HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 19 2014 EDA Report 8B
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 19, 2014
AGENDA #: 8B
PREPARED BY: Casey McCabe, Community Development Specialist
AGENDA ITEM: EDAC MEETING REQUEST – COUNTY HIGHWAY 21 AND MAIN AVENUE
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to ask for EDA direction related to an EDAC
request to meet with Scott County Commissioner Barbara Marschall and Scott
County Engineering staff to discuss the proposed closure of Main Avenue at
County Highway 21; specifically related to the timing of the Pleasant Street / Trunk
Highway 13 improvements.
History
In January, 2014 the city council approved goals and objectives for each city ad-
visory committee. Those goals and objectives are identified in the preceeding
agenda item together with the many year-to-date activities of the EDAC.
The EDAC has expressed concerns about the 2015 channelization of CH21, the
relocation of the major downtown intersection from Main and CH21 to Arcadia and
CH21, and the conversion of the Pleasant Street/TH13 intersection from right-in
right-out to a ¾ intersection.
To educate itself, the EDAC invited City Engineer Larry Poppler to its April 24,
2014 meeting to present information about the downtown area traffic studies and
to discuss the proposed timing of intersection projects in the downtown. City En-
gineer Poppler provided an overview of recent studies, including the Scott County
Hwy 21 Corridor Study in 2005 and the Downtown South Study in 2012. Mr. Pop-
pler presented multiple maps detailing traffic routing options that were considered,
discussed the proposed timing of intersection construction projects, and answered
committee member questions.
EDAC members commented during the meeting that the Main Avenue closure at
CH21 was not supposed to occur until the Arcadia Avenue signal was installed
and until the Pleasant Street access improvements were made on TH13.
The EDAC’s comments related to the timing of the access improvements at Pleas-
ant Street/TH13 are reflected in the minutes of the April 18, 2005 City Council
meeting where the County Highway 21 Corridor Study was approved. The Council
minutes state that business owners with access at County Highway 21 have been
involved in the study process. A City Council member requested a change to the
executive summary stating clearly that Pleasant and Arcadia must be opened be-
fore any restrictions are placed at CH21 and Main Avenue. The resolution approv-
ing the study was approved by the City Council with the aforementioned changes
in the executive summary. However, the resolution accepting the Scott County
Highway 21 Corridor Study (Res # 05-69) does not reference the proposed
changes and it does not appear that these changes were made in the executive
summary of the final document.
As the EDA is aware, transportation improvement projects are financially pro-
gramed through the Capital Improvement documents of the State, County and
City. The County previously attempted to align funding with MNDOT and the City
for a 2019 project which encompassed the entire TH13 and CH21 intersection as
well as Main and CH21. In the most recently approved TIP, the county revised the
timing of the channelization of CH21 and the installation of the signal at Arcadia
Avenue to 2015. Since the county has no jurisdiction on city or State roadways,
its 2015 project includes no changes to the Pleasant Street/TH 13 intersection.
Current Circumstances
The city CIP does call for the design of the Pleasant Street/TH13 intersection in
2015 with construction in 2016. It was assumed that this work would be done to-
gether with the county project. The advent of the commercial proposal on the for-
mer Digger’s Property has changed the circumstances under which the downtown
south roadways may be constructed. The city has asked for the reclassification of
TH13 in this vicinity, which could allow for a full access intersection at Franklin
Trail and TH13. Accordingly, City Engineer Poppler informed the EDAC of a po-
tential option for a future traffic signal at the Franklin Trail/TH13 intersection which
may eliminate the need for improvements at Pleasant Street and TH13.
EDAC members asked staff to invite Scott County Commissioner Barbara Mar-
schall and other county engineering staff to the next EDAC meeting to discuss
their scheduled closure of through traffic on Main Ave/CH21 in 2015 without first
providing improved south downtown access to businesses from Pleasant Street.
Conclusion
The city is very fortunate that the EDAC is composed of hard working persons
seeking to improve economic development and redevelopment in our community.
As the EDA can see from the previous agenda item, the EDAC has numerous
projects underway. The question is, all things considered, should the EDAC con-
tinue pursuit of this subject in addition to its other efforts?
ISSUES: The EDA should consider the extent to which the meeting request contemplated
herein by the EDAC aligns with the EDA’s goals for this advisory committee.
Should the EDA authorize the EDAC to meet with Scott County representatives,
specific direction or guidelines should be provided to ensure the EDAC discussion
is limited to specific topics. Their meeting should not interfere with previous and
ongoing discussions between City and County policy makers and staff.
There is potential for confusion or mixed-messaging if the EDAC, as an advisory
committee to the EDA, shares comments or concerns about the proposed projects
that may be contrary to previous city council or city staff discussions with Scott
County.
County representatives will likely point out that they have no authority for the
Pleasant Street/TH13 intersection as it is a local street on a state highway. So the
only reason for meeting with them would be to discuss the timing of the CH21
channelization and Arcadia signalization. The county has concerns over the cur-
rent operation of the Main Avenue and CH21 intersection and appears to have
made their decision on this subject (see attached county letter). Moreover, the
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entire question of the need for improvement of Pleasant Street has been cast in
doubt by the possibility of a full access intersection at Franklin Trail and TH13,
which will not be concluded until the state officially responds to the city’s request.
It is highly likely that the city’s 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Program will be
modified to reflect changing priorities in the downtown area roadways.
Considering the pending change at Main Avenue and CH21 as suggested by the
County in 2015, roadway access will change in the downtown. Local business
owners may have concerns over how this will affect their business without having
a northbound TH13 access to south downtown.
FINANCIAL No financial impacts related to this meeting request; there are financial impacts
IMPACT:
related to transportation projects.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Determine that the topic of the County Highway 21 channelization and the Ar-
cadia intersection is a topic for the EDAC to further investigate and report back
to the EDA.
2. Determine that it is most appropriate that the staff continue to work with all
parties regarding downtown area roadways and reflect any city council directed
modifications in the 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Program.
RECOMMENDED As determined by the EDA.
MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter from Scott County Board to the City Council dated 2/15/14.
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