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Planning Commission Minutes May 27, 2025 Page 7 of 8 Commissioner Rydberg expressed concerns about how short Jackson Avenue is, and it really concerns him about the cross traffic. He felt this plan should include removing the left and rights off of Highway 10, and thought it would help with traffic going through town. Councilmember Wagner stated she had also shared this same concern about Jackson Avenue for years, and after completing the study proposing Jackson as a one-way, it wasn't proposed as such. She stated they did discuss the Highway 10 pedestrian crossing solution by using an underpass under the railroad bed as a good solution. In the meantime, when crossing Highway 10 as a pedestrian, the city can request MnDOT to time the walking person where only the person is walking and there is no traffic allowed in either direction. Commissioner Zahler asked for more details about the city block and street improvements coming from public funding along with the cost. Mr. Carlton explained how public funding (pavement management, state funding) will be used to provide street improvements with engineers determining the cost, and when the improvements will be scheduled. Commissioner Rydberg comments on utility improvements needing to be coordinated with MnDOT plans, especially with roundabouts. Commissioner Zahler asked about the city -owned block and whether it would be sold to a private developer. Mr. Carlton explained how the property transaction could work, and the city would ensure holding rights to provide public parking with a mixture of funding and TIF or tax abatement. Commissioner Booth stated he liked this as a vision to work toward. Commissioner Johnson agreed, stating it's a concept, so if they have a plan or opportunity that comes forward, they have a framework. Commissioner Rydberg noted this was a flexible idea and had no problem adopting a plan. Commissioner Zahler asked questions about the properties along Railroad Drive, as well as Main Street, and a comment from the plan stating the land value was worth more than the improvements on them. He wondered why they hadn't developed them. He asked if the city should be concerned with not having an interest in private investment in the plan area. Mr. Carlton wasn't able to speak to that piece. Mr. Carlton stated the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal article reached out to the city regarding potential interest in redevelopment. Councilmember Wagner also had an apartment builder contact her. James Lang- 378 Gates Avenue, asked questions/concerns regarding the traffic on Gates, stating traffic is already busy. He wondered how many people would be added. There is also no easement on Gates either, and so concerned with what this plan will look like. He also asked about when roads would be repaved on Jackson at Main Street.