Loading...
07-25-05 JOINT MTG HOP & MTKASTAFF SUMMARY CITY OF MINNETONKA SPECIAL JOINT MEETING HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL AND MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005 PAGE 1 Council Present: Hopkins Council members: Rick Brausen, Diane Johnson, Bruce Rowan, and Mayor Gene Maxwell. Minnetonka Council members: Jan Callison, Terry Schneider, AI Thomas, Brad Wiersum, and Mayor Karen Anderson. Staff Present: Minnetonka: City Manager John Gunyou, Assistant City Manager Geralyn Barone, City Engineer Lee Gustafson, Community Development Director Ron Rankin, Planning Director Geoff Olson, Community Development Coordinator Elise Souders Hopkins: City Manager Rick Getschow, Hopkins Director of Economic Development and Planning Jim Kerrigan, and Hopkins Public Works Director Steve Stadler. Others: County Commissioner Linda Koblick, Brent Lindgren and Guy Knowlan of Hennepin County Transportation Department, Larry Blackstad and • Patrick Connoy of Hennepin County Community Works, and Mark Koegler of Hoisington-Koegler. Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. 1. Joint discussion regarding Shady Oak Road between Excelsior Boulevard and Highway 7. Anderson welcomed the group and asked for introductions. She said this is the fourth joint study session of the city councils, and a future public hearing will be held. Anderson recapped what the councils had agreed on at previous study sessions: • Shady Oak Road should be four-lanes. • There should be multiple public meetings allowing input. • A "T" alignment was favored for the Shady Oak Road/Highway 7 intersection for functionality. • The councils would continue to meet together. Anderson noted that staff and the consultants have come up with a preferred concept and want feedback. August 23, 2005 is the tentative date for a public hearing so there will be no public input at this meeting. Maxwell reiterated Anderson's comment that it is important for both cities and Hennepin County to work together to come up with the best solution. Koegler began by reviewing the process to date. The report is in draft form and will be finalized following the meeting. Koegler said there were two community meetings held STAFF SUMMARY CITY OF MINNETONKA SPECIAL JOINT MEETING ,,: HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL AND MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005 PAGE 2 in late May focusing on the alignments and redevelopment opportunities. He then reviewed the two roadway alignment alternatives for the southern half of the study area. He said the public comments from the May meeting were similar to the March meeting in that the public generally prefers concept 1, there are concerns about traffic on Oak Drive Lane and buffering for residents on 21st Avenue, and opposition to a Crawford Road alley connection from Bradford Road to Mainstreet. Koegler then reviewed the four roadway alignment alternatives for the northern half of the study area. He said public comments from the May meeting were again similar to what was heard at the March meeting -there is strong sentiment to retain low density housing, concerns about open space and drainage, the north service drive, and buffering on West Park Road. Concept 6 received the strongest support because it presented the best intersection alignment at Shady Oak Road and Highway 7. Koegler said a fiscal impact analysis was also completed as part of the study. He said Hennepin County has developed a general model to evaluate the impact potential redevelopment scenarios may have to both cities and school districts. The fiscal ® implications are not substantially different. Koegler said the original objective of the study was to assess the positives and negatives of each alignment; however, as the study progressed a preferred direction emerged from the comments. He said the Preferred Roadway is concept 1 for the southern half of the study area and concept 6 for the northern half. Koegler also indicated land use concept A on both alignments is the preferred land use concept. He then reviewed the combined concept from Excelsior Boulevard to Highway 7. Gustafson said one issue still to be resolved is the service drive located north of Highway 7. This was not expected to change; however, as the intersection alignment has changed to reflect a 90-degree angle, the drive also needed to be adjusted. He said the north service drive is now shown to be moved northward. Gustafson indicated that there has not been a lot of time to look at the issue, and that other options will continue to be explored as the process continues. Stadler said another issue is traffic movement in the 21st Avenue/20th Avenue neighborhood area north of the duck pond. He said there have been comments that there should be value in what remains in the neighborhood. There are also concerns about access into the area; however, residents are generally supportive of the alignments. Gustafson said the Oak Drive Lane neighborhood is another area where there are unresolved issues. He said the neighborhood has indicated they do not want a connection to Mainstreet and some residents even support cul-de-sacing the south entrance. Gustafson said all possibilities will be taken into consideration during STAFF SUMMARY CITY OF MINNETONKA SPECIAL JOINT MEETING • HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL AND MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005 PAGE 3 preliminary design. Anderson asked if there is another connection for this neighborhood. Gustafson replied there is another connection, but further west. Anderson asked if both of the accesses from Oak Drive Lane to Shady Oak Road will be right-in/right-out. Gustafson responded they will be. Stadler reviewed the concerns raised from the 21st Avenue neighborhood south of the duck pond. He said residents are concerned about the impacts from the roadway, and staff has received a petition from the neighbors supporting concept 2. Stadler said that concept 1 would allow improvements to what is there today. He also added that the neighborhood has concerns about traffic movement and that will be looked at more closely as the process continues. Maxwell asked if there are concerns with having 1st Street cul-de-saced. Stadler responded the concerns are not about the cul-de-sac, but with the traffic movement. Gustafson said the Crawford Road "alley" has been shown in the past as a way to connect Mainstreet to Bradford Road. He said this option was shown at the neighborhood meetings, but the neighbors do not want this connection. Gustafson said it can be hard for residents to understand what the new roadway cross-section may look like when it is complete. He said for reconstruction of Shady Oak Road, south of Excelsior Boulevard, a series of illustrations were developed using design elevations to show the impacts. He said this has helped to mitigate some of the concerns about how things will look. Anderson asked how redevelopment of the commercial area may occur and if it has to redevelop as the new roadway is being reconstructed. Gustafson responded it does not have to redevelop concurrent to the roadway project; however, parking may be eliminated with the roadway project. He shared an aerial photograph illustrating how the parking may be eliminated, and said that it is a key issue that needs to be addressed. Anderson asked when the area is redeveloped if the Crawford Road "alley" needs to be extended to Bradford Road. Gustafson replied it does not have to be connected to Bradford Road and can be blended in as a driveway. Callison was concerned about making sure that redevelopment and the roadway project for the commercial businesses are coordinated so a lot of extra money is not spent on building parking lots. Gustafson said no formal process is in place; however, one will be established. Callison confirmed this will be a second step after the roadway alignment is chosen. Gustafson said there are several other processes that will occur. Rowan asked if the west leg of Mainstreet can serve a commercial area north of the intersection. Gustafson said it can work for both the north and south commercial areas. STAFF SUMMARY CITY OF MINNETONKA SPECIAL JOINT MEETING HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL AND MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL ~4 MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005 PAGE 4 Maxwell inquired if the current users of the North Service Drive tend to go east or west. He suggested that if most of the trips are to the west, then perhaps aright- in/right-out can be made on Highway 7. Gustafson said this area needs to be looked at more closely; however, grading becomes an issue further to the west. Maxwell said he wants to make sure that current businesses are able to come back to the area after the roadway project is completed if they wish. Gustafson referred to the aerial photograph and said it also shows what a 5-lane roadway design looks like, and this is what can be initially constructed south of Mainstreet to ensure access to the businesses. Schneider asked staff to make sure there are defined curb-cuts. Gustafson said businesses have been made aware that there will be defined access points and that the locations of those access points will be looked at during the next steps. Callison said she is comfortable with what is shown and that work should continue on the issues mentioned. Maxwell said he agrees with Callison and asked if there are any programs available for businesses that may want to stay in the area but cannot afford higher rents. Blackstad said in the relocation packages, businesses receive adjustments and compensation. He said while rental assistance is more structured for residential, there are ways to deal with businesses. Blackstad said the county will start with relocation as soon as the alignment is determined. Schneider said he has the same concerns as Maxwell, and wondered if a disservice is being done to the businesses during redevelopment. He said tax abatement should be looked into. Blackstad said there are a range of possible programs. Brausen said this is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, and a packet of information on relocation should be available at the public hearing. Thomas said he agrees with what has been said and that all options should be looked at for the North Service Drive. He said he likes the idea of buffers for the residential neighborhoods and suggested that staff look at options for businesses in order to make the right decisions. Anderson asked that the Planning Commissions from both cities as well as the EDA from Minnetonka and HRA from Hopkins be invited to the public hearing. Schneider said he has no reservations about what is shown, but asked that traffic patterns be looked at in the Oak Drive Lane neighborhood. ~` Maxwell said concepts 1 and 6 make sense, and he understands the alignment may need to be adjusted slightly as the process continues. STAFF SUMMARY CITY OF MINNETONKA SPECIAL JOINT MEETING HOPKINS CITY COUNCIL AND MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005 PAGE 5 Anderson agreed and said as redevelopment comes forth, staff should look at the access points for the commercial areas. Thomas said when the roadway project is completed, it will be a very desirable area. Schneider said the public hearing may be better suited to be held at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Maxwell said staff should check on its availability. Anderson asked if staff had enough direction. Gustafson said yes, and that a public meeting date, time and location will be finalized. He said notices will be published in the paper and notification will be mailed out. Anderson said she has received some letters already and would like those letters to be included in the agenda packet for the public hearing. Callison said the name "concept 1 with modifications" should not be used because of the changes to Oak Drive Lane. Gustafson said staff agrees and it will be named the Preferred Concept. ~~ Schneider suggested having a copy of the preferred concept map included in the notice. Gustafson said that can be done and it will also be posted on the website. 2. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Magrew City Clerk ATTEST: Eugene . M xwell, Mayor