5.1. SR 01-16-2007
City of Elk River
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Section Meeting Date
Communi Develo ment 16, 2007
Item Description
193rd Avenue Corridor - Public Hearin
Item Number
5.l.
Prepared by
T er Maurer, Ci
Reviewed by
Introduction
As the Council is aware, the public hearing for the 193rd Avenue Corridor Alignment is scheduled
for Tuesday evening, January 16, 2007.
Discussion
This public hearing, although not required by law, was scheduled by the City Council to conclude
the 18-month process of determining the best alignment for the extension of 193rd Avenue from
Woods at Hillside Addition to CSAH 13 (Twin Lakes Road). Notification was sent to the same
large area that has been included in the informational meetings back in January 2006 and all
subsequent Council meetings where this item was discussed. I will have a brief PowerPoint
presentation to summarize the process we have gone through and the proposed "best fit"
alignment.
Financial Impact
The City has received a SAFETEA-LU Grant of approximately $1 million for construction of this
corridor. Land acquisition and all construction costs over $1 million will be the responsibility of
the City.
Attachments
None
Action Requested
At the close of the public hearing, it would be appropriate for the City Council to give staff
direction on any [mal "tweaks" to the proposed 193rd Avenue Corridor from Woods at Hillside
Addition to CSAH 13. It would also be appropriate to give staff direction as to when to come
back with an eminent domain resolution and if the Council so desires, a resolution to initiate the
federal paperwork and preliminary design for the street construction.
Council Action
Motion by _
Second by _
Vote
Follow Up
S:\EngineerImprovProj\2007 Improvement Projects\193rd Ave Corridor\02 16 07 CC memo.doc
From:
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 2:58 PM
To: Allard, Tina
Subject: FW: 193rd Extension
Importance: High
Page 1 of2
C C {--!op/idOI{.f
/ /10!tJ7_
mrr2 5, /
Allard, Tina
From: Cardinal, J. (Janet)
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 12:38 PM
Subject: 193rd Extension
Importance: High
With my husband out of town and kids at home, we are unable to attend the public hearing that
is set for tonight (1/16) on the 193rd extension.
You are more than welcome to share this email at that public hearing in our absence.
I agree with Jody Galvin [reference her letter to the Star News Editor 1/10/07]. If we have to
make an expansion to allow better east/west passage, I'd like to see US do so at least in stages.
It seems a good compromise, for the short-term. If the city could initially have it stop at Tyler
Street, it would save the Galvins from having to move and uprooting their family at this stage of
their life situation.
I'd rather see a straight-shot from Tyler St. to Hwy 169, you if you must, and stop on Tyler
Street. I hate the idea of additional traffic on Tyler St and with it, the greater speeds. My
daughter (age 10) plays with the Galvin's son Joel, and I fear for both of them when they're
walking along side Tyler St. My daughter gets great enjoyment, too, out of fishing their pond
with Joel and in riding horses with Joel, Jody and David. But, as I mentioned, it seems the best
compromise at this time. It also saves a large home and family on Twin Lakes Road who has
recently invested in major renovations and improvements in their home and property.
None of us on Tyler Street, who were of the four options presented by Terry Mauer early in the
process, wanted to give up our homes. After being considered as one of the homes, we "shopped"
the market for awhile, and we found very little available that could replace our existing property
without substantial cost. We only have a little over 3 acres; can you imagine trying to replace
18-acres in our local Elk River area at reasonable cost? You will never convince me that the city
will pay replacement value to the Galvins; and I doubt there are 18 acres locally to even be found
such that they can retain their relationship with the school, with Jody's work and with the
requirements of David's location from his [health] treatment facilities, not to mention the
natural amenities of their property.
I don't think, of the four homes/properties proposed, you can uniformly value the emotional
attachment and connection we, along Tyler St., have to our homes. However, the Galvins seem
especially hardest hit, considering their family situation. We have lived on our property since
1987, building the home with our own hands as a young married couple. Our kids have been born
and raised here for 17 years. We're "planted" here, as a family. The Moens feel the same. We
1/1612007
Page 2 of2
would be quite distraught to lose everything. But we don't have the unique circumstances as the
Galvin's do. None of us do along this road. It d rather see my home and property taken, as sad
as that would be, than see the Galvins so extremely impacted. There are other homes along
Tyler; there are other options, and informal, family BUSINESS should NOT influence the
inclusion or exclusion of property for consideration. Our immediate neighbors to the north
weren't even considered; why?!? I don't wish an "uprooting" on anyone, but I least want to see
the Galvins so uprooted.
There have been arguments that it's not the right answer (I agree). Consider the extension and
curve of Twin Lakes Rd. as an example. While it's a very nice road, it's illogical to expect people
to drive the opposite direction to reach their destination (Hwy 169 or Elk River proper), even if
it's only 1-2 miles out of the way. Human nature will always take the most direct and shortest
route. So Twin Lakes looks great on paper, conceptually. But Human Nature is another thing;
and we all demanded Line Av remain open and accessible because it's LOGICAL to human nature.
The same will hold true for 193rd. Unless that route gets people more directly to where they're
headed, it will be useless in reality even if it looks "pretty" on paper. Travelers already use
Tyler St to 197/198th as their east/west corridor. That works, even though I hate the speeds
that people drive along our once quiet street, and it offers an alternative route to Hwy 169.
Another illogical and waste of taxpayer dollars: The junction of Tyler St and Twin Lakes Road.
The end of Tyler St was re-built, supposedly to align better with the new addition across the
street. However, it still does NOT line-up and continues to cause traffic confusion, especially
with north/south travelers who both try to make left turns at that uneven intersection! It
provided no benefit; thus, I consider it a waste of taxpayer dollars and effort.
Nobody argues that we do not need some sort of answer that allows travelers more direct
access for travel from north Twin Lakes Rd/Cty Rd 22 to Elk River proper or Hwy 169. But there
are other options that need consideration, and taking Galvin's property and uprooting their
family in light of their circumstances is one I cannot support.
Please consider instead of the POLITICAL thing to do, the RIGHT thing to do.
NOTICE: The information contained in this electronic mail message is confidE
============================================================================
1/16/2007