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ROSHWEEE 1XIEQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Department Approval Date: 9/12/11 Item No.: 7 . i City Manager A. pproval r. V: Item Description: Authorize Short Tenn Closure of Wheeler St. at Co. Rd. D 71192o, 2 from The City Council discussed a petition received fr the S wo horeod/Wheeler neighborhood 3 asking the city to study the permanent closure of the north end of Wheeler St. between 4, Shorewood Lane and County Road D at the May 23, 2011 council meeting. After hearing from 5 concerned neighborhood residents on the potential traffic impacts from the Presbyterian Homes 6 redevelopment project and other cut thru traffic that affects livability in the neighborhood, the "7 Council gave direction to staff to study the closure of Wheeler St. at Co. Rd. D. 9 The PWET Commission is in the process of reviewing a draft policy for neighborhood traffic 110 management which will guide these type requests in the future if adopted by the City Council. 11 We anticipate reviewing the draft policy with the Council later this fall. Work on the Arden 12 Hills project is to begin in September and the neighborhood is concerned about the possibility of 13 additional traffic. Staff requested Arden Hills to consider requiring the project owner or their 14, contractor place the short term closure on Wheeler St. We received a response that the owner 15 rejected the request and the city could not require it at this point. 116 1 7 Staff will work with the neighborhood residents as to placement of the closure. Public Safety 11 111"":1'11 has indicated they do not have any concerns regarding the closure of Wheeler St. They 119 requested it be communicated to dispatch staff once it is in place so emergency vehicles are 2o routed appropriately. The closure will be placed in a manner which would allow bicycle and 2 1 pedestrian traffic to use this street as a means to access Co. Rd. D. 22 POLICY OBJECTIVE 23 The Comprehensive Plan supports safe, livable neighborhoods and an efficient transportation 24, system. � I DUNT*3 26 Staff estimates the cost to place a short term closure of up to one year at $, 1 500 - 000. 27 Development of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Policy will include how infrastructure 28 improvements to mitigate traffic concerns should be funded. The cost of the short term closure 29 would be funded using street infrastructure funds. 30 STAFF RECOMMENDATION 31 Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the short term closure of Wheeler St. at Co Rd. 32 D to allow staff to study the impact on other roads in the area. This issue would come back to 33 the City Council at a future date with a recommendation after adoption and implementation of a Page I of 2