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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8A - CSAH 21 Access CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: REVIEWED BY: AGENDA ITEM: October 1, 2001 8A BUD OSMUNDSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER CONSIDER REGAL CREST ACCESS TO CSAH 21 DISCUSSION: This item is for informational purposes regarding the access to the Regal Crest development from CSAH 21 which is directly across from Windsong Circle. The City Council will be taking action with the "Approval of Regal Crest Final Plat" agenda item elsewhere in the agenda. By approving the final plat the council will be approving the location of the access to CSAH 21. The mayor and City Council received the attached letter from a number of homeowners that live in the Wind song Circle neighborhood on the east side of CSAH 21 across from Regal Crest. The letter voices their concerns regarding safety issues of the proposed Regal Crest street intersection with CSAH 21. The residents' letter has, as an attachment, a letter and documentation from the Scott County Highway Department. Backqround: The Regal Crest development is located on the west side of CSAH 21 about an eighth mile north of CSAH 82. CSAH 21 in this segment is a four lane undivided highway with a 45 mph speed limit and is a major collector roadway. It was first proposed about the same time as the Wensmann addition to the west. The first phase of the Wensmann addition was on the west side adjacent to Wilds Parkway. Without a certain timetable for the second phase of the Wensmann addition, which would ultimately connect to the Regal Crest site, the only certain access to the Regal Crest site was from CSAH 21. Also, from a legal perspective, each property must be provided access. From a traffic engineering standpoint, the logical street access to the Regal Crest site from CSAH 21 is to align it directly across from Windsong Circle as is proposed. Alternative locations would create offset intersections onto a major collector, which are not a safe design due to the confusion and resulting lane weaving they create for drivers. Scott County Highway Department agreed with this assessment and approved the access location, with the stipulation that Regal Crest would have to build a right turn lane for southbound vehicles to its access street. In the long term, CSAH 21 will be built to a four lane divided roadway in this segment as it currently exists to the north. When that happens, both the Regal Crest access street, and Windsong Circle, will become right in / right out access points to CSAH 21. The Regal Crest site will also be provided access from future developments through properties immediately across from Lords Street, and through the Jeffers property at Raspberry Ridge. (See attached concept IItlOOl!PfJ:'1~mT~~gA~e!l@~HC}llrior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER sketch) The access at Lords Street will become a full turning movement intersection. The Regal Crest developer contacted the properties across from Lords Street for possible inclusion with the Regal Crest development, but the property owners were not interested in developing at this time. Issues: The Windsong Circle residents first concern identified in their letter is the left turning movement from Windsong Circle (or the Regal Crest street) onto CSAH 21. It references the Scott County study which determined that there is 590 feet of sight distance to the north from the location of the proposed access. They are concerned that this distance does not meet the AASHTO recommendation of 720 feet. However, as noted on the Scott County study, the recommendation of 720 feet is for a two-lane highway. Since CSAH 21 is a four-lane roadway, there is the ability to "change lanes to pass vehicles that may have entered CSAH 21 from this proposed access." In other words, a vehicle traveling southbound will have the ability to change lanes when approaching a vehicle that just entered southbound CSAH 21 from either the Regal Crest development or Windsong Circle. The same is true for northbound traffic. The second concern raised in the letter is the access spacing guidelines used by the County. The residents raise the issue that the access being proposed is 1/8th mile from Lords Street and CSAH 82, and not % mile as stated in the "Guidelines." The Scott County Access Guidelines are "guidelines," They are not hard and fast rules or statutes that can be applied the same way to every project. In this case, from a traffic engineering viewpoint, it is a safer situation to have the access directly across from Wind song Circle versus having offset streets intersecting with CSAH 21. Alternatives: Two alternatives to the current proposed road access from Regal Crest to CSAH 21 are as follows: 1. The city could condemn the land needed for right of way through the properties across from Lords Street and construct the street access to Regal Crest there. This could hold up the development for a period of time needed to design the street and utilities and condemn the properties. The current street access could then be cul-de-saced, 2. Another alternative is just to have access to Regal Crest from the Wensmann development from the west and cul-de-sac the proposed street onto CSAH 21. This would create a 2300 foot cul- de-sac from Fox Tail Trail in the Wensmann addition, until future accesses as described earlier at Lords Street or through the Jeffers property were constructed. With the future accesses the proposed cul-de-sac would be 1300 feet as measured from Jeffers Pass. Conclusions: Staff believes that it is appropriate for the Regal Crest access point to be as proposed in the final plat across from Windsong Circle for the following reasons: 1. The access point meets the County's sight distance requirements for the posted speed limit. I :\COUNCILlAGNRPTS\200 I \regal cresl access. DOC 2. The proposed access provides another access to the Wensmann additions and the future development of the Jeffers property. Good planning principles include having more than one access to a development, and I believe staff has identified these accesses. 3. The Scott County Highway Department, the agency in control of the access to CSAH 21, will issue an access permit at the presently proposed location to the developer of Regal Crest as soon as right turn lane construction plans have been submitted and approved. ALTERNATIVES: The alternatives are as follows: 1. Approve the final plat of the propose Regal Crest addition. 2. Direct staff to begin the process of designing the street and utilities needed for the street to be constructed across from Lords Street and begin the condemnation process. 3. Direct staff to study the issues in more detail, meet with the developer and report back to the council with more information at a future meeting. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Alternative No.1. REVIEWED BY: . . .. 0: " .':~ > /i . . ~t -'\, .;, ~''r~.J '\ I:\COUNCILIAGNRPTSI2001Iregal crest access,DOC September 14,2001 Mr. Wesley Mader City of Prior Lake 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue Prior Lake, MN 55372 Dear Mr. Mader: We are in receipt of your letter dated August 31, 2001 offering to attend our association meeting to discuss the City of Prior Lake (hereinafter "City") issues including specific issues affecting our neighborhood We thank you for the offer. Our association meets in the spring of each year and will consider your offer then. In the meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to raise an issue that is of immediate concern to our neighborhood More specifically, the safety concerns regarding the location of an access road onto Highway 21 for the Regal Crest development across from the Windsong Circle entrance. , ' It is our understanding that the ftnal plat has not been approved for Regal Crest and is tentatively set for consideration by the City Council on October 1, 2001. We would ask that .you reconside~ $,E\ loqation of, the access onto Highway 21 for the following reasons: . Scott County conducted a sight distance study for this intersection (See Attachment A) The County determined there is 590' of sight distance from the location of the proposed access on HighWay 21 (hereinafter "CSAH 21") to the north. In a letter to the City on February 26, 2001, a representative of the County stated the minimum required sight distance for a passenger vehicle to cross CSAH 21 at tlns location (from the east to the west) would by 525'. (See Attachment E.) It was concluded that this sight distance met these minimwn standards. However, tlle County representative stated "we agree that sight distance at this location is not ideal." Unfortunately, very few individuals will cross this intersection, since Windsong Circle is a dead end Instead, we need to review the minimum sight distance that is necessary to make a left turn onto CSAH 21 from Windsong Circle or a right turn onto CSAH 21 from the newly proposed access. According to the County's study, a minimum sight distance of 720' is required when people drive 45mph Since there is only 594', the minimum si!d1t distance is not met by 126'! The result, making a left hand or a right hand turn onto CSAH 21 will be dangerous! This also assumes individuals are traveling 45mph when they crest the hill, unfortunately, this is not the case since the speed limit is 55 mph directly before the hill, when traveling southbound , ,_.. _... -- .'----r-- The County also has "MJNIMUM ACCESS SPACING GUIDELINES," (See Attachment C.) In the letter from the County enclosed as Attachment B, it states that "CSAH 21 is anticipated [to] be a 4-lane divided highway" and concludes that only 1/8 of a mile is required from the access to CSAH 82 and Lord Street Unfortunately, there is no immediate plan to make this road a divided highway, In speaking with the County, there is no guarantee this road wiU ever be a divided highway, Therefore, the accurate guideline to use would be the "Low-Medium Volume, Thru Streets" which requires "1/4 mile spacing with signals and turn lanes," The new access will not meet this guideline. As a result, adding this new access will be dangerous. At the Plaruring Conunission meeting on February 12, 2001, the then Developer of the subdivision stated there was a safety concern with this intersection. In speaking to a planner for the City, we were told this intersection was not a perfect situation, Finally, the County's representative stated in his letter "we realize that the location of this access may not be ideal. .. [t]hat being said., we would fully support any additional effort made by the developer and/or the City to explore alternative locations for access to this development. " For the safety of the citizens of Prior Lake and the potential liability of the City, we ask you to reconsider allowing this access. Since this development has now been taken over by Wensmann, it is our understanding that there will be access to this development by a street known as Jeffers Pass. We understand it would not be convenient or in compliance with some City guidelines to only have one access to this development, but at least it would be safe. We only have one access to our development We are very concerned regarding the safety of our children, ourselves, and, everyone who travels this very busy highway. Even the Prior Lake School Board recently reviewed the intersection of CSAH 21 and Windsong Circle and decided not to allow tlle bus to stop on Highway 21 due to the enormous safety concerns. We believe if you had an opportunity to review this proposed intersection, you would agree. Since we have lived here, there have been two deaths and numerous accidents due to the present road system. By adding an additional access to this location, it only increases a presently unsafe intersection Therefore, we would ask you to eliminate this access onto Highway 21 to avoid any future accidents or deatlls. If you would like us to be present at any meeting or provide any additional information, please contact Deno Howard., Windsong Association President at 952-447-1551. We thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. ' Sincerely, ~~1A4$~ 4~~ ~- f81/;t:;~ i;U:9J?~ Steve and Lauri Bolster Mary and Brad Busse 4035 Windsong Circle 15338 Schroeder Circle Prior Lake, MN Prior Lake, MN J:J~;ru~ Val and6h~nda Zweber 15335 Schroeder Circle Prior Lake, MN i1ur~~ '?:J? 'iL, cAfl't~-Jkk.-0JrJ Steve and Jenny Field 15324 Schroeder Circle lpf)d Annie Sheehan-Kerber and Rob Kerber 4055 Windsong Circle Prior Lake, MN CC: Jim Ericson, Prior Lake City Council Member Mike Gundlach, Prior LakeCity Council Member run Petersen, Prior Lake City Council Member Joe Zieska, Prior Lake City Council Member Art Bannerman, Chainnan of Scott County Board of Commissioner David Unmacht, Scott County Administrator Ene. SCOTT COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 600 COUNTRY TRAIL EAST JORDAN, MN 55352-9339 (952) 496-8346 BRADLEY J. LARSON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECfORJ COUNTY HIGHWAY ENGINEER Fax: (952) 496-8365 February 26, 2001 Jane Kansier City Planner City of Prior Lake 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue SE Prior Lake, ill! 55372 Subject: Regal Crest Access Issues CSAH 21 - East Side, North of CSAH 82 Dear Jane: I am writing do address concerns raised by local residents in regard to traffic safety with the Regal Crest development proposal adjacent to CSAH 21. Hopefully this will help the City, city residents, and developer understand the County's position on access to this development at this time. The main concern voiced to us in regard to this proposal is the location of access to CSAH 21 (across from Windsong Circle), because of the limited sight distance to the north. We conducted a study that indicated there is 590' of sight distance from the location of the proposed access on CSAH 21 to the north. The minimum required for a passenger vehicle to cross CSAH 21 at this location (from the east to the west) would be 525', at the current speed limit of 45 mph. Although we agree that sight distance at , this location is not ideal, it does exceed our minimum standard for sight distance used in determining whether or not a proposed access could create a' safety hazard. Question also has been raised as to whether or not this access would be consistent with our minimum access spacing guidelines. As we have discussed with the developer's engineer and the City, the proposed access would likely be a right-in/right-out access in the future, based on full-movement accesses located Y.t mile apart at Lord's Street and CSAH 82. Therefore, to properly reference the guidelines, CSAH 21 is anticipated be a 4-lane divided highway, and the proposed access would be a "Low Volume, Non-Continuous Street". The resulting access spacing is 118 mile with no median opening. This proposed access is more than 118 mile from both CSAH 82 and Lord's Street. Another issue raised is the speed of southbound CSAH 21 traffic in the area of the proposed access. This segment of CSAH 21 has been designed and posted for 45 mph. We cannot responsibly analyze access proposals based on conditions created by speeding traffic. Ifthere are concerns about high numbers of motorists exceeding the speed limit, local law enforcement should be informed so they can determine how to address the issue, if necessary. Again, we realize that the location of this access may not be ideal. But we are required to provide "reasonable" access to adjacent property. As we understand the current proposal, the property to be developed does not have frontage on any other existing public street. Based on this fact, and on the fact that the minimum sight distance necessary does exist at the proposed street location, it is the An Equal Opportunity/Safety Aware Employer Jane Kansier Page 2 determination of the Highway Department that the proposed access to CSAH 21 is reasonable. That being said, we would fully support any additional effort made by the developer and/or the City to explore alternative locations for access to this development. We understand that this may not be easy, and would likely require coordination with adjacent property owners, but may be worth exploring. Please call me should you feel the County could be of further assistance with this. It was not my intention to wait until the last second to address these traffic safety issues, and we will continue to work to address these issues earlier in the development process with future development proposals. As discussed with the developer's engineer, and as noted in our original comments for Regal Crest, we will be requiring the installation of a right turn lane for southbound CSAH 21 traffic if the development is approved as proposed. Please call me with any questions, if the City needs additional information, or if you require further clarification on this issue. SalY~jVvf~ ~orenson,p.E. Transportation Engineer ,::U;,..i:'-' Email: Brad Larson, County Public Works Director Craig Jenson, Transportation Planner C: Bud Osmundson, City Public Works Director Peter Knable, Terra Engineering Deno Howard, Prior Lake City Resident (~of.x) w: \word\review\plats\O 1 ylats\prelim \PL _ RegalCrest2.doc l,-':~'.-> .:~C,._.., . ':~-' ~ ~;, - ~- ~ ......' J. .' 03/02/2001 FRI 13:10 FAX 9524968365 seoTI' eoUNTY pUBLIC WORK A++o.cJ. m~T)+ A Scott County Public Works Intersection Sight Distance Study CSAH 21 Proposed Public Street for REGAL CREST Development in Prior Lake Posted Speed: 45 MPH Design Speed: 45 MPH Measured Siaht Distance: 594; (Len Laxen, 2121101) SIGHT DISTANCE RECOMMENDATIONS (AASHTO, 1990) -Passengerveh~s.45rnph STOPPING SIGHT DISTANCE: 400' CASE iliA (Crossing Maneuver): 525', CASE 11I8 (Turning Left) and CASE me (Turning Right): 720' , Case /liB & tIIC recommendation is based on sight distance for a passenger vehicle to turn left or right onto if 2-lane highway and attain 85% of design speed without being overtaken from behind. This concern is mitigated in this case by having 2 southbound lanes available on CSAH 21. Southbound vehicles on CSAH 21 therefore have the ability to change lanes to pass vehicles that may have entered CSAH 21 from this proposed access. 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