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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – April 15, 2020 5 <br /> <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported staff would be working <br />closely with the school district to monitor the new signage. He explained certain signage required <br />approval from the State of Minnesota. <br /> <br />Commissioner Zimmerman thanked staff, the City Council and school district representatives <br />for their efforts on this project. He was pleased that all student safety concerns were being taken <br />into consideration. <br /> <br />Chair Gehrig agreed stating he recalled reviewing this project previously and understood there <br />were concerns regarding traffic and safety. He was pleased to see these concerns were now being <br />addressed. <br /> <br />Chair Gehrig opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. <br /> <br />Chair Gehrig invited anyone for or against the application to come forward and make comment. <br /> <br />Elizabeth Garsky, 1795 Lake Valentine Road, explained she sent an email to the Planning <br />Commission. She feared that too much signage would be installed and that it would be ignored. <br />She recommended the parent drop off location be changed. She stated she was very concerned <br />about the backups being caused by parents picking up and dropping off students. She commented <br />further on the difficulties she has getting to her home in the evening hours. She feared that the <br />residents that live in the area had given up on voicing their concerns because all of these changes <br />have come about so quickly. She questioned why this project would move forward if the school <br />district did not receive land from the State of Minnesota. <br /> <br />There being no comment Chair Gehrig closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. <br /> <br />Commissioner Weber discussed how structured medians assist with properly directing traffic. <br />He quest ioned what the size of the median would be. He recommended a full-length median be <br />considered for safety purposes. <br /> <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom reported the intent of the small raised <br />median was to provide some pedestrian protection and refuge. He explained the challenge of <br />putting in a longer median was that it reduces the capacity of the left turn lane. He stated the City <br />would have to work through the best balance during the project design phase. He indicated he <br />has had some discussions with the school district regarding the parent drop off location but the <br />school has not proposed make a change to the locations at this time. <br /> <br />Commissioner Vijums commented the parents parked along Valentine Road for drop off and <br />pickup and questioned how this concern would be addressed going forward. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla suggested the Commission add <br />conditions to address this concern. He stated Condition 13 could read: Additional signage be <br />placed stating “No Parent Drop Off or Pickup”. He reported Condition 14 could read: Pavement <br />marking shall be added to the parent drop off and pick up area or the western access. <br /> <br />Commissioner Vijums supported these additional conditions.