2018.12.18 Planning Minutes_v2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Paul Apilkowski, Wald Architects and Engineers, commented on the new school design and stated he believed the school district would be willing to provide personnel to assist with managing traffic. He anticipated that once the new system was in place, it would not be a big deal. Carl Brown, Mounds View Schools, explained there would be a number of adults and crossing guards that would be outside the school supervising and assisting with traffic during the drop-off/pickup times. He indicated this new configuration was similar to other schools in the district. Commissioner Fynewever discussed how traffic comes to a stop when the busses were exiting or leaving the school in the afternoon hours. Chair Nichols-Matkaiti opened the Public Hearing at 7:27 p.m. Stan Smith, 518 Inca Lane, explained he has lived in his home since 1985. He noted he used to drive bus for the Mounds View School District. He stated he has concerns with how traffic would b e impacted in the afternoon. He feared there would be a lot of cross traffic issues for this elementary school. He commented on the location of several power poles along the sidewalk and recommended they be buried for pedestrian safety purposes. Mayor Johnson commented there were power poles in the way, along the sidewalk adjacent to the school. Ed Melini, 593 17th Avenue, asked if there was a need to move the road that leads up to the school. He recommended the bus parking remain as is. Mr. Apilkowski explained he would work on the power pole issue with City staff. He reported the new bus loop area would clean up the congestion and traffic conflicts that surrounded the school. He commented further on how the grading of the property would be altered in order to create a more gentle slope. In addition, he stated the street would be widened in order to assist with managing traffic. Jim Sanden, corner of 5th and 17th, stated he has lived in his home for the past 50 years. He noted his children and grandchildren attended Bel Air Elementary. He expressed concern with the recent changes that were made to the site plan compared to the bonding site plan. He anticipated many of his neighbors had not reviewed the most recent plans for the school property an d therefore, were not in attendance this evening. He believed that the school was trying to do too much on a small lot. He questioned if the school had proper drainage given the high level of asphalt and building coverage the property had. He stated there was a great deal of water coming off of the school property and flowed over to Hanson Park. He recommended the City connect a pipe from the school to the berm in order to eliminate the flooding concerns for the properties around Hanson Park. He feared t he diagonal parking for the buses was a safety concern for students and passing traffic. He expressed frustration with the fact that he was not able to receive mail service every day because parents were parking in front of his home for student pickup. He noted all of the busses would come down 17th Street every morning and afternoon. He stated 17th Street was not building for this type of traffic. While he understood architects and engineers had reviewed this plan, he recommended further discussion be held with the neighbors in order to bring out additional safety improvements. Mr. Smith agreed with the concerns raised by Mr. Sanden and stated students may be darting between the busses to get to their parents on the street. He encouraged the City to reconsider the bus pickup and drop-off area.