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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – JULY 28, 2014 2 <br /> <br /> The intersection at Lexington Avenue will be expanded to provide dual left turn lanes <br />from eastbound County Road E to northbound Lexington. <br /> The existing signal system at Pine Tree Drive will be modified to add new ADA <br />pedestrian crossing facilities and repainted. <br /> The signal system at Connelly/TH 51 will be newly constructed by the MnDOT Bridge <br />project. <br /> Deteriorated curb and gutter will be replaced (Ramsey County will help to identify these <br />segments). <br /> Deteriorated driveway aprons will be repaired. <br /> Deteriorated sidewalk will be repaired. <br /> Where no sidewalk exists on County Road E new sidewalk will be constructed. In front of <br />Staples the existing sidewalk will be lowered to meet ADA standards for crossing County <br />Road E. <br /> A new sidewalk will be constructed on the west side of Pine Tree Drive from County Road <br />E to approximately 900 feet south. <br /> Boulevard trees will be added to County Road E. <br /> The existing lighting system will be removed and replaced with an Xcel Energy lighting <br />system (style of light poles and fixtures still to be determined). <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer stated that there are a few issues that the Council should be <br />aware of and/or comment on before the plans are completed. These issues are as follows: <br /> <br /> The feasibility report included some work to define driveway access on Connelly Avenue <br />to the Flaherty’s parking lot and Pot-o-Gold. Mr. Flaherty has stated that only a striping of <br />the curve is necessary and he did not feel the improvements discussed in the feasibility <br />report should be constructed. That curve has now been striped and at this time staff has <br />told the engineers to not proceed with the design of the curb and gutter and driveway <br />improvements. <br /> Discussion of the assessment method and amounts are detailed further in the City <br />Administrator’s memo. <br /> The Carroll’s Furniture property, relative to the inability to continue the sidewalk across <br />the front of the property due to lack of appropriate easements. The City could pursue the <br />necessary easements but, it would likely be viewed by a court as a substantial (large dollar <br />amount) taking because it would take away parking, which is very limited on the site. <br />Staff would recommend continuing the trees and lighting across the small green space <br />within the existing right of way in front of Carroll’s and wait on the sidewalk until a future <br />date. <br /> Staff has had a few discussions with the City Attorney’s office regarding the assessment of <br />this project. A couple of staff recommendations that came out of these discussions would <br />be that first, the Public Hearing and the Assessment Hearing be held the same night. There <br />has been a significant public involvement process with this project already. By the time the <br />hearings are held the plans will be very close to 100% done and all of the adjacent <br />properties will have had a chance to view them. Second, because of the nature of the <br />assessment (street scaping vs. typical street reconstruction) it may be appropriate to have