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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-17 Minutes MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, July 17, 2008 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Les Wanninger, Jean White, Paul Mooty, Steve Brown, Geof Workinger, Tom Bonneville MEMBERS ABSENT: Warren Plante, Hilah Almog, Marc Usem, STAFF PRESENT: Jack Sullivan, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by chair Workinger. II. Comments a. Chair Comments Chair Workinger said he would like Commissioner Brown to brief the ETC on the West 70th Street/Cornelia Area Traffic Study. b. Public Comments None. III. Old Business None. IV. New Business a. 7500 York Avenue – Ebenezer Management Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said the proposal for 7500 York Avenue is to add 75 residential rooms (88 beds) to an already existing senior facility. Mr. Sullivan said the redevelopment proposal was applied for in March but was put on hold by the development team. However, staff and WSB reviewed the traffic study and made comments. The developers have since revised their proposal and incorporated staff’s and WSB’s comments into the traffic study and is seeking approval. Mr. Sullivan said the revised traffic study does not negatively impact traffic and staff is recommending approval. The developer’s traffic engineer, Ed Terhaar of Wenck Associates, Inc., was present to answer questions. Commissioner Wanninger motioned to accept staff’s recommendation “that traffic generated from the proposed 7500 York Avenue does not adversely affect the adjacent transportation system.” The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bonneville. Motion carried. All voted aye. 2 b. 7300 Bush Lake Road – Minnesota Made Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said the original plan was for an inflated hockey dome but it was changed to a permanent building with spectator seating. Mr. Sullivan said most of the trips to and from the site will be off-peak times such as early mornings and weekends and there are no existing operational issues at surrounding intersections. He said the proposal does not adversely affect traffic therefore, staff is recommending approval. The following is the Transportation Impact Analysis Policy: The Transportation Commission shall consider the following four effects in the evaluation of traffic studies that are warranted by certain zoning, land-use, conditional use permits and final development plan applications prior to the application being submitted to the Planning Commission and Council for consideration: i) Does the development significantly affect the operation and congestion of the adjacent roadways or intersections and/or result in a traffic hazard? According to the Traffic Impact Study, no adverse impact to surrounding roadways or intersections shall occur from this Development. ii) Does the development significantly affect pedestrian safety? The Traffic Impact Study did not address pedestrian safety. This is an industrial area with little pedestrian traffic. iii) Does the development provide opportunities for enhanced transit usage, vanpooling or car-pooling? The Traffic Impact Study did not address the above usages. iv) Does the development provide feasible opportunities to address an existing traffic issue or safety problem? There are no known traffic or safety issues at this location. After discussion, the consensus was that circulation of traffic within the site will be challenging for patrons and emergency vehicles. Commissioner Wanninger motioned to accept staff’s recommendation with the following modification to items ii) and iv) listed above: ii) Negatively impacting pedestrian safety within the site; and iv) No new issue off-site, but safety concerns within the site. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Brown The motion was modified by Commissioner Bonneville to include the feasibility of the project to meet set back requirements on the south side. All voted aye. V. Approval of Minutes a. Regular Meeting of June 19, 2008 Commissioner Mooty motioned to approve the minutes of June 19, 2008, and it was seconded by Commissioner Brown. All voted aye. 3 VI. Planning Commission Update (Commissioner Brown) Commissioner Brown reported that 6921 York Place and Crosstown Medical, 4010 W. 65th Street, received preliminary approval last month. He said final approval is expected next month. Commissioner Brown, chair of the West 70th Street/Cornelia Area Traffic Study, said the next Study Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting is scheduled for July 28, 7-9:00 p.m., at Christ Presbyterian Church. He said working with staff and the consultant, a 17-step process was developed to finalize a recommendation to the Council and it was submitted to the Council for their review. After getting Council’s feedback, the 17-step process will be distributed to the ETC and SAC. Commissioner Brown said he anticipates two more SAC meetings and then a final recommendation to Council. Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said all the information for the July 28 meeting will be posted to the website and available for viewing in the Engineering office. VII. Open Discussion Commissioner White said their packet included information from Transit for Livable Communities regarding a grant that the Engineering Department applied for but did not receive approval. She asked what the application was for. Mr. Sullivan said the grant money would have been used for bike trails and sidewalks. He explained that Transit for Livable Communities provides funds for alternative modes of transportation. In reference to the Transportation Chapter of the Comp Plan, Commissioner Wanninger said they included two potential transit options that will require feasibility studies to determine cost, etc. He asked when will the studies begin and will the ETC play a leadership role. Mr. Sullivan will prepare a response for the next scheduled meeting. Commissioner Bonneville said the ETC should be concerned with the overall function of the City’s traffic and there are two significant projects that are impacting the City, including the Crosstown, which staff should be updating the ETC on at regular intervals and therefore, making it public. The next is the Edina Country Club for which staff can give progress reports when streets will be closed, etc. VIII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.