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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-02-21 Minutes MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, February 21, 2008 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Les Wanninger, Jean White, Marc Usem, Paul Mooty, Warren Plante MEMBERS ABSENT: Hilah Almog, Steve Brown, Geof Workinger STAFF PRESENT: Wayne Houle, Jack Sullivan, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by out-going chair Wanninger. The agenda was modified to include item IV. f. West 70th/Cornelia Area Traffic Study – How Do We Proceed From Here. II. Chairperson Voting Out-going chair Wanninger said at the last ETC meeting, he was re-elected to another term as chair and Commissioners asked that Council make an exception to their 2-year term limit for chairs. Commissioner Wanninger said he consulted with the Mayor and Council and they were not willing to make an exception; therefore, a new chair would need to be elected. Commissioner Workinger was elected by Commissioner Plante and the nomination was seconded by Commissioner Usem. There being no other nominations, Commissioner Usem moved to close the nomination and the motion was seconded by Commissioner White. Motion carried. All voted aye. Commissioner Wanninger asked that someone else chair the remainder of the meeting in Commissioner Workinger’s absence. Commissioner Usem was nominated as interim chair. III. Comments a. Chairman Comments Prior to turning over leadership, Commissioner Wanninger noted that Commissioner Thorpe resigned from the ETC after January’s meeting. He expressed gratitude for the terrific job she has done. Commissioner Thorpe was one of the original members. b. Public Comments David Pearson, 4513 Browndale Avenue Mr. Pearson said he is the spokesperson for some residents in the Country Club Neighborhood that is conducting a survey to gauge the attitude of residents on the traffic calming measures that was approved for installation. He said after the most recent Council meeting, residents discovered that others have been unaware of the planned measures. He said the perception is that the neighborhood wants these measures. He said they are surveying the residents and asked that the ETC evaluate the surveys. He said there appear to 2 be mixed feelings on traffic issues, but everyone is firm on not wanting the approved traffic measures. Kyle Simmons, 5038 Bruce Place Mr. Simmons said based on survey responses, it is not conclusive if speeding, safety and cut- thru traffic are a problem. He said of 140 respondents, 20-30% feel the current plan is the best solution; 65% feel increased law enforcement would help; and 55% feel law enforcement is best for reducing speeding. IV. Old Business a. Opus Development – Existing Public Works Facility, 5146 Eden Avenue Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said the site redevelopment plan that was first presented at the January 17 meeting was larger with 751 parking stalls and a potential park and ride. The site has since been scaled down to 575 parking stalls and no park and ride. The proposed redevelopment is a medical facility and a parking ramp. The site would be accessible from Eden Avenue and access to the parking ramp would be from Arcadia Avenue. Initial concerns included the 4-way stop sign at Eden and Arcadia Avenues, as well as the Interlachen Blvd and Vernon Avenue intersection. In reference to the park and ride, Mr. Sullivan said the site was identified by Metro Transit as a potential park and ride sometime ago; however, when they were contacted recently, they said they did not have funding at this time. City staff is evaluating other park and ride locations, including space in Jerry’s Ramp that is used by City employees and for parking equipment, and 70th and Metro Blvd. Mr. Sullivan said staff recommends approval of the project because the redevelopment will not negatively impact the surrounding transportation system; however, there is indication that the 4-way stop sign at Eden and Arcadia Avenues will need to be reconfigured to a traffic signal in the near future and the development team has agreed to pay a fair share to upgrade this intersection as a condition to the approval. Improvements at the Interlachen Blvd and Vernon Avenue intersection will be done by the City (identified by the NE Edina Traffic Study). Commissioner Wanninger motioned to accept staff’s recommendation. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Mooty. Motion carried. All voted aye. b. Edina Gateway – Pentagon Redevelopment Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said staff has been meeting with the development team for the past six months regarding the multi-development site which will include a hotel, office space, condos and senior-assisted living facility. Mr. Sullivan said the site will be developed over a number of years and therefore, traffic impact will be gradual. Together, they’ve identified intersections that will need to be improved and the next step will be to identify who is responsible for the improvements (City of Edina, City of Bloomington, Mn/DOT, Hennepin County and/or the developer). Mr. Sullivan said these improvements should be done within the next 5-10 years. He said a limited amount of funding is available because some of the improvements are in the Capital Improvement Plan. A detailed traffic analysis will be done in 2011 and again in 2013. The detailed traffic reports from the development team showed that some traffic increases are development-driven, but most of the increased traffic will be due to other planned redevelopments in both Edina and Bloomington. 3 Mr. Jim Nelson, of 7790 Lochmere Terrace, and advisor to the development team said the re- development will be phased in over 7-10 years and the rezoning district is the same as Centennial Lakes, Mixed District 6. Daniel Coyle, civil engineer, of Kimley Horn Associates, said the six phases will be in the following order: hotel, residential units, offices, townhouses, another phase of offices, and finally the senior-assisted living units. JoNette Kuhnau, transportation engineer, of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., said traffic volume forecasting was done for each phase using a ‘no-build’ and ‘build’ scenario. The forecasting showed that for some phases improvements are necessary, but overall, the redevelopment would not significantly change the surrounding transportation system. Commissioner Wanninger motioned to accept staff’s recommendation to approve the Pentagon Park Redevelopment moving to the next phase, Phase 3, and including in the developer’s agreement cost participation guidelines by the developer for roadway improvements necessary to mitigate traffic issues generated by the development. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Mooty. Motion carried. All voted aye. c. Bike Edina Task Force – Bike Comprehensive Plan Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said staff reviewed the Bike Comprehensive Plan and Director Houle’s memo is staff’s response to the Bike Plan. Mr. Sullivan said staff is recommending that the ETC adopt the same position as staff. He stated further that they are exploring funding options to see if it would be feasible to begin some implementation this summer. Discussion ensued regarding reducing the speed limit to 25 mph. Director Houle said the committee that is looking into this issue is ready to study the matter but the legislators have not granted permission to begin a study. Commissioner Wanninger made a motion to draft a resolution to Rep. Ron Erhardt asking him to draft legislation to direct the Speed Limit Task Force to conduct a state- wide study (non-optional) and that the study is completed in time for the beginning of the next legislative session. The motion seconded by Commissioner Mooty. Motion carried. All voted aye. In reference to Chapter 2.3 General Recommendations, last bulleted item, Commissioner Usem asked that it be re-worded to reflect that traffic calming measures may be designed to accommodate bicyclists. Commissioner Mooty motioned to accept staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wanninger to include Commissioner Usem’s amendment to Chapter 2.3 General Recommendations, last bulleted item. Motion carried. All voted aye. d. Bikeway Section of Transportation Chapter Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said the Bike Chapter of the Transportation Plan is now complete and staff is recommending that the ETC approve it for inclusion into the overall Comprehensive Plan. 4 Commissioner White motioned to accept staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mooty. Motion carried. All voted aye. e. Halifax Avenue Traffic Management Plan Application The first Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) Application was received from residents on Halifax Avenue. Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said a petition was received for a sidewalk on the eastside and one also for the westside. He asked how should staff proceed with the application and was told to proceed as stated in the policy for an NTMP application. Resident Wayne Wagner, 5212 Halifax, said he is in favor of the sidewalks and there is consensus that there is too much traffic. He said while the sidewalks will not solve the problem, the measures in the NTMP application, plus 25 mph, when it is approved will help. He was asked if the residents (signers) know what a speed hump is and he said yes. Resident Todd Craft, 5204 Halifax, said cut-thru traffic and speeding has become an issue within the last few years. He said the developments at 50th and France has created more traffic and what they are asking for is a relatively inexpensive means of reducing speeds and if traffic level can be reduced that would be appreciated also. He said the street has curb and gutter and the speed hump could be installed just short of the curb and gutter to allow room for cyclists. He was asked if the residents are aware that they would be assessed for the improvements and he said yes. Resident Sheila Pierce, 5333 Halifax, said she is dumbfounded no one else has asked to calm traffic. She said they probably do not agree on the sidewalks, but they do on calming traffic. She does not agree with combining the sidewalks with the safety measures (City Engineer Houle had suggested combining them for the feasibility). Resident Chris Deets said he has two young children and would appreciate the ETC looking at this issue. f. West 70th/Cornelia Area Traffic Study Commissioner Wanninger expressed disappointment and concern with Council’s willingness to go back and look at the NE Edina Study now that some of the measures are to be implemented. He said at Council’s directive, they spent one year on the NE Edina Traffic Study and came up with measures that were unanimously approved by the ETC and Council. He said the W. 70th/Cornelia Traffic Study was modeled after the NE Edina Traffic Study because the process used was successful. However, some residents are upset with the approved measures and some Council members want to go and relook at things. He suggested putting the W. 70th/Cornelia Traffic Study on hold until they are certain what Council expects of them and the proper process to use. He recommended cancelling the February 26th SAC meeting until specific direction and support is received from the Council. Other commissioners expressed the same sentiment. Commissioner Plante made a motion to postpone the February 26 meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mooty. All voted aye. Motion carried. V. New Business a. Transportation Comprehensive Plan – Implementation Section 5 Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said the Transportation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is completed and staff is recommending inclusion of the chapter into the overall Comprehensive Plan. Sullivan said the funding source is similar to that of the 1999 Comp Plan. Commissioner Wanninger made a motion to include the Transportation Chapter in the Comprehensive Plan. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mooty. All voted aye. Motion carried. VI. Approval of Minutes a. Regular Meeting of January 17, 2008 Commissioner Plante made a motion to approve the minutes of January 17. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mooty. All voted aye. Motion carried. VII. Planning Commission Update (Commissioner Brown) None. VIII. Staff Liaison Comments (Sullivan) a. West 70th Street/Cornelia Area Open House and Public Hearing Comments Assistant City Engineer Sullivan reported that a mailer was sent out to 1400-plus residents notifying them of the January 23 Open House and January 31 Public Hearing. He said 181 attended the Open House and 151 surveys were returned. The tabulated survey is available on the website. b. West 70th Street/Cornelia Area – Study Advisory Committee Meeting #6, February 26 Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said this meeting was scheduled to craft document to move forward. The meeting is now postponed until further notice. c. March Edina Transportation Commission Meeting The March meeting was consensually cancelled because no pressing business is foreseen. IX. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.