exit at Division Street, which is a block or so beyond the Mill Street bridge. '*11 I were a merchant on Water Street, 1 think I’d want the Division Street exit closed.” said Steve Morse, a Third venue^es idenTT^Thal^wouid mean motorists would have to exit at County Road 19 and go down Water Street to gel to Mill Street. That’s where all (he businesses are.” After several people said they didn’t understand how closing off the exit would hurt the downtown area. Mason spoke up "That’s not what the letter says,” Mason said. ‘‘Since I've been so eloquently quoted by my learned critics. ’ I think they should read the letter.” The letter from Mason staled that the chamber "strongly" op poses closing the exit. **lt is the chamber's opinion that the closing of any access to the city negatively affects the business and residential com- ______________________’ MlnoMoU Sun Puhik tisamonts IhM are in wkM kUnnMoU Sun Public kx:al boensing depanmen propneia bcanse to oparm HIGHWAY: To page 5a/ ORIH< • i*rnd Spcciallring La £fl for Adults and Ch Phon FREE initial« BROI • I •w ^ ICH H.M. S16.95/adult S12.95/childreryunder 12 plus tax and gratuity; includes brunch arid 2 hr. cruise •Reservations required !:i r.n. 5:«0 P.n. 1 3/4 hour public cruises cash bar: beer, wine & soft drinks $10/adult SS/children under 12 t 8;00 ];00 P.M.- P.M. 3 hour fireworks cruise, cash bar and appetizers $15/person •Reservations required 50 minimum by July 2nd EXCELSIOR PARK CHARTERS 701 Minnetonka Blvd • Excelsior • 474-4772 L d<ptrturr from iht Twm C»u for only SlO fou retetvt round crip COac^ irintporC4Ci plut a S^O |4mmg package Can now fO rtitnrt J tCJI Then relj> and l«i ch€ good iimet roe KEN’S fNMEATS Gtand OpeduilS sec 4 sun Cfifitd Brec 4 Pofi $l 00 115 Mot Dog 4 Pop sot c... 5 lb Tin of Lasagna W/ Loaf of Garlic Bread $12.99 Expires July 3 ' USOACnoice: T-Bone steak .—.....................$4.79 ID Porterhouse Steak ........<4 oo ir.