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5.10. SR 02-22-2005 Item 5.10. 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 February 10, 2005 File: 808331J-0240 The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, 11N 55330 RE: ZANEAVENUERIGHT-OF-WAY WAL-MART EXPANSION PROPOSAL Dear Councilmembers: On November 15, 2004 when the City Council approved the expansion of the Wal-Mart Store, one of the conditions and direction given to me was to work with the Wal-Mart engineer to analyze acquiring more right-of-way along their frontage of Zane Avenue for a potential future expansion of Zane Avenue. Since that time I have had several discussions with Ron Dokken, the Wal-Mart engineer, regarding this issue and believe we have come up with a solution that will accommodate both the City and Wal-Mart. Zane Avenue currently has a 60-foot wide right-of-way. As you are aware, Zane Avenue is a three-lane roadway with two lanes southbound and one lane northbound. I have previously recommended to the City Council that some time in the future, Zane Avenue should be re- striped to a three-lane configuration with the center lane being a dual left turn lane. Zane Avenue also has a six-foot wide sidewalk within the 60-foot right-of-way. Wal-Mart has head-in parking currently constructed or proposed along their entire Zane Avenue frontage. This head-in parking is situated 10 feet back from the current right-of-way line in accordance with City ordinance. Any additional right-of-way acquisition from Wal-Mart would place this entire row of parking in a nonconforming situation. What I have suggested to Ron Dokken and Wal-Mart has agreed as a solution that would meet both parties goals would be to have Wal-Mart provide the City with a 10-foot wide sidewalk easement which would cover the entire grass area between the right-of-way line of Zane Avenue and the curb line defining their closest row of head-in parking. This would leave this entire row of parking meeting City code, because the setback is measured from the right-of-way line. However, it would allow the City to expand Zane Avenue within the 60-foot right-of-way and rebuild the sidewalk outside of the 60-foot existing right-of-way. As I have stated before, I do not believe that Zane Avenue needs to be expanded to four lanes of traffic, but rather, should be striped as a three-lane roadway with a center left turn lane. The solution of gaining an additionall0-foot sidewalk easement would allow for the widening of Zane Avenue 6-9 Phone: 763.635.1000 Fax: 763.635.1090 www.cLelk-river.mn.us Wal-Mart/ZaneAvenue February 10, 2005 Page 2 feet, which would add 2 -3 feet per lane, and still leave sufficient room for snow storage and sidewalk placement within the la-foot sidewalk easement acquired from Wal-Mart. I have reviewed this proposed solution with Jeff Beahen, Police Chief, to get his reaction. Attached is a memo dated December 30, 2004 from Jeff indicating his concurrence with this proposal. I have also discussed this issue with the Planning Commission at their workshop on Tuesday, February 8,2005. They had no objections to this proposed solution. With the City Council's concurrence, I will conclude this process by working with Wal- Mart's engineer to ensure that a la-foot sidewalk easement is provided and recorded. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please call. Sincerely, Te~~~ City Engineer S:\Engineer\200S cc memos\2 1005 Wa!mart easemt.doc Et~ River Police Department MEMORANDUM FROM: Terry Maurer Jeffrey A. Beahen, Chief of Police TO: DATE: 1 2-30-04 SUBJECT: Zone Avenue I have reviewed the street configuration on Zane by Wal-Mart and Home Dept, and I offer these Public Safety comments. The current road is designed for 30mph vehicular traffic and it has road calming curves and angles in it. This helps keep the flow of traffic at or about the posted speed limit. The consideration of a four lane roadway would have been more viable had the road been straight, and access points all at right angles. This is not the case. Increasing the roadway to four lanes gives the impression to motorists of a higher speed limit, encouraging motorists to drive faster-speeds that the curved roadway can't handle. This creates the potential for more accidents in this area-something we currendy do not have. A three lane roadway offers the turn lanes, which allows traffic to continue on, avoiding turning vehicles, while still maintaining the traffic calming effects of the current roadway configuration. It is also, in my opinion, safer to turn across one driving lane versus two. A four lane roadway has vehicles stopped and turning in the left driving lane, offering a visual block to oncoming traffic in the far-right lane. A potential for more accidents and a factor in many accidents where the four lane configuration is used. The proposed three lane roadway is the basic arterial configuration utilized in most communities in these types of retail developments. I strongly advocate that configuration versus a four lane road. Please contact me if you have any questions concerning this matter.