2011-03-02_PC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, March 02, 2011 Page 11 City Planner Paschke noted that staff seriously reviewed traffic issues and studies, and 511 opined that Josephine Road was designed as a collector street and had more than 512 enough capacity for the additional cars projected daily during peak hours. 513 City Engineer Bloom advised that this conversation had been held at a staff level, and if 514 staff determined it was warranted that County Road C2 go through as part of this 515 development, staff would have brought forth such a recommendation. However, Ms. 516 Bloom advised that, based on City Council direction to staff for review of any mitigating 517 impacts needed due to a development or redevelopment project, staff’s review had 518 indicated no such mitigation was required. Ms. Bloom advised that staff had thoroughly 519 reviewed of traffic connections in the area, and projected volumes through development 520 of this area, and they were not recommending that County Road C2 go through or that 521 additional signals were necessary to facility existing or projected traffic volumes and flow. 522 Ms. Bloom advised that this City Council policy, their direction to staff, and staff’s review 523 process, and subsequent recommendation following that review process, remained 524 consistent throughout her twelve (12) year tenure with the City of Roseville. 525 Chuck Stokes, 2875 N Griggs Street 526 Mr. Stokes, based on his residency since 1990 and during construction on County Road 527 C2, noted that there had been a lot of discussion and compromise between the City and 528 residents on that construction. Mr. Stokes referenced, and read, correspondence 529 between the City’s Public Works Director at that time and concerned residents, 530 supporting his comments that the issue of whether or not to open County Road C2 had 531 been previously discussed and rationale for not doing so. Mr. Stokes opined that traffic in 532 this area had increased, similar to that experienced in all areas of the City and based on 533 different lifestyles that have developed and more vehicular traffic as a result. Mr. Stokes 534 further opined that if County Road C2 were to be opened, he would guarantee a fatality in 535 the first year due to the physical layout of the road from Merrill to Griggs, the enormous 536 speed of vehicles, and the steep road grade. Mr. Stokes opined that those most severely 537 impacted would be those living on the cul-de-sac, and that others wouldn’t be able to see 538 vehicles coming, especially those walking the area. Mr. Stokes expressed his favorable 539 impressions with the second plan submitted by Pulte Homes, and praised their efforts at 540 tree preservation; and for their compromises in developing the site, given the challenges 541 in the area. 542 Mr. Stokes questioned if the developer intended the homes to be “spec “or custom built. 543 Mr. McDaris advised that the developer anticipated 4-5 floor plans with several different 544 exterior elevations; and preferred pre-selling the homes, rather than building on “spec”. 545 Mr. Stokes advised that there were many families with young children in the area who 546 walked a lot and that the addition of the pedestrian walkway was good. Mr. Stokes 547 reiterated his concern in opening County Road C2 for safety concerns; while recognizing 548 the concerns expressed by those residents on Josephine Road. 549 Mr. Stokes reiterated his observations over the last twenty (20) years; and opined that the 550 Pulte proposal seemed to be a good use of the property; while not eager to see it 551 developed and preferring to keep the natural area. 552 Mr. Stokes opined that the City and its residents would be best served by keeping 553 County Road C2 from going through, including those residing on the cul-de-sac since 554 they would be the most impacted if it were to go through. 555 Donna Miliotis, 1128 County Road C2 556 Ms. Miliotis referenced the ongoing debate every few years as to whether to open up the 557 County Road C2 cul-de-sac; and referenced her past interviewing of approximately two 558 hundred (200) residents approximately 5-6 years ago, from Snelling Avenue to Victoria 559 Street, and petition to not have it go through since people didn’t want another east/west 560 route bisecting the City and destroying neighborhoods. 561