CCP 08-09-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 26, 1999 DRAFT 6 Mr. Ringwald suggested that the service drive could be moved to the north. Councilmember Malone stated that this would allow the road to remain in the area that it currently is and eliminate the need for any retaining wall. e Mr. Weber stated that this would require Bethel College to obtain another permit from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to use more of their property. Mayor Probst expressed his concern that the current entrance off Highway 51 was not standard. He was surprised that the Minnesota Department of Transportation had not required this area to be cleaned up. He noted that the east entrance gate being proposed was not as aesthetically pleasing as the proposal for the west entrance gate. However, he did understand Bethel College's desire to keep the costs of the project down. He felt that the proposed east entrance gate would not be a positive long-term solution. Councilmember Rem concurred with Mayor Probst. She stated that she would prefer more distance between the proposed east entrance gate and Highway 51. This would allow more space for a motorist to turn-around when the gate is closed. She noted that the traffic on Highway 51 is busy and this intersection is not clearly visible. The proposed location for the gate may make merging back into traffic difficult. Mr. Weber noted that the gate will only be closed at night and will have reflectorized signs. The students and faculty will be made aware of the gate closing schedule. Additionally, statistics e indicate that the traffic on Highway 51 at night is 87% less than the traffic during the day. If a motorist does approach the gate and find it closed, it will not be difficult to merge into traffic, as there will not be a line of cars. Councilmember Rem confirmed that Mr. Weber was quoting a 1995 traffic study. Mr. Weber stated that this was correct. Mayor Probst noted that when events are held on campus, the traffic flow on Highway 51 will be heavier. He stated that the entrance should be a two-lane road to allow traffic in and out, which was solved by staffs recommended location for the east entrance gate. Councilmember Aplikowski noted that, at the time she drove through the campus, there was only six other cars heading south on Highway 51 and had no problem entering the campus at the east entrance. She did not feel that the traffic loads would be an issue. She believed that the security ofthe campus was the number one issue for Bethel College and the proposed location of the east entrance gate would work better to secure Bethel College's property. Councilmember Malone stated that the City Council couldn't engineer a new Site Plan for the east entrance gate. He did approve of tightening the turn, as well as Mr. Ringwald's suggestion of moving the service road to the north. He stated that he was inclined to approve the Site Plan for the west monument and sign and for further work to be done on the east entrance gate, based on the discussions this evening. .