02-22-22-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 22, 2022 4 Councilmember Radziej explained he supported the building height as requested. Mayor Grant requested the Council speak to the maximum floor area ratio. Councilmember Scott stated he was willing to allow the project to move forward with the understanding the minor speed bumps would have to be worked out. Mayor Grant questioned if the stormwater pond could be co-owned by the applicant in order to assist with the floor area ratio. Mr. Fink stated the boundary line was still being reviewed and survey work had to be completed. Councilmember Holden indicated she agreed with the comments made by Councilmember Scott. She suggested the property have external amenities such as a swing set because this property was nowhere near a park. She recommended the development stick to 12 units per acre, so the development does not require a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Mayor Grant agreed with this recommendation. Mr. Fink commented he would be willing to consider more outdoor amenities. He thanked the Council for the feedback and for considering his request this evening. B. Speed Limit Update John Morast, HR Green, stated Minnesota Statute 169.14 Speed Limits, Zones; Radar regulates highway and roadway speeds in Minnesota. Subdivision 2 sets maximum speed limits on a variety of within a Municipality, such as 10 mph in alleys, 30 mph in urban districts, and 25 mph on residential roadways, if adopted by the road authority. In August 2019, the Minnesota Legislature changed the Statutes governing speed limits on city streets. The changes allow cities to establish speed on roads under the City's jurisdiction, other than the statutory limits, without conducting an engineering and traffic investigation. Any speed limit changes must be implemented in a consistent and understandable manner. "The city must erect appropriate signs to display the speed limit. A city that uses the authority under this subdivision must develop procedures to set speed limits based on the city's safety, engineering, and traffic analysis. At a minimum, the safety, engineering, and traffic analysis must consider national urban speed limit guidance and studies, local traffic crashes, and methods to effectively communicate the change to the public.". City Council has discussed speed limit changes on various roads within the City decided to implement a speed limit reduction on certain City streets from 30 MPH to 25 MPH in the spring of 2022. He reported MSA roads were eligible for a speed limit change with a few caveats. He commented further on how a speed limit change would be advertised to the public. He anticipated the speed limit change could be implemented yet this spring. Councilmember Holden asked if MSA roadways had to be posted at 35 MPH. Mr. Morast reported the City currently can post these roadways at 30 MPH.