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Planning Commission Minutes April 11, 2006 --------------------------- Mr. Powell stated they are closing the access due to safety concerns for customers and employees. There being no one else to speak to this issue, Chair Lemke closed the public hearing. Commissioner Stevens thanked the applicant for a quality project. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER STEVENS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE LAND USE AMENDMENT FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO HIGHWAY BUSINESS. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Page 6 Chair Lemke opened the public hearing on the zone change. There being no one to speak to this issue, Chair Lemke closed the public hearing. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER STEVENS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER OFFERMAN TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ZONE CHANGE FROM HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL AND PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO HIGHWAY BUSINESS AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Chair Lemke opened the public hearing for the preluninary plat of Jabez. There being no one to speak to this issue, Chair Lemke closed the public hearing. Commissioner Offerman expressed concern with Ford's driveway entrance on 1715 Avenue being too close to TH 10. He stated this section would make sense for a Mn/DOT interchange due to the Twin Lakes Road traffic coming down to TH 10. He felt the city should be proactive in allowing for an interchange to develop at this location in order to help the interchange come to this location and to save money in acquisitions in the long term. He further stated concerns with traffic queuing. Commissioner Stevens concurred with Commissioner Offerman. Mr. Maurer stated that the Houle site would most likely develop before Mn/DOT has any plans for an interchange. He reiterated where the driveway access would be proposed for this site due to wetlands. He stated Ford volunteered to close their access off TH 10 and this was a good compromise for a driveway access off 1715 Avenue in order to make it easy for customers to locate the entrance. He further stated if development continues at its current pace with the surrounding projects, the city may be required to take additional right-of-way around the TH 10 intersection at 1715 Avenue. Chair Lemke stated he concurred with Commissioner Offerman. He stated it makes sense that if the city is going to get one interchange it would be where the Northstar Rail terminal and Twin Lakes Road traffic is located. He questioned if the overpass were installed at 1715 Avenue, if it would come down on the Ford driveway access. Mr. Maurer disagreed that this would be the spot for a Mn/DOT interchange. He stated if the interchange were considered for this location it would be very expensive for Mn/DOT because they would have to acquire NAPA, Elk River Ford, and the Houle site. He stated the interchange would most likely be near 165~h Avenue with traffic using frontage/backage roads to access the businesses at 1715 and 173rd Avenues. He stated the city has agreements in place for frontage/backage roads.