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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-1999 Council Special Meeting Minutes• TOWNLINE ROAD INFORMATIONAL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 12, 1999 The following Council members were present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Charles Kelley, Bob Sansevere, and Richard Flint. Representing Staff were City Administrator Ron Moorse, Senior Planning Coordinator Michael Gaffron, Assistant Zoning Administrator Paul Weinberger, City Engineer Tom Kellogg, Director of.Public Services Greg Gappa, and Recorder Lanette Wolf. Mayor Jabbour called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Jabbour stated that the mayors of Maple Plain, Independence and Medina were present. He said the purpose of this meeting is to discuss Mn/DOT's proposal to close Townline Road at Highway 12. He said the first proposal was to move County Road 19 to Townline Road and to install a stop light. Because of the expense affiliated with the bridge and the railroad, that proposal was not feasible. Tom O'Keefe, representing Mn/DOT, was present. Jabbour said that Townline Road runs through Orono, Maple Plain, Independence and Medina. He said that a major concern is how emergency vehicles would get to Townline Road if there is a cul -de -sac. He said that the City of Maple Plain is planning to run water to the cul -de -sac and the commercial property that will be rezoned to residential property located in Medina. Medina is planning to run a sewer system to the property. He said that Mn/DOT will not take any action until the City of Orono takes a position regarding closing the • intersection with Highway 12. Jabbour said that Townline Road is not a major road to Orono, it is a neighborhood road. He said the Council wants input from the citizens of Orono. Martha Diesen said she has been told for years that County Road 19 would be moved to Townline Road. She asked how emergency vehicles would get through. Jabbour said that Orono has had similar issues with other roads. One suggestion is to build the curb low enough around the cul -de -sac so a vehicle could drive over it. Roger Diesen said Townline Road is not built for heavy traffic. He feels it would be a major expense to upgrade it for County Road #19. He does not believe a surmountable curb will work for emergency vehicles. He would like the road left as it is with some repair done. He said the road can be widened and a signal put at the intersection. Emergency vehicles will need access, especially with the proposed residential development. Jabbour asked O'Keefe to explain Mn/DOT's position regarding installing a stop light and keeping the status quo. O'Keefe said that the access under the railroad bridge is too narrow and it's at the wrong skew for an intersection and turn lanes can't be installed. He said it would make a bad situation worse if they signalize the intersection. • Diesen said he feels the road can be widened a little bit and a signal put in. He is opposed to putting in the cul -de -sac. Page 1 TOWNLINE ROAD INFORMATIONAL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 12, 1999 • Kelley said that if emergency vehicle access is the primary reason for leaving it open, allow a right -turn only going eastbound and don't allow anyone to exit from Townline Road onto Highway 12. The fire trucks coming from Maple Plain would be allowed to take the right turn. Another person suggested leaving the intersection as it is, but prohibit any left -hand turns. Sansevere asked how many of the people attending the meeting would like to see the cul -de- sac installed. Two people raised their hands. Dave Jellison, 4750 Creekwood Trail, Maple Plain, said that Townline Road is a very convenient road and he does not want it closed. Jabbour said if Townline Road is cul -de -saced and County Road 19 is moved to Townline Road at a later time, it will have a major impact on the residents in that area. A resident said he wants the cul -de -sac because he would like less traffic. If it does remain open, he would like to see it upgraded to County Road 19. Sue Jellison asked who will be responsible for the maintenance of the road. She is concerned about the increase in homes with future development. • Jabbour said the cities will have to maintain the road. Jane Slaughter, Highway 12, said she may have to use Townline Road in the future. She is in favor of closing the access because her understanding is that it will change the zoning of the property to residential from commercial. Mike Gorman said he is against putting in the cul -de -sac because it will increase traffic on Broadmoor. John Ferris, Mayor of Medina, said the property has not been rezoned and the rezoning is not conditioned on whether or not the cul -de -sac is put in. Jabbour asked if it would be fair to say that nothing will happen with the property if Maple Plain does not run water to the site. It was indicated that the intersection is very dangerous and a light is needed, but the problem with Townline Road is that it is not a square intersection, it is too narrow and changing the bridge is not feasible. Martha Diesen asked how big the property is and how many homes would be built because the minimum lot size in Orono is 5 acres. • Page 2 CJ TOWNLINE ROAD INFORMATIONAL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 12, 1999 Jabbour said the property is not located in Orono. John Ferris, Mayor of Medina, said that it would be 3/4 -acre zoning and 16 or 17 homes could be built. If water and sewer are not installed by the cities, then five -acre zoning would apply. Dave Jellison asked which city the new homes would be located in. Jabbour said Medina. He said Medina will be furnishing sewer and Maple Plain will be furnishing water. Jim Smith, 4972 Broadmoor, said he is concerned that Broadmoor will be used as a short cut. He is concerned about safety at the Highway 12 intersection and he favors the one -way in or one -way out, but leave it open. Carol Neyens, 4850 Broadmoor, said that Townline Road needs to be upgraded if more development occurs. Sansevere asked if there are any other options, such as the one -way turns, that Mn%DOT would consider in lieu of the cul -de -sac. is O'Keefe said the only option other than the cul -de -sac is to leave it open and spend $6,000,000 to reconstruct the railroad bridge and upgrade the intersection. Neither Mn/Dot nor the County is willing to spend that much money. That option would require relocating County Road 19 onto Townline Road. He said Mn/DOT cannot just leave the connection in place as it is because it is part of the problem that exists on Highway 12. Townline Road is narrow, it approaches at the wrong angle, it doesn't line up, and turn lanes can't be set up either into it or out of it. If County Road 19 is moved onto Townline Road, it becomes a much better north/south connection through Hennepin County. He said that intersection is ranked #3 on the list of unsignalized intersections in terms of accidents in the metropolitan area. Mn/DOT is not willing to pay for upgrading the road. O'Keefe said local trips should be kept off the trunk highwa) s. John Ferris, Mayor of Medina, requested that Orono make a decision, either to recommend it, not recommend, or not to have an opinion. Sansevere asked if the cul -de -sac would be put in regardless of what the City of Orono wants. Jack Vigoren, Mayor of Maple Plain, said it costs $165,000 to get the water up there and their city will not pay for it. They have asked Mn/DOT, under a cooperative agreement, to give them the money. It will be funded if the four cities agree. • Sansevere said he thought the water for the development had nothing to do with the cul -de- sac. Page 3 TOWNLINE ROAD INFORMATIONAL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 12, 1999 Jabbour said that if Orono objects to the project, Mn/DOT will not participate in the project. O'Keefe said Mn/DOT would like some kind of reaction from the City. Jabbour asked if Mn/DOT will go ahead with the project if Orono objects to it. O'Keefe said it probably would not be done this summer, but it would be pursued with a more formal public involvement campaign. Jabbour asked if there are other vehicles available to Mn/DOT to force this project on the City of Orono. J O'Keefe said yes. Kelley said there has not been enough planning done on the concept and he cannot take a position at this time. The resident who lives at the corner of Watertown Road and Townline asked about the feasibility of a temporary semaphore at Townline and Highway 12 to see if that works. O'Keefe said that the cost of a temporary semaphore is the same as a permanent signal. That • option would also require turn lanes. Jabbour said he concurs with Kelley. He wants more detail before taking any action. He is concerned about the lack of input from the City of Independence being taken as consent. Jack Vigoren said the issue about the intersection is safety. He would like a light at the intersection as soon as possible. 6-1 en Qkif'Slaughter, Highway 12, said he works in Hamel and travels Highway 12 and County Road 19. He is concerned about safety and wants a stop light at the intersection. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. ATTEST: Linda S. Vee, City Clerk Gabriel Jabbour, Mayor Page 4