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City Council Minutes Page 7 <br />June 15, 2020 <br />----------------------------- <br />Councilmember Ovall questioned if the study was completed prior to awarding of <br />the Highway 169 project. Mr. Carlton indicated he is not 100% sure of the timing <br />but believes the study was started before the Highway 169 project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ovall questioned how early staff shared their position on not <br />supporting the vacation with the applicant. Mr. Carlton explained initial <br />conversations with the application were supportive but after the application was <br />submitted and during staff review as part of the site plan meeting, the public works <br />director reviewed the 2018 traffic study and noted his concerns regarding the conflict <br />between the proposal and city plans. He stated the applicant was notified prior to the <br />first public hearing held on this project. Councilmember Ovall indicated he would <br />like staff to find a way to provide applicants with more accurate feedback earlier in <br />the process. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard indicated he struggles with this request. He questioned if <br />the roundabout shown in the packet is to scale and asked who prepared the drawing. <br />Mr. Carlton stated the graphic was prepared for the applicant by the surveyor and <br />includes general specifications but is not designed specifically for this intersection. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard stated the amount of right-of-way seems like a lot <br />compared to normal and he would like to support the project but doesn’t want to <br />box ourselves in without having enough right-of-way. He added he agrees with <br />Councilmember Ovall that staff needs to find a way to communicate these issues <br />with the applicant earlier in the process. Mr. Carlton indicated staff is working <br />towards pre-application meetings where everyone will be part of the initial <br />conversation. He stated the city moved away from roundabouts where there is <br />heavier truck traffic and indicated that may become an issue in this area with the <br />industrial uses to the west potentially creating heavy truck traffic. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz noted he is not sure the developer should pay for our uncertainty on <br />possibly building a roundabout. <br /> <br />th <br />Councilmember Wagner questioned if 175 Avenue is proposed to be anything other <br />than the design it is right now including more lanes, medians, etc. She explained it is <br />difficult for her to decide based on the single graphic in the packet. She added her <br />biggest concern is the growth in the area. She questioned if a partial easement could <br />be discussed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Christianson questioned if the Council could see a roundabout to <br />specifications overlaid in this intersection to see what the easement would look like. <br /> <br />Mr. Carlton stated he is not aware of any design changes to 175th. He indicated staff <br />could put a standardized roundabout in the center and see how it fits. He noted <br />every roundabout is unique and specifically designed for an intersection. He added a <br />partial easement vacation could be entertained. He stated this item could be <br />continued to July 6 if the Council provides direction. <br /> <br /> <br />