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- Mr. Mike Falk March 4, 1996 Page 2 There are two driveways proposed for the frontage road on the north side of the site. The northeast entrance is relocated further east then existing. It will be more lined up with the north-south frontage road. This will provide slightly better operations in terms of viewing motorists on both the north and west approaches, but will also be more inviting for cut-through traffic. The northwesterly driveway is also relocated east which should be an improvement over the existing location since it is further from the west curve in the frontage road. It should provide better sight distance for traffic. The site also calls for retaining the existing approach to County Road B in the southeast corner of the site and adding a second entrance at the southwest corner, also from County Road B. The existing intersection of Snelling Avenue and County Road B is relatively close to the existing entrance. Because most of the traffic using this site will be inbound traffic, there should be no increase in some of the congestion which currently occurs with decelerating traffic just west of Snelling Avenue. The on-site circulation may be better than existing and thus, there is less opportunity for backups to occur at the entrance. The southwest entrance is new and is only approximately 70 feet from the corner of the frontage road intersection with County Road B. Thus, there will be some confusion with right turning traffic turning into the driveway rather than onto the frontage road. This is relatively common at urban intersections. The major concern with this entrance is the potential for the entrance to be partially blocked by traffic leaving the gas pump area and being positioned over the center of the driveway. The driveway is to be 25 feet wide according to the site plan. It could be widened to a more standard 32 feet with a large radii on the east side to make it more convenient for traffic to turn in and to reduce the likelihood of outgoing traffic blocking it. Most traffic will be facing north at the pump islands. This should leave the south area relatively clear of traffic making it less likely that traffic will be stopped on County Road B trying to enter the site. This will also make it easier for traffic to travel through the east side of the site as a shortcut from County Road B to the frontage road. Since the store and parking lot will primarily be on the west side of this site, the shortcut is very inviting and will be utilized. Consideration could be given to closing the northeast entrance since it will have very little exiting traffic and only southbound frontage road entering traffic. That traffic would have an opportunity to still enter the west site entrance with very little increase in overall distance traveled or maneuvering. The underground storage tanks are relocated to the east end of the site. Tanker trucks will be able to utilize the southeast entrance and the northeast exit, with only a small amount of maneuvering. They will be able to park over the tanks for ease of filling and should not block through traffic. If the northeast driveway is removed, the tankers will have more maneuvering to leave the site, probably traveling crosswise through the northwest driveway. The trash area is at the west end of the site and is very accessible by trucks. Trucks can enter from County Road B, approach the trash area, back out through the maneuvering area and exit the