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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-15 Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, September 15, 2005 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Fred Richards, Marie Thorpe, Jean White, Warren Plante, Joni Kelly Bennett, Les Wanninger, Dean Dovolis MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Steve Lillehaug, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order Chair Richards called the meeting to order. II. New Business a. Southwest Transitway Alternatives Analysis Study – Update Katie Walker, Hennepin County, introduced her colleagues in attendance with her, Stephanie Eiler and Kathie Doty, consulting team members working on the above listed study. Walker also noted that ETC Commissioner White serves on the Policy Committee while staff Lillehaug serves on the Technical Committee. Walker explained that they are partnering with five cities (St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Minneapolis) exploring the options for public transportation from downtown Minneapolis to the southwest metro area. They’ve identified four possible routes and three transit options (conventional bus, bus rapid transit and light rail transit). The Commissioners wanted to know why Edina was not invited as a partnering city. Eiler said Edina was invited to participate, but it was not included because it does not have a station. In addition, a few years back, both Edina and Bloomington, made it very clear that they did not want light rail in their community when they voted down the Dan Patch light rail and it was removed from the Met Council’s 2030 plan. Walker said while a station is not planned for Edina, it could be affected or served by the transit. Richards said the ETC does not speak for the Council, but it seems the community would be well served with light rail considering the number of Edina residents working in downtown Minneapolis, probably even more so than some of the partnering cities. Bennett expressed disappointment with the current plan because it seems to imply that other communities would be enhanced while Edina will not. Walker said a requirement in terms of travel time reduction is that all residents near and around the routes are better off as a result of light rail and they certainly would like Edina’s residents to benefit also. 2 The ETC asked that they look at including a route in Edina. Walker said she would take the ETC’s comments back and begin an internal discussion to see how this will affect or change the current plans. b. Cypress Equities Development, 7311 France Avenue (Previous Edina Theater Site) The developer has requested an amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow them to demolish the theater and build an 18 story mixed-used development. A traffic study was done that compared previous use when the theater was in operation and expected use. Lillehaug said staff, as well as Hennepin County, gave the developers some conditions that would need to be satisfied, including reconfiguration of the intersection at Gallagher Drive and France Avenue. Staff is recommending approval of the traffic study. Comments and/or questions raised by the Commissioners to the consultant are as follow: o Will traffic on Gallagher operate in much the same way? Yes o Will development exacerbate conditions, as they exist today? No, there is enough capacity at the intersection of Gallagher and France. o Did the study consider other proposed developments, i.e. the Greater Southdale Study, and its impact? The traffic study did account for some growth but did not consider proposed redevelopment. Lillehaug said it would not be fair to require this applicant to include intensification of future traffic from other potential redevelopment. o There appears to be gap of approximately 86 parking spaces between parking required and parking provided. Lillehaug said the Planning Commission would look at this area more closely. He suggested that the ETC recommend that the applicant clarify this issue. o Is there going to be a sidewalk along Gallagher and France? Lillehaug said the applicant is open to including sidewalks on both Gallagher and France and will further be coordinated taking into account the Greater Southdale Study. Wanninger recommended boulevard style sidewalk for safety. o What will happen at the location where Gallagher goes east and then north? Lillehaug said one of the conditions to the development is to build a cul-de-sac at this location. A motion was made by Dovolis to approve the traffic study with the following conditions: building of a boulevard sidewalk on Gallagher and France and ensure on- site parking is adequate and the separate buildings contain adequate parking for their respective parking needs. Motion seconded by Wanninger. Ayes – 5 Nayes – 2 (Bennett, Plante) c. Gramercy Development, 7100 & 7180 Metro Boulevard Gramercy Development has submitted a proposal to build a senior housing complex at the above listed address. A traffic study was done that compared previous use as well as a previous approved plan by the Council. The traffic study shows a reduction in trip generation. Staff is recommending approval of the traffic study. Comments and/or questions raised by the Commissioners to the consultant are as follow: o Will the driveway on W. 70th Street line up with the driveway across the street? No, the driveway on W. 70th Street is being removed. 3 o Are trails and sidewalks being built so that the residents can safely access the businesses at Cahill? There are no plans at this time to build sidewalks. Lillehaug said the area is not pedestrian friendly at this time but staff is planning to redo the intersection of W. 70th Street and Metro Blvd. in 2006 and the plans will evaluate adding sidewalk in this area. A motion was made by Wanninger to approve the traffic study. Motion seconded by Dovolis. Ayes – 5 Nayes – 1 (Plante) Abstain – 1 (Bennett) III. Old Business a. Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan Brochure The changes recommended by the ETC were made with the exception of the back cover. Bennerotte, the Communications Director, recommended leaving it blank so it can be used as a mailer. A motion was made by Wanninger to approve the publication of the brochure. Motion seconded by White. Ayes – 7 Nayes – 0 IV. Handouts a. Correspondence ◦ September 9, 2005 Memo – Marketing Campaign, Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte Lillehaug reported that the In-street Sign posters were distributed all over the city and the school district has expressed an interest in getting more posters. The posters will also be inserted as an ad in the Sun Newspaper. A motion was made by Wanninger to approve printing 5000 copies of the NTMP brochure. Motion was seconded by Plant. Ayes – 7 Nayes – 0 V. Approval of Minutes a. August 18, 2005 Correction on page 2, 2nd paragraph – change 2nd Street to 102nd Street. A motion was made by Bennett to approve the minutes with above change. Motion was seconded by Dovolis. VI. Open Discussion Wanninger said he likes the striping on Wooddale Avenue. Other Commissioners concurred. Lillehaug recommended a special meeting to recommend approval of the RFP for the NE Edina Traffic Study. The special meeting is scheduled for October 6th at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room. 4 Chair Richards announced his resignation from the ETC effective at the conclusion of tonight’s meeting. Meeting adjourned. The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2005, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Community Room, City Hall.