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Memo- Draft Traffic PlaSuperValu Redevelopment ProjectMemorandum To: From: Date: Subject: Purpose of Memo The Honorable Mayor and City Council Jim Kerrigan, Planning & Economic Development Director January 5, 1998 Draft Traffic Plan-- SuiperValu Redevelopment Project PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT On the January 13 work session agenda, staff has scheduled a follow -up discussion of the draft traffic report that was prepared by Benshoof & Associates. This will include an update on the discussion that occurred at the January 8 Zoning & Planning meeting. Representatives from Benshoof & Associates will be present at the meeting. Overview In conjunction with SuperValu's potential redevelopment of the Hennepin County Public Works property, staff has contracted with Benshoof & Associates to analyze the traffic impacts and provide recommendations how they might be addressed. A a draft traffic report has now been prepared (this document was previously provided to the Council). Prior to preparing the report, both SuperValu and Benshoof met with the East End and Park Valley neighborhoods to secure their input. Based upon concerns expressed about the impact of the project on Fifth Street, four different alternatives were reviewed by Benshoof & Associates (they are detailed as Alternatives A -D on the enclosed summary report). At a special Zoning & Planning meeting, staff recommended approval of the draft report as prepared by Benshoof & Associates, subject to the following: • • • Improvement to the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Jackson Avenue, and Excelsior Boulevard to be completed at a future date as determined necessary and appropriate Reconstruction of Fifth Street from west of Seventh Avenue to Second Avenue to be done in accordance with Alternative D Extend current truck restrictions west on Fifth and Sixth Streets to 11th Avenue and north on the new frontage road west of Highway 169 to Third Street, except for trucks serving immediate existing businesses This recommendation was adopted by the Commission with the additional condition that staff return to the Z & P Commission with options to better ensure compliance with the speed limit on the newly designed Fifth Street. Primary Issues to Consider • What are the specific staff recommendations? • What is being recommended for Fifth Street? Memo to The Honorable Mayor and City Council January 5, 1998 - Page 2 Primary Issues to Consider • What are the specific staff recommendations? + The first phase of roadway improvements would include the following: Vacation of the following streets: - Sixth Avenue and Railroad Boulevard between Fifth Street and Third Street - Third Street between Railroad Boulevard and the new west frontage road Construction of the following new streets: - Milwaukee Street from Fifth Avenue to Washington Avenue - West frontage road from Second Avenue to Milwaukee Street extension Reconstruction of Fifth Street from west of Seventh Avenue to Second Avenue • The second phase roadway improvements would include the reconstruction of Milwaukee Street east of Washington Avenue, the extension of Jackson Avenue north of Excelsior Boulevard and the consolidation of access to Excelsior Boulevard at Jackson Avenue. Staff is recommending that these improvements be undertaken at a future date as determined necessary and appropriate. • What is being recommended for Fifth Avenue? The majority of the discussion at the two neighborhood meetings concerned the impacts of the project on Fifth Street and how they would be addressed. The analysis completed by Benshoof & Associates determined that the proposed SuperValu project would not substantially increase traffic volumes on Fifth Street. As a result, their recommendation in the December draft report is to undertake certain improvements to the existing Fifth Street that will adequately accommodate the project traffic volume and address concerns raised by residents. At the neighborhood meetings, however, some residents of Park Valley expressed disagreement with this recommendation and suggested an alternative, which would involve the following: • Cul -de -sac the existing Fifth Street at Buffer Park so that it serves only the immediate Park Valley neighborhood • Construct a new Fifth Street directly north of existing Fifth Avenue to serve through- traffic in this area As detailed in the attached summary report, there are a number of concerns that have been identified concerning the dual Fifth Street alternative (see Alternative C, Traffic Analysis Summary). As a compromise between what was identified in the December draft traffic report by Benshoof & Associates and the dual Fifth Street alternative advocated by some of the Park Valley residents, staff recommended a roadway improvement project, which is identified in Memo to The Honorable Mayor and City Council January 5, 1998 - Page 3 the Traffic Analysis Summary as Alternative D. This would involve rebuilding Fifth Avenue approximately 25 feet north of its existing alignment. This would provide for a substantially increased buffer between the adjacent residential properties and the roadway. SuperValu proposes to undertake berming and fencing on the north of the roadway to provide additional screening. The specifics of this screening and landscaping would need to be done in accordance with the design standards which will be prepared for this project. They would be reviewed and approved as part of the Conditional Use Permit process. As part of its recommendation, staff has also proposed the following: Conclusion Attachments • Improvement of Milwaukee Street at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Excelsior Boulevard, to be undertaken at a future date, as determined necessary and appropriate. This work could be included either as part of the Excelsior Boulevard improvement project or at the time the North Annex property is redeveloped. • Another item that is detailed in the recommendations concerns additional traffic restrictions adjacent to the proposed SuperValu redevelopment project. With the vacation of Third Street and Sixth Avenue, there will be a problem in routing trucks to this area. Benshoof recommended two alternatives (see page 49 of the draft traffic report). Staff is recommending the alternative of extending truck restrictions west on Fifth Street and Sixth Street to 11th Avenue and north from Second Avenue on the new frontage road to Third Street. Based on the discussion at the work session, the Council has to decide if there is any additional information required to adequately address this matter. From a procedural standpoint, the action staff would be looking at having the Council take in the near future is to formally adopt the draft traffic plan. It is important that this action be completed as soon as possible, so SuperValu has an agreed -upon future roadway system on which to finalize a site plan budget and complete other necessary tasks to move this project forward. • Traffic Analysis Summary • Project schedule dated January 6, 1998 • Minutes of Zoning & Planning Commission meeting January 8, 1998 TRAFFIC ANALYSIS SUMMARY FOR THE SUPERVALU REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT Supervalu plans to build a new facility on the current Hennepin County Public Works site. Several roadway changes, primarily west of Highway 169, will result from redevelopment. RECOMMENDED FULL DEVELOPMENT ROADWAY SYSTEM 49 an. VACATED STREETS on RECONSTRUCTED STREETS NEW STREETS Features of the recommended full development roadway system: — Vacated streets — 6th Avenue and Railroad Boulevard between 5th Street and 3rd Street — 3rd Street between Railroad Boulevard and the new west frontage road — New streets — Milwaukee Street from 5th Avenue to Washington Avenue — West frontage road from 2nd Avenue to Milwaukee Street extension — Reconstructed streets — 5th Street from west of 7th Avenue to 2nd Avenue — Milwaukee Street from Washington Avenue to Excelsior Boulevard All roadway system changes west of Washington Avenue need to be completed in the initial project phase (proposed for late 1998 or early 1999). The reconstruction of Milwaukee Street east of Washington Avenue, the extension of Jackson Avenue north of Excelsior Boulevard, and the consolidation of access to Excelsior Boulevard at Jackson Avenue are not part of the initial phase and will be done at a later date. 1 of 8 12/29/97 IMPORTANT ITEMS REGARDING 5TH STREET Concerns Expressed By Residents Regarding Supervalu Project Impacts on 5th Street a) Increased traffic volume past houses and park. b) High speed traffic past houses and park. c) Lack of sidewalk on south side of 5th Street to connect neighborhood with Buffer Park and with other areas of the City. d) Street width too narrow for parking. Vehicular Traffic Use on 5th Street With Completion of Supervalu Development Project and Roadway Changes Daily Volume By Year Location on 5th Street Existing 2000 2020 West of 6th Avenue 5,600 4,250 4,700 East of 6th Avenue 3,450 4,950 5,450 2 of 8 12/29/97 21— 3010AV 0. airceivnu ( 2 City «x a= and Supervalu 3 of 8 2 co z4— !mm= 4 of 8 { lwm; RECOMMENDED PLAN FOR 5TH STREET After careful consideration of the four alternatives considered for 5th Street, City staff will recommend Alternative D to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council as the design concept for 5th Street. Shown below is a plan view of 5th Street Alternative D at mid -block between 6th and 5th Avenues in relation to existing 5th Street. PROPOSED NORTH - - -- RIGHT -OF -WAY UNE PROPOSED NORTH CURB EXIS77NG NORTH — - - RIGHT- -OFWAY LINE EXISTING NORTH CURB EX1S77NG SOUTH CURB EX/S77NG AND PROPOSED SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE MO 1914 It 29 It 14 ft 1 1 0 50' Reasons For Recommending Alternative I) Improvements to 5th Street 1) It meets the concerns residents have raised regarding 5th Street Concern of Residents How Alternative D Meets Concern a) Increased traffic volume past houses and park. b) High speed traffic past houses and park. c) Lack of sidewalk along 5th Street d) Street width too narrow for parking A ft. 30 ft. 28 tt. $ 15 ft. NEAREST HOME PROPOSED SOUTH CURB PROPOSED SIDEWALK Future volume west of 6th Avenue wilt be lower than existing volume. Future volume east of 6th Avenue will increase over existing volume, but will be lower than existing volume west of 6th Avenue. Traffic effects on homes will be mitigated by 25 foot increase in separation between homes and south curb line. With recommended shoulder stripes, travel lanes are narrowed to better control traffic speeds Sidewalk constructed on south side of 5th Street Parking bay provides safe parking at Buffer Park 2) The street design meets applicable traffic engineering design standards and is consistent with standard cnteria for this type of street. 3) It does not require as much nght -of -way as Alternauve C (dual 5th Street). yet offers residents considerable buffer area south of 5th Street. 4) The cost for constructing Alternative D is less than the cost for constructing Alternative C. 5) With alternative D, the entire length of 5th Street would be eligible for Municipal State Aid (MSA) funding for maintenance. The City would need to bear additional maintenance costs associated with a second parallel 5th Street in Scenario C because the existing 5th Street segment would strictly be a local road and would not be eligible for MSA funding. 6) Alternative D will allow Supen•alu to redevelop the Hennepin County Public Works site in a manner consistent with current development goals. 5 of 8 12/29/97 ........v ........._,.o NOIlDMILSNOJ NOS ION ANVNIWIl3Nd m --- __ - u al ro .m. ... ., w a.,. „ 0 owa33mOa3 13ani �3aia n ur �� + =E2oguao' or: .. , „, _ ,.,. �., ®,,, SN( IBS NNF1 ON,a EZ - 9601/6 I £ -D3s NW 3 IGJH Hinos t33aLS 41s (11VAN3d(1S aeon 3OVINO$ 3AV Lilt z ii 1- W 1— v) L z 0 1- cn 1 W -c Ln - TOP OF CURB OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Future Truck Traffic on 5th Street City staff recommend that the current truck prohibition on 5th Street be modified to prevent trapping trucks in the Park Valley neighborhood. The modifications proposed would extend current truck prohibitions west on 5th Street and 6th Street to 11th Avenue and north on the new west frontage road to 3rd Street. Exceptions would need to be granted for trucks serving the Westside Business Park and businesses along 2nd Avenue. FUTURE ACTIONS Consideration of the draft traffic plan and the staff recommendations for this project will be on the agenda at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on January 8, 1998, at 6:30 p.m. The City Council will take action regarding the proposed traffic plan for this project based on the review comments received from the above meeting. No date for this action has yet been established. 7 of 8 12/29/97 SUPERVALU REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT - January 6, 1998 ACTIVITIES EST. COMPLETION DATES PRELIMINARY APPROVALS - Council work session, revised concept plan Completed - SuperValu submits application for Z & P concept review Completed - Council authorizes preparation of preliminary development agreement Completed - Z & P concept review Completed PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT - Council approval Completed - City undertake negotiations with County In progress - Execution and SuperValu payment of initial $5,000 fee to cover City costs and agreement to reimburse for additional City costs as incurred Completed - Application by City to MNDOT /county /railroad for access /crossing Not required - SuperValu undertakes negotiation for purchase /lease agreement In progress - Land use review, preparation of design standards In progress - SuperValu meeting with neighborhood In progress - SuperValu elevations prepared for Phase I, refine timetable and minimum improvements for various construction phases. Prepare project budget detailing source of funds. In progress DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT - Council approval February 28, 1998 - City executes option agreement with Hennepin County- - SuperValu reimburses City for option payment February 28, 1998 - Execution and SuperValu payment of initial $5,000 fee to cover City costs and agreement to reimburse for additional City costs as incurred February 28, 1998 - SuperValu executes necessary purchase option /lease agreements - Approval by MNDOT /county /railroad of access /crossing Not required - Submission of required information for land use approvals February 27, 1998 - Comp. plan revision - -Z & P 1 February 27, 1998 - CUP, street vacation approval - -Z &P March 31, 1998 - Approval of building plan Phase I and project financing May 1998 - Assign option agreement to SuperValu June 1998 JK010688