Memo- Blake School Master PlanTo: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Nancy Anderson
Date: Thursday, September 4, 1997
Subject: Blake School Master Plan
1 PURPOSE.
The purpose of this item is to discuss possible internal road improvements being
contemplated by Blake School and to provide them feedback concerning these
improvements. Representatives of Blake School will be present at the meeting.
II. OVERVIEW.
Blake School, located at 110 Blake Road South, is in the process of master planning
improvements for the school. One problem exists with the bus, auto, and pedestrian
movements and conflicts. Because of these transportation problems, McCombs Frank
Roos and Associates, Inc., and David Braslau were hired to review the transportation
issues on the site.
Blake School currently has three access points on their site. One is located on Blake
Road, the second is on Excelsior Boulevard and a third off Harrison Avenue by the
Hopkins water tower. The access from Harrison is a limited access used mostly for
servicing the ice arena. What is being proposed is a loop road through the Blake
School Campus. The loop road would use the existing access point from Blake Road
and continue to the ice arena, behind the homes on Harrison and to Excelsior
Boulevard. The access from Blake Road will remain the same. The access from
Harrison near the water tower will be closed with the proposed loop road.
The proposed loop road will be used for bus traffic. The proposed loop road will
become one way at a point near the ice arena. At this time there are approximately 13
buses in the morning and 13 buses in the afternoon that will leave the school via the
proposed Harrison access. Only three will be the large buses. Cars will use the Blake
access and turn around at the school and exit the campus at Blake Road. At some time
in the future if a parking lot is constructed by the ice arena cars may be permitted on
the loop road.
With the master planning of the campus, internal improvements such as moving a play
area will take place. At this time there is no construction of any buildings planned.
IL PRIMARY ISSUES TO CONSIDER.
BUFFERING THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
The proposed road abuts a residential area. Staff is concerned about the proposed
road abutting the residential area. There currently is a wooded area abutting the
residential area from Blake School. A buffer will have to be constructed to visually
screen the road from the residential area.
REDEVELOPMENT OF SURGE /DAIRY QUEEN AREA
In conjunction with the Excelsior Boulevard improvements, the Surge salt area and
Dairy Queen have been considered for redevelopment into a convenience retail area.
The attached plan involves using the current salt storage area for access onto Harrison
Avenue. The access plan using the salt storage site to Harrison has an advantage of
not requiring another access to Excelsior Boulevard. However, because this area is
being considered for redevelopment, the staff will need to evaluate the impact of the
proposed road and if redevelopment can occur with the proposed road.
Another access point that the staff discussed is continuing along the property line to
Excelsior Blvd. If this access point is approved, the planning for this access point will
have to be considered during the reconstruction of County Road 3.
IV. CONCLUSION.
Further study will have to be done on the redevelopment of the Surge /Dairy Queen site
to see if the proposed road will work using the Surge site.
Blake School will also need to meet with property owners abutting their site who might
be affected by this plan, to secure their input.
Representatives from Blake School and McCombs Frank Roos and Associates, Inc.,
will be at the meeting to review the proposed transportation plans for the Blake School
site.
V. ATTACHMENTS.
Attached is a site plan with the proposed loop road and the section of the Excelsior
Blvd. study showing the roadway moving to the south.
ISM