5.5. SR 10-02-1995•
CONSCLTING ENGINEERS
1326 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55108
612-644-4389
1-800-888-2923
September 27, 1995
File: 230-246-30
Fax: 612-644-9446 Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: KEDROWSKI PROPERTY
Dear Council Members:
ITEM 5.5_
CIVIL ENGNEERING As directed by the City Council, I have met with Mike and Jackie Kedrowski regarding
ENVIRONMENTAL their request for additional work on their property. In general, the policy that we have
MUNICIPAL tried to follow regarding work on private property involved in improvement projects is that
PANNING
. if the public improvement made a situation on the private property worse, we would try to
SOLID WASTE make improvements on that property to make things as they were or better. This is the
sTRUCruRAL policy that has been followed on the Kedrowski property with the construction of a new
suevEnNG driveway to try to minimize the grade of it, the retaining wall to attempt to shield the
TRAFFIC headlights from the commercial property, and also save the trees In the boulevard area, and
TRANSPORTATION finally the turnaround attached to their driveway to make it easier to exit their driveway
onto Dodge Avenue. In addition to that, the City Council put a condition on the approval
EtECTRICAt/MECHANicAt of the Perkins site plan that the Developer is obligated for a certain amount of landscape
ENGINEERING:
materials to additionally buffer traffic headlights exiting the Perkins site.
Hvac
POWER DISTRIBUTION
I will attempt to address some of the specific requests in the Kedrowski proposal as it
scaDA relates to the plan that we have prepared.
svsTEM coNTROts
1. The brick sidewalk leading from the driveway to the front of the home surrounded
by _ a .retaining wall has settled and apparently during rainstorms pools a certain
amount of water. Gutters have been added to the house recently which minimize
this effect. The new driveway that we plan to install will not make the situation any
worse or likewise any better. We will install it in such a manner that the grade
along the edge of it will be at the same elevation that currently exists. Therefore,
I believe that the request for a new sidewalk and landscaping adjacent to it is not
OFFICES IN: rectifying a situation made worse by the City improvement project.
• MINNEAPOLIS
PRIOR LAKE
ST. PAUL
WASECA
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Honorable Mayor and City Council
• September 27, 1995
Page Two
2. We have proposed a 10-foot wide, 16-foot long bituminous turnaround. We have
shown its location up near the garage because of the relatively flat area located
there. The Kedrowskis have asked for the turnaround to be moved further toward
the street, have it widened to 12 feet, and lengthened to 24 feet. In addition, they
have asked for landscaping and a retaining wall around the perimeter. I would
suggest that the turnaround be located wherever the Kedrowskis prefer it. Although
I believe 10 feet in width is adequate, I am not opposed to widening it to the 12 feet
that they request. However, the additional length from 16 feet to 24 feet does not
add any functional capability to the turnaround. I would also suggest that the
turnaround should be built on the natural slope and not surrounded by landscaping
and a retaining wall.
3. I have met with Mike Kedrowski and indicated to him how we envision the
retaining wall blending into the front bank of his property. I have also indicated
how we will slope the remaining yard down to meet the driveway, all of which will
be restored with black dirt and sod. I believe that this is sufficient and will leave
their property in as good a condition as when we started the project. Therefore, I
would recommend against the additional retaining wall, landscape rock, and ground
• cover materials.
4. The Kedrowskis indicated in their presentation that the existing width of their
driveway is 25 feet. Our plans indicate building a 22-foot wide driveway. I believe
the difference here is that the Kedrowskis measured their driveway at the street
opening and have included the radius width as total width of the driveway. We
have measured the driveway further up and found that its average width was 22 feet
and plan to restore it to that width. We have constructed a 26-foot wide opening
in the curb so there will be plenty of room for radii. I would suggest that a 22-foot
wide driveway is restoring the property as we have found it. Therefore, I would
recommend against widening the driveway to 25 feet.
I will be available at Monday evening's City Council meeting to discuss any of the specific
issues regarding this item.
Sincerely,
MSA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS
• Terry J. surer, P.E.
TJM:tw
246-2708.sep