HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-27-1997 West Neighborhood Meeting Highway 12 MinutesMINUTES OF THE
Is WEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
CONCERNING THE HIGHWAY 12 DESIGN
MAY 27,1997
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Jabbour. Jabbour indicated the location of
the corridor for an upgrade of Highway 12 has now been selected. The next step is to develop a
preliminary design for the roadway within the selected corridor. This is being done with input from
representatives of the cities and other governmental agencies affected by the project. These
representatives are serving on a Preliminary Design Committee. The role of the committee is not
to change the corridor but rather to minimize the impacts of the roadway on affected property
owners. Jabbour indicated the Preliminary Design Committee and the City Council need the input
of the property owners along the corridor to ensure the design process addresses the concerns of the
affected property owners.
Jabbour indicated the city has divided the corridor area into two neighborhood areas. The west
neighborhood area includes all properties west of Willow Drive. The east neighborhood area
includes all properties east of Willow Drive. The city would like to form a neighborhood committee
from each of the two neighborhood areas to provide input to the Council and to the city's
representatives on the Preliminary Design Committee regarding the design of the roadway. There
will be approximately 5 representatives on each of the neighborhood committees. The purpose of
the neighborhood is to serve as a communication channel between the city and the neighborhood
to keep the neighborhood up -to -date on the progress of the Preliminary Design Committee, and to
obtain input from the neighborhood regarding the preliminary design.
Allen Engleman asked why the corridor could not be moved to the north versus to the south since
there are no houses to the north side of the corridor. Jabbour indicated the corridor has to stay south
of the St. George cemetery. Because the rail road can only have minimum curves, it requires a long
distance to move the corridor farther to the north on the west side of the cemetery.
Chuck Guerin, of Flamingo Wire, asked for clarification of where the corridor is located. Jabbour
indicated the corridor is located along the current Burlington Northern Rail Road corridor. He
explained the current east/west road system including new Highway 12. He indicated the new
Highway 12 will be a two lane freeway which will be the most effective traffic mover in the State.
Mr. Guerin asked what the time table for the Highway 12 project is. Goetten indicated the
Preliminary Design Committee is working with Mn/DOT to complete the preliminary layout of the
roadway by the 1997 but that the committee is scheduled to continue to meet for approximately 3
to 4 years as the details of the design are finalized. Jabbour indicated that Mn/DOT is in the process
of completing an environmental assessment on the project which is to be completed in early 1998.
The EA process is to determine whether an environmental impact study is needed.
Roberta Morrison asked how far south the new right -of -way will be from the current right -of -way.
. Moorse indicated that west of Willow the new right -of -way will generally be approximately 35 feet
south of the current right -of -way. Morrison then asked when the new road will be built. Jabbour
indicated in 2001 or 2002. Jabbour indicated it is the city's goal not to trap a person in a property
that is to be acquired by Mn/DOT for the roadway.
Jabbour indicated that any resident who is interested in serving on the West Neighborhood Highway
12 Committee should contact the City Administrator.
Morrison then asked whether the property owners should hire an attorney to assist them in working
with Mn/DOT regarding the purchase of their property. Jabbour suggested this would be a good idea
at a later point in the process.
Kelley indicated the city needs input from the property owners regarding issues such as the type of
screening along the proposed roadway, lighting, etc. as the preliminary design is developed.
Goetten indicated the general corridor location has been set but there is still some flexibility in
relation to the exact location of the roadway within that corridor.
Donna Gause, who lives on Stubbs Bay Road, asked how the roadway will get past the wetlands.
She is concerned that if the wetlands are filled it could have a negative impact on their property in
terms of stormwater drainage. Jabbour indicated Mn/DOT is working with the Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District to address those issues.
Rod Johnson, of 3740 West Wayzata Boulevard, asked what the purpose of the neighborhood
committee is. He indicated his property is being acquired. He assumed the purpose of the
committee is to address the design of the roadway. Jabbour agreed that the purpose of the committee
is to enable input from the neighborhood regarding the design of the roadway.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
ATTEST: Gabri Jabbour, Mayor
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