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City Council Minutes <br />October 7, 2024 <br />--------- <br />Page 4 of 5 <br />The staff report was presented. Mr. Femrite noted MnDOT staff was unable to attend the meeting. He <br />discussed the future permanent interchange and the interim access for Capstone's development. For the <br />permanent interchange, he noted there are many options for the style of interchange that could be <br />installed. He stated we need to be cognizant of saving pieces of land for a future interchange and how <br />much land would be needed is unknown, but Capstone needs direction to move forward with <br />development design. <br />Steve Bono, Capstone Homes, handed out a sample interchange design with a smaller footprint that <br />would work for this location. They haven't received a clear direction from MnDOT that would either <br />support or deny any specific intersection, which makes it difficult for them to move forward with <br />spending money to engineer the project. He stated MnDOT told him they don't have any approval rights <br />and can't reserve any future property, but the city could work with the developer on their project. <br />Mr. Femrite stated he is comfortable with the interchange concepts proposed by Capstone. <br />Councilmember Westgaard stated he would like to be cognizant of mixed-use traffic and make sure the <br />turns are large enough for some of the wide and long trucking loads. Matt Barker, Capstone Homes, <br />stated their concepts are based on MnDOT's measurements and standards used on other interchanges <br />on MnDOT's system. <br />Councilmember Westgaard noted we are proposing to straighten the highway in this area in the future <br />and if the main highway moves east it would create more space for the interchange. He stated he is <br />comfortable with their proposal and we would not need more land. <br />Mr. Femrite asked for feedback about the interim highway access intersection styles. <br />Councilmember Wagner said she does not understand how the J-Turn intersection is safer. She stated it <br />would be difficult to cross two lanes of high-speed traffic to get into a turn lane. She cited an example of <br />a semi-truck with slow acceleration, then having to make a hairpin turn back onto the high-speed <br />highway. She stated stop lights seem safer, noting taking out lights creates a higher speed highway. She <br />stated a signalized intersection may help with the queue of traffic spacing from Highway 10 to Highway <br />101. She stated she wants to support this development project. <br />Councilmember Westgaard concurred. He further stated a J-Turn will not improve the access points, <br />especially now with all the traffic from Anoka County that no longer has signalized intersections. <br />Matt Barker stated there are three-quarter access options that sometimes have signals. <br />Councilmember Wagner noted MnDOT's goal is to move traffic, which can kill cities. She is more <br />concerned with moving local traffic across the community. She doesn't think there is a good solution <br />here yet. <br />Mr. Femrite stated there is more work needed to convince this community the J-Turns are the right fit. <br />He suggested re-engaging the community. He noted Capstone Homes will need an access permit from <br />MnDOT with municipal consent from the city. <br />Mr. Bono stated the sooner, the better for their project. He stated knowing the interchange options are <br />acceptable is helpful, but the interim access needs to be determined. He noted MnDOT did say they <br />Page 7 of 294