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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, August 01, 2007 Page 5 Vice Chair Doherty strongly encouraged Mr. Arntzen to visit with staff and pursue traffic speed issues. Vice Chair Doherty closed the Public Hearing. Commissioner Wozniak sought staff response to access issues for town home residents. Ms. Bloom expressed her honest response that she had never heard the complaints brought forward by Mr. Arntzen until tonight’s meeting. Ms. Bloom opined that, while it may be an accurate representation, Lexington Avenue was not going to be experiencing any less traffic in the future; and that if people were already thinking the street was a through-street, she would recommend that it remain disconnected from Lexington to further discourage cut-through traffic, speeding, and people seeking to avoid stoplights, trains, and other traffic issues. Ms. Bloom advised that, if the Planning Commission believed this was appropriate, and since she had not been made aware of the situation previously, staff could follow-up with residents more. Ms. Bloom opined that the Planning Commission may wish to consider an additional condition allowing for a five foot (5’) pathway easement for future construction. Ms. Bloom noted that, if and when the north property requested vacation of their portion of the ROW, staff could also condition and reserve a five foot (5’) easement on that portion, allowing for a ten foot (10’) area for future pathway construction. Commissioner Wozniak questioned an alternative for denying access at Lexington rather than extending Rose Place. City Engineer Bloom, without time allowed for further research and review, opined that if it was connected, she would have major concerns for consequential impacts to Rosewood and Dunlap. Ms. Bloom noted that Roseville was a fully-developed City, and that many of these decisions regarding traffic and access were visited and considerations discussed during public meetings during the town home development. Ms. Bloom suggested that, if she understood from tonight’s public comment that the biggest concern was cut-through traffic, staff heard and would seek resolution to address the concern, if the Planning Commission determined not to vacate the ROW at this meeting, allowing for additional staff time to visit with the neighbors and seek other alternatives. Vice Chair Doherty advised that he could support the ROW vacation, but would support delaying action to allow time for residents to argue for and against. Vice Chair Doherty advised that the final decision would be made at the City Council meeting, and strongly encouraged concerned neighborhood residents to voice their opinion to staff and thus the City Council regarding the proposed ROW vacation. Vice Chair Doherty observed that, if Rose Place were made a through-street, it would increase traffic substantially, in addition to undertaking the overflow from County Road C; and questioned the advantages and disadvantages to the neighborhood versus current access issues onto Lexington Avenue. Vice Chair Doherty further noted that, during his years on the Planning Commission, his experience had been that residents on streets having cut-through traffic between major north/south streets were greatly impacted. Commissioner Gasongo opined that it appeared there was a potential future need, and once the City vacated the ROW, it would cost much more money to repurchase improved property rather than retaining the vacant land. Commissioner Gasongo spoke in support of denying the ROW vacation to avoid compromising future needs, or at least until there was more of a consensus among neighbors, and staff had looked at those resident’s concerns.