Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-21 Minutes MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, June 21, 2007 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Les Wanninger, Warren Plante, Jean White, Marc Usem, Geof Workinger, Steve Brown, Paul Mooty MEMBERS ABSENT: Hilah Almog, Marie Thorpe STAFF PRESENT: Wayne Houle, Jack Sullivan, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Wanninger. II. Public Comment None III. Old Business None IV. New Business a. New Commission Member – Paul Mooty was welcomed to the ETC by Chair Wanninger. b. Southdale Medical Facility – 6525/6545 France Avenue Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said both staff and WSB, the City’s traffic consultant, reviewed the traffic report and is recommending approval. Sullivan said trips per day will increase by about 10% and in looking at various intersections, the turn lanes were found to be nearing capacity; however, these will not adversely affect the overall network. He is concerned with where the contract parking that is currently in existence will be displaced to since it will no longer be allowed with the new development and asked the developer to address this directly. Mr. Rickart of WSB said he had nine concerns and they were all addressed by the developer. His primary concern was traffic backing up on 65th Street and a possible solution is restriping to provide a left turn lane in the future if it becomes an issue. Comments from commissioners: Going north on France towards Highway 62 is congested, was this area looked at as part of the study? This area was not looked at and it is not anticipated that it will be any busier than it is today as a result of the development. City Engineer Houle said if new developments are built within the Comprehensive Plan land use they will fit into the existing transportation 2 system; however, they are currently reviewing the land use to see how the system will be affected. Was future development of the hospital taken into consideration? Existing conditions were evaluated, but future expansions were not considered. Rickart said they cannot take into consideration unknown redevelopments; however, when the land use study review is completed and is added to the transportation model, they will be able to project out a number of years and the model will show them what is to come and when they will need to modify the roadway system. Parking – there will be no net loss to parking. Commissioner Brown noted that he is professionally involved with the building and therefore will limit his comments. He asked for clarification on the queuing to France which is almost at capacity. Mr. Rickart said Hennepin County is in the process of evaluating the timing on all the signals on France Ave so the queuing of one to two cars may no longer be an issue. Accident history of the area was not considered as part of the transportation plan but is included in the traffic study. U-turn at Drew and 66th is allowed because of the right-in, right-out only entrances and because of the current parking set up. Testimony by developer, Dennis Zylla Developer Zylla said a suggestion to eliminate one entrance on W. 65th would create an unsafe situation on the property because of the distance that customers would travel to parking. He said their responsibility will be to educate their customers on the changes that they are making. He said they are hoping to use Drew more to relieve some of the pressure from W. 65th and W. 66th. Regarding parking, he said they currently have 350 vacant stalls in the ramp on peak days. One change, he said, is to allow customers to park anywhere in the lot, including the first floor of the ramp. There is also an underground garage that is not being used. Adding a second curb cut into the ramp was discussed but they concluded that it would not be approved by the City because of wanting Drew to be the main road and they would not be in favor of closing any of the other entrances. Comments from commissioners In the northwest area, City Engineer Houle suggested putting in a sister signal that would be tied in to the signal at W. 65th and France which would reduce the queue lanes. Queuing on W. 65th would be reduced, but exiting from the building would increase. Adding crosswalks at W. 65th and W. 66th were recommended because crossing, as observed, is dangerous for pedestrians. Motion A motion was made by Commissioner Usem to approve the traffic study with the conditions that they look at installing a traffic signal as suggested by City Engineer 3 Houle in the northwest area and improved signage for pedestrians. The motion was seconded by Commissioner White. 6 voted ayes, 1 abstained (Brown). c. Draft Gateway AUAR Traffic Study – Presentation by Lynn Miller, WSB Miller said the AUAR was done as a result of redevelopment plans that were received for the Pentagon Park area and the Council decided to do a study that would look at the broader area instead of being site specific. This is the first AUAR for the City and the process involves a 30-day comment period from the Council, Met Council and other agencies as well as the ETC and the Planning Commission. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, the comments will be drafted and another 10- day comment period will begin. There will also be an open house. At the end of this final comment period, the study will go back to Council for approval. Two major concerns from the ETC were that the City of Bloomington’s Comprehensive Plan was not considered in the study, as well as W. 70th Street traffic study that is under way. Commissioner Brown motioned to release the AUAR study to the public. Motion was seconded by Commissioner White. 6 voted ayes, 1 voted nay (Commissioner Workinger). V. Approval of Minutes a. Regular Meeting of April 19, 2007 Commissioner Brown motioned to approve the minutes of April 19, 2007. Motion was seconded by Commissioner White. All voted ayes. VI. Planning Commission Update (Commissioner Brown) Commissioner Brown said the primary focus of their meetings have been discussions related to the Comp Plan. VII. Open Discussion None VIII. Staff Liaison Comments (Sullivan) a. Current Sidewalk Plan i. City of Edina Transportation Plan ii. City of Edina Transportation Commission Policy Commissioner Wanninger said he wanted this on the agenda so that the ETC can give some input concerning sidewalks since the Transportation Plan is currently under revision. This will be discussed at the next ETC meeting. b. Safe Routes to School Funding Assistant City Engineer Sullivan said the funding will be available after July 1 and a consultant will be hired to develop the project plan. c. Northeast Edina Transportation Study Update The following areas are scheduled to be completed this summer or fall:  West 50th Street: lengthening the east-bound right turn lane at Halifax and W. 50th and widening of the northerly curb line at France & 50th; 4  Restriping design along France to be completed soon, with approval from City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County; W. 44th & France to be restriped too, but will need to complete parking proposal first;  Traffic signal at Interlachen Blvd and Vernon Avenue will be completed by fall;  The Country Club Utility and Roadway project is scheduled for 2008; d. Transportation Comprehensive Plan Update Staff is still waiting for the land use study to be completed to finish the Transportation Comp Plan. Expected completion of the land use portion is 2-6 weeks. e. W. 70th Street/Cornelia Area Study Update The next SAC meeting is scheduled for July 26, at Southdale Mall. f. W. 70th Construction from France to York Avenue This project was recently awarded by the Council and is scheduled to begin July 2. IX. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned.