HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-1998 Council Work SessionCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, November 18,1998
AGENDA
I. Highway 12 preliminary layout.
A. Design elements about which the Orono City Council and/or Orono Design Review
Committee have raised noncems or questions.
1 . New frontage road in Long Lake connecting Orono Orchard Road to Brown
Road.
II.
a) Revised design to limit speed and tralTic levels.
2. Wayzata Boulevard/Highway 12 interchange.
At the request of the City of Wayzata, Mn/DO f has developed an alternative
design for the interchange that moves the roadway to the north. The Orono
Design Review Committee has expressed a number of concerns regarding
this design option.
County Road 6 and Highway 12 interchange.3.
4.Luce Line bridge.
The DNR has indicated the need for a bridge width of 14 feet. I his addresses
concerns that were raised by the Orono Design Review Committee.
Oth.vi issues about which the City Council may want to reach an understanding with
Mn/DOT in the near term.
A. Hardship acquisition for right-of-way acquisitions that involve a total taking.
B. Noise mitigation.
C. Water resources (stormwater management) plan for the corridor.
D. Relocation of Holbrook Park to the property on Willow Drive.
E. Agreement regarding no lights along the corridor unless an accident problem has
been demonstrated.
1 ) Agreement that if lights are needed the design and height of the lights will be
such that light will not extend beyond the corridor.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor and City Council
Ron Moorse, City Administrator
November 17, 1998
SUBJECT; Highway 12 Preliminary La.' out Issues
There are two design-specific issues about which the Orono Design Review Committee has raised
significant concerns. These are the new frontage road in Long Lake that will connect Brown Road
with Orono Orchard Road, and a design option for the Wayzata Boulcvard/Highway 12 interchange
that was requested by the City of Wayzata.
Frontage Road Connection to Orono Orchard Road
The Orono Design Review Committee has expressed concerns regarding the proposed new frontage
road that would connect Brown Road with Orono Orchard Road. The concern is that the frontage
road would encourage additional traffic on Orono Orchard Road, and the current design with a cur\ e
connection to Orono Orchard Road would encourage higher speeds. A design change suggested by
the Design Review Committee is to replace the proposed cur\e that connects the frontage road to
Orono Orchard Road with a 90® intersection to limit both speed and the volume of traffic. There
may be other design options that could accomplish these same purposes.
Wayzata Boulevard/Highway 12 Interchange
The City of Wayzuita requested Mn/DOT to develop an alternative design for the interchange that
moves the roadway to the north. The purpose of this change is to preserve trees on the north side
of the railroad that currently provide screening for the Woodhill Country Club. Mn/DOT has a
number of concerns regarding this alternative design. The alternative design requires an "S" cur\e
that has a number of operational drawbacks. Mm DOT has not carried the analysis of this alternative
far enough to determine whether the change would have any negative impact on the Myrtlewood
neighborhood. It was suggested at the Design Review Committee meeting that a better solution may
be to simply replace any trees lost to construction, since tnere would be space a\ailable for
replanting trees after construction. 'Hie Orono Design Review Committee indicated to Mn/DOT that
the disadvantages of the alternative interchange design far outweighed any advantages.
SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER 4,1998
HIGHWAY 12 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEET JNG
Tlic main item on the meeting agenda was the completed preliminary layout. Mn/DOT is soliciting
input from the affected cities regarding the preliminary layout. Mn/DOT will also solicit input from
the general public through a public hearing process in the near future. Based on comments IVom the
affected cities and the general public, the preliminary layout will be finalized for approval by the
affected cities.
A number of issues, both directly and indirectly related to the preliminaiy' layout, were raised at the
Design Review Committee.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Diann Goetten expressed concern regarding how Mn/DOT is handling the right-of-
way acquisition process in relation to hardship acquisitions. Patti Token indicated
the hardship acquisition policy is not black and white, and properly owners need to
provide a hardship statement.
Diann Goetten indicated a concern regarding the proposed frontage road in Long
Lake that would connect Brown Road to Orono Orchard Road. She indicated it was
her understanding that the City of Long Lake had agreed to revising the design to
eliminate the cur\'e that connects the frontage road to Orono Orchard Road in favor
of a right angle turn. Patti Token indicated she had not received information from
the City of Long Lake regarding that design element.
Lili McMillan indicated it is important to prohibit lighting from the corridor. Tom
O'Keefe indicated there is no lighting contemplated along the corridor except at the
interchanges and decorative lighting on the bridges over the corridor. He indicated
Mn/DOT " ould agree to prohibit lighting from the remainder of the corridor with the
condition that lighting could be added if an accident problem develops that could be
resolved by lighting.
Lili McMillan indicated that an agreement is needed with Mn/DOT that if lighting
is needed along the corridor the design and height of the lighting will be such that the
light will not extend beyond the corridor.
It was indicated that an irr.,?ortant element that has not been discussed recently is
noise walls and retaining walls. Patti Token indicated Mn/DOTs noise expert will
attend the December 2 Design Review Committee meeting to discuss noise
mitigation.
Mn/DOT indicated the completed prcliminaiy' design shows that in the area between
Old Ciy stal Bay Road and Willow Drive the amount of right-of-way required is the
1
J
SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER 4,1998
HIGHWAY 12 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
6.
7.
8.
same for a retaining wall vs. a 2:1 slope. Mn/DOT is supporting the 2:1 slope option
because it will save approximately $4,000,000 in costs.
Nancy Yoo gave a brief overview of the plan for managing the stormwater runoff
along the corridor. Dick Flint suggested that more detail is needed regarding the
stormwater management plan. Nancy Yoo indicated the water resources eommittee,
which includes representatives from the affected cities and agencies, will be meeting
in the near future to review the details of the stormwater management plan.
It was indicated that the bridge truss on the existing Luee Line bridge over the
railroad is useable for relocation to replace the Luce Line bridge over Highway 12.
However, the relocation of this bridge truss would be very difficult and the truss is
only 10 feet wide
Patti Loken indicated the City of Wayzata requested Mn/DOT develop an alternative
alignment for the roadway and bridge at the Wayzata Boulcvard/Highway 12
interchange that would move the roadway to the north to prescr\'e trees that currently
screen Woodhill Country Club. Patti Loken presented the alternative alignment and
indicated Mn/DOT has many concerns regarding the alternative alignment. The
alternative alignment would reduce the operational effectiveness of both the bridge
and the roadway. It was suggested that it may be belter to simply replace the lost
trees aAcr construction. Patti Loken indicated it is important that Mn/DOT hear from
all affected cities regarding this alternative alignment.