1994 06-20 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT OF LTUNE 17, 1994 SUMMARY OF CRITICAL POINTS REGARDING FONTANA DEV. PROPOSAL: 1. The proposal requires a change in the master plan for the Vadnais Heights City Center from office/showroom to retail (i.e., it goes against their own previous, thoughtful judgment). 2. Retail generates 4 times the traffic of office. 3. The Corridor Study raises significant questions regard-ing the ability of the infrastructure to handle further develop-ment, before the. Fontana proposal, and has led to serious soul-searching within Vadnais Heights, to the extent of proposed changes to their goals and objectives. 4. With Target open in 1996, traffic on County Rd. E is forecast to increase by 70 to 24,900 vehicles per day (VPD) from 14,600 in 1992.. 5. With full development of the E corridor, traffic volume will reach 45,000 VPD (an average of 1 vehicle every 2 seconds, 24 hours per. day!), with peak hour volume of 6,242 (1.7 vehicles per second!) 6. While we all respect our engineers and their projections, traffic in the interchange grew by over 12% between the 1991 study and the 1993 review without a City Center! 7. There will be 2 more traffic signals to deal with between Hwy. 61. and 135E, and another on Hwy. 61 if you think you can sneak out that way. 8. Increased traffic will put enormous pressure on Ramsey County to widen E, which imperils whatever vegetative landscape buffer we have or create, as well as any proposed bike trails. 9. All of this adds to the pressure to allow the further en- croachment of commercial zoning in our residential community, specifically along E, contrary to our Comprehensive Plan. 10. Any extension/improvement of LaBore Rd. will allow quick access to the interchange and retail areas to a large population in White Bear Lake, creating another traffic issue and further potential development. 11. Although Fontana was required to investigate the impact on the natural resources and wildlife at the site, there has been no consideration of the impact of this level of traffic on the large and valuable wildlife populations resident in the two large natural habitats separated by E. namely Gem Lake and the H.B. Fuller wetland. The animal kill will clearly escalate. The Planning Commission feels that the traffic congestion resulting from establishing two very large discount department stores directly opposite one another in Vadnais Center will have a serious negative impact on the quality of life in GL. We feel that the City Council should resolve to protest this development on behalf of its constituents, on the basis of the safety, noise, pollution, and general aesthetics issues raised by this increase in traffic, as well as the inconvenience caused our commuting residents. We feel that there should be time allowed to further digest the Corridor Study information and to formulate an overall plan, with long-term goals, for the entire community surrounding 135E.