7.0. SR 11-15-1993
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Item 7.
TO:
MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
SUBJECT:
PAT KLAERS, CITY ADMINIST~
NOVEMBER 19, 1993 ~~O'
ELK PARK CENTER WORKSESS~
DATE:
The November 22, 1993, City Council agenda is light and it is
believed that it would be a good time for the City Council and
staff to have a worksession on the Elk Park Center proposal.
Specifically, City Engineer, Terry Maurer, needs to know if the
issues that he has identified are consistent with what the City
Council feels is needed to be addressed by the 12/13/93 public
hearing on Elk Park Center. Attached for your review is a
11/18/93 memo from the City Engineer to City Planner, Steve
Ach, regarding the scope of major issues for this project. The
basis of this scope summary is the Planning Commission minutes,
the findings of fact resolution, and information supplied by
former Mayor Jim Tralle.
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As this is a worksession on an important topic, staff has
invited representatives from the neighborhood adjacent to the
proposal to this meeting. This was done in order to make sure
that no one felt that anything on this proposal is being
decided "behind closed doors". As the citizens have been
invited, it is also appropriate to have developer
representatives present. Finally, former Mayor Tralle,
representing the mediation group has also been invited. Having
these groups present at the worksession should help ensure that
no issues which need to be discussed on 12/13 are left out.
Terry can complete all the work listed in his memo by the 12/13
public hearing and can have a report, at least in summary form,
available by this date. The 11/18/93 City Engineer memo
appears to be complete, but the City Engineer needs to hear and
receive input from the City Council on what are the most
important issues to analyze and which issues could conceivably
wait until after the 12/13/93 public hearing. This is
important if new issues are added to the list. There are some
real time limits on what can be accomplished before this public
hearing.
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It is anticipated that there will be some feedback available
from MnDOT by this 11/22 meeting on MnDOT's position regarding
expansion of the right in/right out intersection at Highway 169
to include a crossover for the northbound lanes. This is an
important piece of the overall puzzle for this Elk Park Center
proposal. This information will not affect the Elk Park Center
P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
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site plan, but there needs to be an updated site plan submitted
and analyzed. This is important for drainage and building pad
identifications and also to decide whether or not the Freeport
match up at Jackson Avenue is to align with Highland Avenue. A
remaining new site plan issue relates to the possible "back
door" private driveway that is off of Jackson Avenue at the
southern part of the property that could be used as an entrance
into the center.
At the 12/13/93 public hearing, the City Council will hear all
new information on the proposal. If the major issues have been
addressed, then the proposal may be able to move forward.
However, if not, then the Council should consider the
resolution to deny this proposal following the public hearing,
or the Council could continue the 12/13 public hearing so that
more time is available to work out the remaining issues with
this project.
.MS ~
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
CIVil ENGINEERING:
ENVIRONMENTAl
MUNICIPAL
PLANNING
STRUCTURAL
_SURVEYING
TRAFFIC
TRANSPORTATION
1326 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55108
612-644-4389
Fax: 612-644-9446
_ 9800 Shelard Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55441
612-546-0432
Fax: 612-544-6398
Memo To:
From:
File:
Date:
Re:
Steve Ach, City Planner
Terry Maurer, P .E. ~
230-152-10
November 18, 1993
Elk Park Center Feasibility Study
Scope of Major Items
Based on all the available information concerning the Elk Park Center, including staff
reports, developer submitted information, and Planning Commission and City Council
minutes, I would summarize the major points to be considered within the feasibility study
as follows:
A.
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TRAFFIC
1.
Re-analyze total traffic generated by development based on the most current
site plan.
2.
Re-analyze distribution of traffic entering and exiting the site considering
market-based distribution.
3. Analyze all adjacent intersections as outlined in the Planning Commission
public hearing minutes to determine level of service prior to the development
of the site, and identify improvements needed to maintain the same level of
service after development.
4. Re-analyze the movement of traffic from northbound TH 169 to westbound
School Street between TH 169 and Freeport.
5.
Analyze the street section necessary on School Street between TH 169 and
Freeport, considering the section needed from Freeport to Jackson and
ultimately to Proctor Avenue. Once this is established, analyze the available
right-of-way and determine land acquisition needs.
6.
Re-analyze the traffic flow to the site from both west Highway 10 and the
northwest area of the County, specifically looking at the amount of traffic
that would utilize either School Street or Highland Avenue to access the site
from the west.
.
Steve Ach, City Planner
November 18, 1993
Page Two
7. Analyze the effect an additional access to the site from Jackson Avenue
would have on traffic utilizing School Street between Jackson and TH 169.
8. Analyze the effect a median crossover and signalized intersection at the
location of the right-in/right-out point would have on overall traffic patterns
to the site.
9. Analyze the pedestrian movements both school-related and general public-
related, and make recommendations relative to sidewalks, pathways, and
school crossing zones.
10. Re-analyze the traffic control needs at the intersection of School Street and
Jackson Avenue.
11. Re-analyze the signalization of School Street and Freeport and the
coordination of this signal with TH 169 and School Street existing signals.
12.
Re-analyze the improvements needed to Jackson Avenue both from the
Freeport intersection to TH 169 and between Freeport and School Street.
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13. Re-analyze the proposed access at the most northerly end of the site for
safety concerns and environmental concerns, specifically the need to cut
down mature trees to provide adequate site lines and determine whether or
not it is reasonable to allow an access off of Jackson at this point.
B. DRAINAGE
1. Re-analyze the drainage plan, specifically the two-thirds of the site that flow
to the east under TH 169. Analyze the need or lack thereof for an outlet
from the regional pond, given the phasing of the proposed shopping center.
2. Re-analyze the internal drainage system in accordance with Best Management
Practices, specifically the design of the sedimentation pond.
3. Analyze and make recommendations for appropriate fencing around the
ponds adjacent to the School District property on the south and adjacent to
Jackson Avenue on the west.
4.
Analyze the portion of the site that flows to the south down Freeport
Avenue. This will require modeling of the entire drainage system that flows
all the way to the Mississippi River. Comment on the effect on the
intersection of Main and Evans or any other critical point.
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Steve Ach, City Planner
November 18, 1993
Page Three
5. Analyze the alternative drainage plan which calls for significantly more on-
site storage and all drainage flowing to the south with no drainage flowing
under TH 169 to the east.
The above listing of critical items attempts to identify those items which we would
concentrate our efforts on between now and the December 13th public hearing. Obviously,
the final feasibility study will cover many, many more items, such as sanitary sewer, water,
and street infrastructure to serve the site. Also, a critical part of the feasibility study will
be cost estimates on the various improvements needed and a funding scenario for those
costs.
TJM:tp
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