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<br /> <br />Item 5.10. <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> <br />February 10, 2005 <br />File: 808331J-0240 <br /> <br />The Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />City of Elk River <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, 11N 55330 <br /> <br />RE: ZANEAVENUERIGHT-OF-WAY <br />WAL-MART EXPANSION PROPOSAL <br /> <br />Dear Councilmembers: <br /> <br />On November 15, 2004 when the City Council approved the expansion of the Wal-Mart <br />Store, one of the conditions and direction given to me was to work with the Wal-Mart <br />engineer to analyze acquiring more right-of-way along their frontage of Zane Avenue for a <br />potential future expansion of Zane Avenue. Since that time I have had several discussions <br />with Ron Dokken, the Wal-Mart engineer, regarding this issue and believe we have come up <br />with a solution that will accommodate both the City and Wal-Mart. <br /> <br />Zane Avenue currently has a 60-foot wide right-of-way. As you are aware, Zane Avenue is a <br />three-lane roadway with two lanes southbound and one lane northbound. I have previously <br />recommended to the City Council that some time in the future, Zane Avenue should be re- <br />striped to a three-lane configuration with the center lane being a dual left turn lane. Zane <br />Avenue also has a six-foot wide sidewalk within the 60-foot right-of-way. Wal-Mart has <br />head-in parking currently constructed or proposed along their entire Zane Avenue frontage. <br />This head-in parking is situated 10 feet back from the current right-of-way line in accordance <br />with City ordinance. Any additional right-of-way acquisition from Wal-Mart would place <br />this entire row of parking in a nonconforming situation. What I have suggested to Ron <br />Dokken and Wal-Mart has agreed as a solution that would meet both parties goals would be <br />to have Wal-Mart provide the City with a 10-foot wide sidewalk easement which would <br />cover the entire grass area between the right-of-way line of Zane Avenue and the curb line <br />defining their closest row of head-in parking. This would leave this entire row of parking <br />meeting City code, because the setback is measured from the right-of-way line. However, it <br />would allow the City to expand Zane Avenue within the 60-foot right-of-way and rebuild the <br />sidewalk outside of the 60-foot existing right-of-way. As I have stated before, I do not <br />believe that Zane Avenue needs to be expanded to four lanes of traffic, but rather, should be <br />striped as a three-lane roadway with a center left turn lane. The solution of gaining an <br />additionall0-foot sidewalk easement would allow for the widening of Zane Avenue 6-9 <br />Phone: 763.635.1000 <br />Fax: 763.635.1090 <br /> <br />www.cLelk-river.mn.us <br />