6.4. SR 04-04-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 March 15, 2005 File:809031J -0240 Mr. Scott Harlicker, Senior Planner City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 RE: CARSON BUSINESS PARK Dear Mr. Harlicker: In an effort to add one more piece of information to the discussion regarding the proposed Carson Business Park located at the southwest comer of 1H 169 and Main Street, we have counted traffic movements from the commercial area north of Main Street at Carson during the period of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2005. Attached is an exhibit showing the eight turning movements counted and a summary of the number of vehicles for each 15- minute period between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. As is shown by the summary of the counts during the period from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. there were 69 left turn movements from southbound Carson to eastbound Main Street. At the same time, there were an additional six left turn movements out of the Burger Time driveway onto eastbound Main Street for a total of 75 left turn movements. As a comparison, the traffic reports submitted by the Commonweal Development for the proposed Carson Business Park shows 57 left turn movements during the p.m. peak hour. This is based on a total p.m. peak hour trip generation of 434. At last month's City Council meeting, the developers presented to the City Council a revised proposal where the total p.m. peak hour trips would be reduced to approximately 330. Although there was not specific information provided relative to the left turn movements during the p.m. peak hour, I believe it is safe to assume that there would be a similar reduction from the 57 left turn movements shown in their traffic report. Another issue that was discussed by the developers at the City Council meeting last month was the idea of writing into the developer's agreement a method of monitoring the amount of p.m. peak hour traffic generated by the proposed buildings in the Carson Business Park. I believe this is certainly possible to do by referencing the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, however, I would caution that these are average trip generations for similar types of commercial establishments based on counts throughout the United States. This would provide a method to monitor the expected total traffic generation based on the initial use and size of buildings proposed on the various lots in Phone: 763.635.1000 Fax: 763.635.1090 www.cLelk-river.mn.us