5.10. SR 11-15-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Stephanie Klinzing and Elk River City Council Members November 15, 2004 Page 3 that the City Council condition its approval of the US Bank Proposal on a reconfiguration of the proposed road connection ITom I 97th to the US Bank property. BOU recognizes that work has already begun on the proposed road configuration. However, there is no better time to correct a mistake than before it is made. BOU understands that the US Bank proposal is only the first of many proposals for Outlot A. If the US Bank proposal does not itself overwhelm the proposed 1 97th/Holt intersection, the combined traffic ITom these many proposals will. It will be less expensive to correct the proposed Outlot A entrance now than it will be in the future, once the road is done and the buildings are in place. The Council should condition its approval of this CUP on a reconfiguration of the traffic proposal. Even if the City contemplates going forward with the current road configuration, more study must be done before a CUP is granted. The Elk Ridge Center developers base their current proposed road configuration on an already outdated traffic analysis. The traffic analysis was based upon a 3,600 square foot building at the US Bank site. The current US Bank proposal is for a 2,940 square foot building with room for a 3,060 square foot expansion - a total of 6,000 square feet. Even according to the outdated traffic analysis there would be 60 left hand turns into the site (and thus, ITom I 97th onto Holt as well) in the peak p.m. hour. There has been no analysis of the number ofleft hand turns involved with a 6,000 square foot building. Add in the remaining development to be done in Outlot A and the problems at the proposed I 97th and Holt intersection become obvious. At the very least, the Council should grant a CUP only on condition that the developers do a realistic traffic analysis and work with Elk River City Engineering to develop a workable traffic plan before beginning construction. There is just too much at stake to proceed on a guess-work basis. B. Landscaping Problems. BOU is concerned with the proposed landscaping plan for the US Bank site. The landscaping plan attached to Chris Leeseberg's November 15, 2004 memorandum calls for a 2 Yz" maple every 40' along 1 97th Avenue. This is inadequate. The boulevard between the proposed US Bank site and I 97th is the primary area dividing the Brentwood neighborhood ITom the US Bank development. Mature arborvitae line I 97th Avenue on the other side of the street. Similar trees along the US Bank site boulevard would better blend with the neighborhood while at the same time shielding the neighbors ITom the site. In order to fit into the neighborhood and to shield the neighborhood from traffic, noise, light and headlights emanating ITom the US Bank site, mature and more densely planted evergreen-type trees or a raised and tasteful wall are needed.