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<br />November 22, 2004 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />"may include, without limitation, requirements relating to the following: (1) Ingress and <br />egress to the property and proposed structures with particular reference to vehicle and <br />pedestrian safety and convenience, traffic flow and control and access in case of fire or <br />other catastrophes." (Id.) <br /> <br />In this case, because the proposed road configuration will have a detrimental <br />affect on the use and enjoyment of neighboring property and will cause inconvenience <br />and potentially unsafe conditions for both the neighborhood and the City, BOU suggests <br />that the City Council condition its approval of the US Bank Proposal on a reconfiguration <br />ofthe proposed road connection from 197'h to the US Bank property. <br /> <br />BOU recognizes that work has already begun on the proposed road configuration. <br />However, there is no better time to correct a mistake than before it is made. BOU <br />understands that the US Bank proposal is only the first of many proposals for Outlot A. <br />If the US Bank proposal does not itself overwhelm the proposed 197'h/Holt intersection, <br />the combined traffic from these many proposals will. It will be less expensive to correct <br />the proposed Outlot A entrance now than it will be in the future, once the road is done <br />and the buildings are in place. The Council should condition its approval of this CUP on <br />a reconfiguration of the traffic proposal. <br /> <br />Even if the City contemplates going forward with the current road configuration, <br />more study must be done before a CUP is granted. The Elk Ridge Center developers <br />base their current proposed road configuration on an already outdated traffic analysis. <br />The traffic analysis was based upon a 3,600 square foot building at the US Bank site. <br />The current US Bank proposal is for a 2,940 square foot building with room for a 3,060 <br />square foot expansion - a total of 6,000 square feet. Even according to the outdated <br />traffic analysis there would be 60 left hand turns into the site (and thus, from 197th onto <br />Holt as well) in the peak p.m. hour. There has been no analysis of the number of left <br />hand turns involved with a 6,000 square foot building. Add in the remaining <br />development to be done in Outlot A and the problems at the proposed 197'h and Holt <br />intersection become obvious. At the very least, the Council should grant a CUP only on <br />condition that the developers do a realistic traffic analysis and work with Elk River City <br />Engineering to develop a workable traffic plan before beginning construction. There is <br />just too much at stake to proceed on a guess-work basis. <br /> <br />Hempel Properties, our design team, and the City of Elk River have spent a great amount <br />of time and effort in the overall design of Elk Ridge Center. We feel the end result is an <br />appropriate and architecturally stimulating design with the best potential for success on <br />the site, thereby putting the land to work in its highest and best use. <br />