HomeMy WebLinkAboutIM July 13, 1978
. . ANDOVER
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INFORHATIonAL HEETn:G m: COUNTY !!OAD 9 PROJECT - JULY 13, 1978
HDTUTES
An informational meeting on County Road 9 Improvement Project was called to order by
Hayor Jerry 1'Iindschitl on July 13, 1978, 7:35 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685
Crosstown Boulevard N'''', Anoka, Hinnesota.
Councilpercons þresent: Lachinski, McClure, Orttel, VanderLaan
Councilpersons a.bsm t: None
Also present: City Engineer, D. P. Kasma; Anoka County EnGineer, Paul Ruud;
County Administrative Assistant, Dale \'/inah; City Clerk,
P. K. Lindquist; and interested residents
Tom HcGluskey. ll~545 Pound Lake Boulevard - requested the County and City to investigate
as soon as possible their proposal of running Round Lake Boulevard straight south from
Round Lake, because they are concerned that other houses may be built that would be in the
path of where they would like the road to be run. Because they feel it is more futuristic
for handling traffic and because widening the present road would not solve any of the four
main tie-ups on the road (windiness of the road, automobiles pulling out onto the road
fro~ blind curves, school buses which automobiles cannot pass even if the road was wider,
and the four-way stop at Bunker .Lake Road), they would like the direction of the road
changed. He stated that while Seventh Avenue was being repaired, the traffic on Round
Lake Boulevard increased substantially; however, when it was completed, that traffic did
not seem to dimish much. The Highway Department's future traffic projections indicate
that widening the road will not be enough and eventually it will have to be a four-lane
road. Having the road go straight seems more logical than having a curvy, windy road
going through what is now become a residential area. }w. McCluskey also outlined his
proposed alternate route on the map for the Council. At the present time, their al terna te
route would not require any homes to be taken.
Bonnie Francis. 14260 Round L~ke Boulevard - stated their suggested alternate route would
t~ke the course of least resistance. They felt it would be beneficial to both the travelers
of County Road 9 and the residents in homes with 66-foot easements, to build the alternate
~oute where it wontt disturb anyone. She proposed the road, which follows the section
line frOM St. ~ancis, continue to do so south of Round Lake in a way that wouldn't hurt
anybody. At Bunker Lake BouJerard, it would c~oss approximately where the church is
located, eliminating any sharp curvature or any blind spots. She didn't feel that
widening the road would help any except to increase the speed of the traffic. Everyone
a~rees that Round Lake Boulevard definitely needs upgrading, but they want to see it
up~raded intelligently in a way that isn't ~oing to disturb people and in a way that is
~oing to make traffic safer rather than just following the same route. She also sbowed
the Highway Planning map which showed planned arterial routes that are supposed to take
the traffic off County Poad 9. The arterial ~oute is supposed to come dovm Hanson
Boulevard, which is about 2t miles off of Highway 65. She felt it was unreasonable to put
two arterial routes that close tOßether and felt traffic would still be coming down
Round Lake Boulevard as it is the shortest route from that area.
Beverly TIa~en. Round'Lake Boulevard - has lived there l7~ years and the increase in
traffic in that time is unbelievable. She felt she could live with the noise, which is
just maddening, but the nearest neighbor on both sides of her house has lost their
children frOM that rOQd from the time shets lived there. She sees accidents all the
time. Last week a readi-mix driver told her when they leave the four-way stop and start
shifting, they are going 60 mph by the time they go by her house and have to start shift-
inr, to make that curve because of the uphill ßrade over the bend. If the speed limit
Were lowered to 30 mph, the driver told her they would go another route. In the winter
InfQrmaticnal J!eetinr; on County Road 9 Project
July 13, 1978 - lIinutes
Page 2
Mornin~s, bet~een 6:30 and 7=30, the Sar.l8 tir.w the !,:arbage trucks and school buses !,:O
throURh that area, the traffic backs up to her window from the four-~ay stop at
Bunker Lake Boulev<Jrd and Round I.al;:e Boulevard, which is a lonr; distance.
1,0101 Fortner. 13808 P.ound Lake Boulevard - lives in the first residential area north of
the four-way sto~. Any time when it is busy, traffic is backed up from the stop, The
noise level from this is really unbelievable, They have lived there 8 years and the noise
level is Getting worse and worse. Also, businesses are wanting to cash in on all the
traffic, and they are no~ under the pressures of findinG commercial businesses moving and
wanting to Move into this residential district, which is an undersirable situation for
them, TIe feel this is going to be getting worse and worse.
John L'J.vlrence. 14516 Round Lake Boulevard - knew the traffic situation when he moved there,
but he didn't take into consideration that the house is do"m level, and coming out of
the driveway to the north it rises up, Anything coming over the crest cannot see you
pulling out of the driveway, On wet and slippery days, it is extremely dangereous. The
school bus pulls into his driveway to pick up his handicapped son and baclœ out, which
is extremely dangereou8. So far nothinG has happened; but if there is anything comin!,:
down the hill too fast, there is goinG to be a serious accident. Also, he has a double
yellow line, and people are still overtaking in that area because they are going too
fast. If the road is widened, it will be good in so~e aspects, but it will also increase
the speed in the area, He felt the speed should be evaluated, especially when the school
bUGes are running, Qnd should be decreased.
Paul Ruud -c'explained the establishment of speeds on the county roads is under the
authority of the Commissioner of Transportation in the State, ne can request them to
~erform an enr,ineerinG study, and }~. Ruud then revie~ed the procedure they use to ~ake
their determination. Since the Public ~earinr. on No, 9, the County Board has requested
a ne'."! sþeed study on Fa. 9 startin.~ at l!ain Street; the results are forthco~ing,
Hr, HcCluskey - stated that County Road 9 \'!as there when everyone bouGht their houses,
but the increase in traffic has been phenomenal, He felt running the road straight won't
do any ~ood unless we have better zoning around it. There will be a large volu~e of
traffic on it, and houses should be developed with better accesses. He realized cost is
a factor in constructing the alternate route, but felt it was worth the cost in human
lives and the fact that this is a developing residential area, He also felt that lowerinG
the speed limit would decrease the traffic and the problems; but as more homes are beinG
developed, the problem will crop up a~ain when it will be harder to deal with.
Hs, Francis - fol t if the alternate route \"ould be put in and their road left in a
residential state, then the school buses could Bafely pick up children, She also felt
they definitely need sone sort of shoulder on the road, She had an ambulance come up
behind her on her way home, and there was nothing she could do but wait until she got to
a driveway to ?ull out of the way.
Hr, 1,a\'Jrence - stated the group is not opposed to the widening of the road with bi1w
l.:mcs, etc. , but they are conccrr..ed about the bends in the road and this type of road for
bil-:e lal::es. It's like a country la~e in EnGland; and to try to widen it puttinG in baoically
the 4-lane, it beco~es a speedinG area.
Hs. 'Par,:en _ noted fro:r.1 a s.'1fety stnndpoint, they would like to have the ~ider shoulders
and i!:1J)rover.:.ents on the r02d, but they 1:::10':r that the r:1inutc the road is opened uP, it
is p'oing to be a R~eedTIny.
Hr, HcClus1:ey - felt if the road \'JaS straif,htened, there wouldn't be near the traffic
there is in this residentinl area, and r.1:1ybc in five or six years vfhen city imprOVÐYì1ents
cOY:le throuGh, the shoulder could be :put i!l then. !":ayor ',7i!ldschitl noted that there is
nothin0 in the ,1a~G for túe extension of Gny se~er. Realistically, the only \'lay the
Se1,'lOr syster:\ ic GoinS' to be extended ,,¡ill be at such tir:1e ':,-hen the Adolfson property is
divided.
Info!'rlati(mal !-~cotin~ on County ~Oé1d 9 Project
.ruly 13, 1978 - !-íinutes
:?ar;e 3
T:e!1 ?J8.steri1::, .)h5G South Coon Cree1: Drive - firot house on Coon Creek Drivo. Eo o'skcd
if t~e sDeed liMit vould be reduced to 30 ~ph if this became a residential road and
the alternate DT'oþosed was constructed. 1byor ',',Tindschi tl stated it \'!auld be \':hatever
the Sb)te approved for speed li~i ts.
IT. Pasterik - not only cattinr, onto !To. 9 is a problon, but GottinG off it io a lJroblen
as \'Jell. A lot of ti~cn even thoußh he sicnals early to exit onto South Coon Creek
Drive, he finds hiMself takir.ß the corner fast because someone is right behind hiM
s~eedinß alone and there is no place to ~ull over. SOMetimes they even pÐ.8G, \7hich is
passin~ into a blind situation becausc of the hill and curve.
Dale 11inch fro~ t~o Ad~ihistrative Office stated that COMMissioher Ed~ard Fields is very
concerned about the safety situation on tho road and TIould be vi1lin~ to anover any
qucstions of citizens. A couþle of thin~~ are beinß done by the County; one is the up-
Grading project. Also, this rarticular piece is a high_accident frequency road. One of
the results of that designation by the Hinnesota Departmeht of Public Safety was the
developMent of a CASEP Program (Coordinated Alcholoic Speed and EnforceMent ProGram).
~!r. ~inch explained that the proGraM is to a9ply strict enforcement of the speed li~it
Oh the road, which r1ip,ht help reduce the accidents in the area. Since the iMpleMentation
of the pror,-ram the third week in June, ~hich is adMinistered by the Anolm County Sheriff's
office ~ainly on Friday eveninG throuGh Saturday and Sunday concentratinG on speed and
erratic driving usinc radar in that Ð.rea, it has had SOMe effect in reducing the incidence
of tags. This will be Going on through the rest of the year.
Hr. "Ruud then reviewed the County's plans for this roadway (See I!inutes of July 6, 1973,
Special Gi ty Council Peetihg). !Ie noted the County recOMMendations for the road at
present are that based on the eXistinr, traffic and development patterns, the road south
of Bunker Lake Boulevard to !-!ighway 10 needs to be rebuilt no~ reGardless of what would
happen on the alternate alignMent. The County Board has authorized right-of-way acquisition
on that segment of road. The County Board has also directed his staff to consider all
alir;n~ents not only from Bunker Lake Horth but on the ehtire segMent before anything
further is done north of 116. Because of the improveMent on that portion of County Road
9 to Highway 10, and because of the investMent in the existing interchange onto !ligh~ay 10,
it really limits the number of viable alternates to the area north of 116. Hr. Ruud
reviewcd \'!hat hie staff has considered for losical alternate routes and noted if Hanoon
Boulevard is to be extended, it will COMe about in segments and t~ere is still going to
be a gteat deal of traffic on County Road 9 that has to be handled. He felt the con-
struction to put in shoulders, etc. , would still be justified ih this area even with the
realigh~ent. On all County roads where ne~ platting occurs, the normal procedure now is
for developers to back their lots against the County road so the only intersections onto
the road are street intersections. At present they anticipate that the traffic is about
balanced at the intersection of Bunker ktke Boulevard ahd Round Lake Boulevard, but it
won't be very long before traffic siGnals will be warranted at that intersection. 1,7hen
improveMents are TIade to County Road 9 south of 116, all of the underground conduits for
the traffic signals ~ill be provided.
11r. Ruud then went on to explain the prJs and cons of each of the various alternate routes
proposed, noting basically the probleQ8 of the investMent in the interchange existinG at
Highway 10 and Round Lake Boulevard, which is large enough to Make a ctanf,e out of the
ouestion, and the extent of the þeat deposits on either side of South Coon Creek Drive.
The County's ~roDosal basically follo~s the line 1/4 Mile east of the existing County
'Road 9 from Xo. 116 north, as there are various \"la.ys to mah:e the aliGnMent de:pendinr, on
stayinG away froTI ~eat deposits ahd existin~ developMeht. Assu~inG that either of the
~outes can be built into a safe facility, their .study ~ust take into account coots of
construction (including right of way and relocation) and environmental concerns (noise,
conp;estion, etc.). TIe felt they would have difficult];;' getting approval to GO throuGh
the wetlahds, ~hich is the priMary reason they arelool:ing to the alicnTIent 1/4 Mile east
rYlformationo.l ¡!eetin¡; on County Road 9 Project
July 13, 1978 - !·!inutes
Pa~e l.t.
of the existin~ roadvay. !·T. P.uud and nr. Kasma also reviowed 1:10.:90 showinG' existing
ditches, wetlands, and the flood plain of the area in question plus a mo.p showin¡; the
proposed !ßArr roads for the City of A!1dover.
Joe Caskinette. 13852 Round Lake Boulev"rd - asked if the road is widened, how much ~ore
would be taken fror.1. the center lineaf the highway? ~ould the service ro"d just north of
Bunker h'1~':e and Pound L.a.ke BoulevD.rds have to be t:1oved? Hr. Ruud sté\ted they need 60
feet on either side of the center lino for" total of 120 feet of richt of w"y. In most
areas ~long the road they now have 33 feet on either side of the center line, so they
need an "dditiono.l 27 feet. On a new aliGllTIont of tho road, they would look at 150 feet
of riGht of way to build the road "nd so th"t utilities can be 10c"ted in tho boulevo.rds
and ditches. Hr. Duud didn't think thé\t the service roo.d would hONe to be I'!oved.
Hr. Tiuud "Iso explained th"t their desiGn en~ineer will be spending title on thb o.s 100 c;ets
a chnnce, but it will be fall before the study can 100 completed. ~hèir intention is to
include monies in the 1979 construction budcet to include soôethin~ north of 116 up to
Hi¡;ll1'lo.y 20. From the bend at Round La!w north, they don't anticipo.te any different
alir;nment except tryi:t:f, to Get it on the section line where it is not. The fé\ct tlmt
~onies ~re þlan~ed to be s~ent i~provin$ the roadway north of 116 is not ~oinG to be a
deterrent to considerin~ an alternate route, as the orders from the County Board are to
1001: at all the alternates and hold another public hearinc; before o.nything co.n be done.
Hr. lfcCluslŒV - was concerned that before a study on reD.lignIY!ent is cOr.1pleted, homes that
are not there now May be built by ti~e an alternate route is detorr.1ined. 1byor
~indGchitl stated we have seen no development ~roþosals and know of nothinG in that
entire 600 or 700 acres at the present title. Lecally there is nothing that can be done
to prevent this. It would be a r.1atter of when something came before us, then Hr. Y...aS!:1a
would make his recotlt1endations as to the plo.t. 1!r. !",-sma infortled those present of the
inquiries made to hirl for developtlent in areas south of No. 116 rlhere re"lignment is
beinG considered.
l~s. ~1ar,en - questioned if the alternate route CQ!':1es to the intersection at Bunl:er T.ø.ko
Boulevard how ITould the existing roadway line up at that intersection. Ilr. Ruud
explained that the existinc; roo.d would be 0. residential road tho.t would alißn into the
o.ltern"te route o.t 0. riGht angle sL~ilio.r to the o.rea west of the City Hall where
NightenGale intersects Crossto\'tn Boulevard.
rœ. Ruud also stated their offices have not been receivinG inquirics about development
in the areo. south o.nd east of No.9 and 116, o.nd they havehc~~d of no developers
recently on the Adolfson property.
Charlie Veit1an - asked ¡'lhat detour of the area is being plÐ.nned when construction is done
froM Bunker Lake Boulevard south. lb. Ruud stated the iM?rOVenents will be put in
under tro.ffic as most of the work can be done leo.ving the old blacktop in place. All
trees that needed to be removed would be within the 60-foot easement on either side of
the center line. For any solid obsticals which is a hazard for a car leavínr, the road,
the Federal stando.rd is that everythinG be cleo.red a disto.nce of 30 feet frotl the edgo
of the ð.riving lane, assunin~ there is no curb and Gutter. There are SOMe exceptions if
you go curbed sections. Portions of the l'!o. 9 project south of Bunker Lake Boulevard
does have Sane storm sewer and SOMe asphalt curb.
IT. Kas~a felt the olternate route proposod by the residents has GaMe Good points and
feI t the County staff is tal-;:ing these requests seriously. The only thinG ITS can do frOM
the City staYldpoint is to be ale~t to o.ny develop~ that do come in and to let them !~ow
that tho study is in pro~ress.
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Informationnl Heeting on County TIond 9 Project
July 13, 1973 - Hinute:J
PaGe 5
Discussion WèJ.S that the Council add the City's support to the County Boa~d's Motion
asJdnG that conGidcration be F,ivcn to the realiGp-Ment north of 116 to elininate some
of the safety proble~s thero.
¡¡OTIO'! by Ißchinski, Seconded by Orttel, to have the City Clerk prcþo.rc a resolution tho.t
because of the hazardous ""fety problems on round Lako Boulevard that the City Council
support the concept of Qltcrnato aliGn~entG and requests Anol~ County to study alternate
aliGnMents south of 'Round La1:e. (See Resolution R79-8) I-1otion carried tmanir.1Ously.
H'0TIO~r by Orttel, Seconded by J.1cClure, to L1djou!"n. All in favor said aye.
~~etin~ adjourned at 8:58 ?M.
:?es}Jectflllly subnitted,
\'''\'''' \ - "- ~L
\\~~(L
I!arcella A. I'cD.ch
DecordinG Secretary
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