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County Rd 19 Corridor StudyIntroduction Shorewood's Comprehensive Plan long ago identified the intersection of County Road 19, Smithtown Road, and Country Club Road as a significant transportation issue. A traffic study, dated 11 January 1999, prepared by the consulting firm WSB & Associates, Inc., provided statistics relative to current traffic levels, traffic projections and a proposed redesign of the intersection, including signalization. In late 2000, working with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the City purchased approximately six acres of land on the west side of County Road 19 for the purpose of conserving open space. A concept plan was prepared for what has come to be known as "Gideon Glen ". The plan addressed not only tree preservation, but also drainage and wetland restoration. Also late in 2000, a site location study conducted by the Excelsior Fire District identified a six -acre parcel on the north side of County Road 19, immediately east of the Shorewood Public Works facility, as the best ' location for a new fire station. It was later determined that the site should be L the home of a public safety campus, including both the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department and a west side fire station for the Excelsior Fire District. This facility is under construction and is scheduled for occupancy late this year or early next. These three major projects, combined with occasional land use issues such as the potential redevelopment of the American Legion properties, located in the northwest quadrant of the County Road 19 /Smithtown Road/Country Club Road intersection, persuaded the City Council to direct the Planning Commission to prepare a study of the County Road 19 corridor, extending from Shorewood's common boundary with Tonka Bay on the north and its common boundary with Excelsior to the east. This Corridor Study will become a detailed area plan, pulling together all aspects of physical planning, including natural resources, land use, transportation, community facilities and, to a small degree, housing. County Road 19 has historically been referred to by various names. The section north of its intersection with Smithtown Road and Country Club Road has been known as Manitou Road. East of the intersection is shown on I County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 1 County maps as Smithtown Road. For purposes of this report, it w ill simply be referred to as County Road 19. The map shown on Figure 1 illustrates ' the boundaries of the study area. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 2 1 • �i a %�► a� 9 ~ a� h +N 4 RAV �i a %�► a� 9 ~ a� 7 C Corridor Issues Numerous issues have been identified within the study area, spanning all elements of physical planning. These issues are illustrated on the map on Figure 2 and described below. Natural Resources/Environment Virtually all property in the County Road 19 Corridor Study Area has been developed or altered in the past. Even the easterly third of the Gideon Glen property, purchased by the City with the help of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, had at one time been occupied by a residential homestead. Fortunately, the old growth maple/basswood forest that occupies the westerly half or more of the site has remained in tact. A wetland located in the center of the property has been badly degraded, due in part to untreated stormwater runoff from County Road 19 and the surrounding area. Stormwater coming onto the property from its southeast corner has resulted in erosion problems. The City has developed a concept plan for the property that not only preserves the land as conservation open space, but also restores the wetland and improves water quality as drainage flows through the site. A historic monument is located in the southwest corner of the intersection of Glen Road and County Road 19. Originally placed there to recognize the work of Peter Gideon, the monument has come into disrepair over the years. Although recently cleaned up and repaired by local Boy Scouts, some have questioned the location of the monument, suggesting that relocation might provide greater exposure to area residents. In its current place, there is no place to park for someone wishing to read the monument, and pedestrian traffic is very limited. I Land Use ' Land use issues within the study area range from the potential for major redevelopment of existing land uses to the correction of zoning nonconformities. ' City Billboard signs are nonconforming uses m the C y of Shorewood. Although progress has been made in getting many of these signs I County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 5 removed, two remain in the study area. One of these signs is located in the southwest corner of the intersection of the H.C.R.R.A. trail and County Road 19 and serves as the northerly "entry" into Shorewood. The other is located in the southeast quadrant of the County Road 19 /Smithtown Road/Country Club Road intersection. Legal action continues in hopes of eliminating these signs. • Xcel Energy offices and maintenance facility occupy land on the east side of County Road 19, just south of the H.C.R.R.A. trail. While a change in this use does not appear imminent, the City should be prepared for potential redevelopment of this commercially zoned site in the event Xcel ever discontinues its operations there. • Another area where redevelopment may occur sooner than later, is on the properties owned by the American Legion. The Legion currently owns an existing fuel station in the northwest quadrant of the County Road 19 /Smithtown Road/Country Club Road intersection as well as the property immediately west of it, on which the Legion Club is located. The Legion also owns a vacant lot one site west of the Club site. Legion representatives have long talked about building a new facility, possibly with a retail component. • The site west of the American Legion Club is currently occupied by a small apartment building, which is a nonconforming use in its commercial zoning district. • Although not located in Shorewood, the Tonka Village shopping center in Tonka Bay is outdated and will likely redevelop at some point. Given its prominent location and size, this site will have considerable impact on the character of the area. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 6 I� it 1 �1 • The development of the Shorewood Public Works facility, and the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety facility, combined with commercial development in Tonka Bay, leave a one -acre parcel of residential land surrounded by nonresidential uses. • The soon- to -be- completed Public Safety facility inherently impacts nearby residential properties. In addition to landscape buffering, the City has committed to monitor activities at the facility to mitigate any adverse effects on the neighborhood. • At least two commercial properties in the Study Area have parking lots that do not conform to current zoning standards. In both cases, access to the respective sites is wide open and undefined, allowing cars to pull out anywhere. One of the sites has an unimproved parking lot. One of these locations will be corrected with the upgrading of the intersection. The other should be targeted for zoning action, rather than waiting for redevelopment of the property. • Landscaping of commercial properties has been minimal, at best. Since several sites along County Road 19 are under public control, the City should set an example by developing a "streetscape plan" for the corridor. Redevelopment or improvement of commercial sites should pay particular attention to landscaping. ' Transportation As of 1997, the County Road 19 /Smithtown Road/Country Club Road ' intersection handled 15,000 average daily trips (ADT), with projections for the year 2020 reaching 20,000 ADT. Already operating at a level of service ' "F ", the intersection is long overdue for improvement. Undoubtedly the most significant change proposed for the Study Area is the reconfiguration and signalization of this intersection. After over four years of planning, ' design, and negotiations for right -of -way, reconstruction of the intersection is underway. Plans may now be fine -tuned to address property access issues, drainage and landscaping. The City has commissioned a consulting firm to assist in the design of streetscape improvements. r The H.C.R.R.A. trail crosses County Road 19 at the north end of the Study Area. Significant concerns have been expressed about the safety of this crossing. The City and representatives of Hennepin County examined the possibility of building an underground crossing, only to find that a high water table precludes that option. Nevertheless, efforts to improve safety for ' pedestrians and bicyclists must continue to be explored. ' County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 7 Given the volume of traffic on County Road 19, pedestrian and bicycle circulation in the Study Area remains of great concern. Plans for the Study Area should address ways to make walking and biking more safe and convenient. Community Facilities /Services As mentioned previously, the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety facility is scheduled for occupancy later this year. Issues associated with this project have been addressed under land use in this section. Traffic and noise have been cited as two concerns relative to the facility's proximity to residential development. Stormwater management has been an issue in the Study Area for quite some time. While the Gideon Glen project aims, in part, to address drainage issues associated with the new intersection, the City has commissioned a study that will examine solutions to drainage issues for a much larger area. The City has adopted a policy that semi- public utilities (e.g. electric, cable TV, and telephone lines, etc.) must be placed underground in new developments. Nowhere is this policy more needed than along County Road 19. Undergrounding of utilities may be one of the most significant and noticeable improvements the City can make for this area. Street lighting has always been a sensitive issue in Shorewood. However, given the commercial nature of much of the area and the volumes of traffic on County Road 19, there are certain places where street lighting is considered essential. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 8 11 1 fl I � I 1 u I � I � u (insert Study Area Issues map —Fig 2) Ik II County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 9 (blank page) County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 10 1 Study Area Goals The goals of this study are: • Upgrade and improve all aspects (safety, convenience and aesthetics) of the segment of County Road 19 that extends through Shorewood, between Tonka Bay and Excelsior. • Enhance the identity of Shorewood and the South Lake Minnetonka community by giving the County Road 19 corridor a sense of place as the northerly entrance or "gateway" into the community. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 11 1 (blank page) I � I � I � I � County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 12 1 Corridor Plan Natural Resources/Environment Gideon Glen A six -acre parcel of land on the west side of County Road 19, between Smithtown Road and Glen Road was purchased in 2000 by the City and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for preservation as conservation open space. A concept plan for the property (see Figure 3) has since been prepared containing the following elements: • Tree preservation: Protect old growth maple/basswood forest (remnants of the "Big Woods "), maintain natural vegetation along County Road 19, and preserve a stand of large conifers on the front third of the site. • Wetland restoration: Continue to work with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and other agencies to restore and improve existing degraded wetland located in the middle of the site. Work with property owner to the north of Gideon Glen to include its portion of the wetland into the preservation effort. The Metropolitan Council has committed to funding a portion of the restoration costs. • Drainage /water quality: Construct a grit chamber and detention pond, designed to National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) standards to treat storm water runoff from the surrounding area. Consider a bio- filtration field between the pond and restored wetland. It now appears that the grit chamber and pond will be constructed in conjunction with the intersection project. • Educational Benefit: Construct a trail/boardwalk into the site with educational kiosks illustrating various steps in the water treatment process (i.e., grit chamber, NURP pond, bio - filtration, wetland restoration, outlet to Lake Minnetonka). Construct monument identifying project and participating agencies. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 13 Gideon Historic Monument The historic monument located in the southwest corner of Glen Road and County Road 19 commemorating the agricultural work of Peter Gideon had fallen into disrepair over the years. A recent effort by local Boy Scouts cleaned up and restored the site of the monument. There is a question, however, as to whether the monument's location is optimally exposed to the public. There is no parking or pullout area near the monument and pedestrian traffic past the monument is minimal. Since the monument is not specific to its site, but rather to the area in which Peter Gideon did his work, some consideration should be given to relocating the monument. A location, for example, on the H.C.R.R.A. trail would make the monument viewable and readable by pedestrian and bicycle traffic traveling along the trail, even though there still would be no parking available for passing motorists. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 14 Excelsior Orthphotoquad, 2000 Grit Chamber 50 0 5 10 0 Feet L: \0185 \0185 -04 -290 \a r file \conce tual Ian 110403.a rTi ure 1: Conce t Plan 8x11 0 1.05.03 /� MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT , r == V V enc Wenck Associates, Inc. 1800 Pioneer Creek Center Gideon Glen - Concept Plan Environmental Engineers Maple Plain, MN 55359 -0249 NOV 2003 Figure 1 Land Use 1 1 1 As can be seen on Figure 4, land uses in the Study Area vary from single - family residential to commercial. The area immediately surrounding the County Road 19 /Smithtown Road /Country Club Road intersection is zoned for commercial use. Many of the sites are occupied by auto - oriented uses. The remainder of the corridor is predominantly zoned for two - family dwellings. The area east of the intersection has become somewhat of a "civic campus" with the Shorewood Public Works and South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety facilities on the north side of the road, and the South Lake Senior /Community Center, Badger Field and the Shorewood City Hall on the south side of the road. Commercial development on the east end of the Study Area is zoned "Service Commercial ". A sailing yacht club and a dredging company occupy the north side of the road, while two garden nursery operations occupy the south side. Several land use issues have been identified in the second section of this report. In response to these issues, the City should consider the following: Billboards Continue efforts to remove existing nonconforming billboards. Replace the north entry billboard with a city identification monument and backdrop landscaping. No zoning applications for the gas station site should be approved until the billboard has been removed. Xcel Energy Site The power company has offices and a maintenance facility on the east side of County Road 19 at the north end of the Study Area. Although the company has not suggested that the use of this site will be changing, the City may wish to be prepared for its redevelopment at some point in the future. In this regard, the commercial zoning of the property may not encourage the type of land use the City wants in that location. For example, the site may be well suited for multiple - family residential. The Comprehensive Plan should be amended to include provisions for "mixed use" that would allow either commercial or multiple - family residential uses on the site. Nonconforming Multiple - Family Use A small apartment building separates two of the properties owned by the American Legion. While no redevelopment of this site is anticipated in the near future, any change in use should be consistent with the commercial zoning of the property. I County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 17 Redevelopment of the Tonka r This commercial , p e o a V Cente s property is located within the City of Tonka Bay. Despite recent "face lift" ' improvements, the property appears prime for redevelopment, the nature of which will have significant impact on the Study Area. Shorewood should continue to work with the landowner and the City of Tonka Bay to extend any streetscape improvements to the shopping center. Undergrounding of overhead utilities, access control and landscaping should be strongly , encouraged. "Stranded" Single- Family Residential Both the Public Works and Public , Safety facilities are allowable uses in the residential zoning district in which they are located. Nevertheless, the development of these facilities has left ' one single - family home "stranded" by nonresidential development. The City should be open to some type of transitional zoning and land use for this property (e.g. Residential Commercial — office). , Public Safety Cam us This building will be occupied late this year and early next. Considerable attention has been paid to the orientation of the complex as well as to landscaping. In that regard, plans for the site include a more finished appearance adjacent to County Road 19, with a natural prairie ' treatment for the area between the building and the H.C.R.R.A. trail. A pedestrian/bicycle trail along the east side of the site appears to be gaining support among City officials. ' Substandard Parking Lots Over the years the City has managed, through ' zoning applications, to upgrade commercial parking lots, including access control, paving, striping and curbing. Still, there are properties, two of which ' are located in the Study Area, that do not conform to current zoning standards. One of these, the fuel station in the northwest quadrant of the intersection, will partially corrected with the reconfiguration of the intersection. Access for the property will be defined and spaced for improved safety. One of the nurseries located at the east end of the Study Area has a completely unimproved parking lot, having no paving or curbing ' and wide open access to the county road. The conditional use permit for this site should be revisited and the parking lot should be upgraded. Landscaping Shorewood recently adopted new and more stringent landscaping standards for various types of development. In addition to adhering to those standards, it is suggested that properties in the Study Area be landscaped in front to soften views of parking areas, while framing and I County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 18 1 t i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 BRENTWOOD Tonka Bay ety UNe OF LOT 11 P� NWITW FORE91 NAO, TUNE O 4MNITOUF 6 � RE 0 z 0 0 U pWN RD ECHO RO , FROG ISLAND / l � OR W m � I F p (HCSAH NO 19, PLAT 57) SM�THTO� -� GILLETTE CUR CLOVER LA Z o� z z _ 1 �N RO WEST 1AKE s O,p NN R HENNEPIN GOU O U W Y Land Use U O� o Commercial Multiple Family i l Public �\ Semi Public Single Family Two Family Undeveloped /Underdeveloped Figure 4 enhancing buildings. Larger conifer trees should be established at the rear of sites to enhance buffers for adjoining residential properties and also to create a backdrop for the commercial sites. Transportation County Road 19 /Smithtown Road /Country Club Road Intersection The realignment and reconstruction of this intersection served as the catalyst for this report and serves as somewhat of a centerpiece for the Study Area. As shown on Figure 5, the alignment of County Road 19 will be changed to an arching curve. Smithtown Road will then "T" into the new curve. Country Club Road will then "T" into the south side of Smithtown Road, approximately 100 feet west of County Road 19. The intersection will be signalized. Raised center islands will help to channel traffic as it moves through the intersection. Pedestrian crossings will be located as shown on Figure 6. County Road 19 is classified as a minor arterial (expander). Ideally, direct property access onto such roadways should be minimized. Unfortunately, most land parcels abutting the road are relatively shallow, leaving very few options for alternative access (e.g. service roads). City and County traffic engineers have attempted to balance the need for property access with the need to control the number and spacing of access points. Currently, access to the motor fuel station in the northwest quadrant of the intersection and to the shopping center in Tonka Bay is relatively wide open. Plans for the intersection include specific, defined access points for these properties. Additionally, traffic engineers continue to work on consolidating property access drives so that individual small sites share common driveways to the extent possible. It should be noted that a right turn lane will be provided for southbound traffic onto westbound Smithtown Road. In order to enhance flow from Smithtown Road to the new intersection, this lane will be restricted to "no ' right turn on red ". This will also discourage some of the traffic that uses Country Club Road/Yellowstone Trail /Lake Linden Drive as a shortcut to ' State Highway 7. It may be necessary to place a stop sign or "do not block intersection" sign on eastbound Smithtown Road at its reconfigured intersection with Country Club Road. ' County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 21 Pedestrian/Bicycle Circulation The volume of vehicular traffic on County Road 19 through Shorewood is second only to State Highway 7. For this reason alone it is critical that plans for the Study Area provide for safe pedestrian and bicycle circulation. Signalizing the new intersection will provide breaks in traffic that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely. The raised islands at the intersection also enhance crossing. The Concept Plan described in the last section of this report provides pedestrian and bicycle circulation consistent with Shorewood's Comprehensive Plan. Proposed trail routings will be discussed further in that section. H.C.R.R.A. Trail Crossing at County Road 19 As mentioned previously, the City and County examined the possibility of grade- separating the trail crossing at County Road 19. Although overhead separation (i.e. a pedestrian bridge) was deemed to be cost prohibitive, tunneling under the road appeared to have some merit. Unfortunately, a high water table in the area precludes this option. The City should continue to explore ways to make this crossing safer. One possibility may be to construct center islands in the roadway. Instead of crossing the street all at one time or waiting in the middle of the road, islands would provide a break for pedestrians or cyclists waiting to cross. Community Facilities /Services Public Safejy Facility A new building housing the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department and the Excelsior Fire District Fire Department has been constructed on the north side of County Road 19, on the west side of Shorewood Lane. Considerable care was taken in the planning of the facility to mitigate its impact on nearby residential properties. For example, the main entry into the site is on the west side. The conditional use permit for the property stipulated that the facility would comply with MPCA noise standards. Both the firing range inside the building and the emergency generator, located on the east side of the building, will be tested and monitored to ensure compliance. There will be no on -site siren, and police and fire department personnel have been advised that sirens on vehicles can not be activated until the vehicle is on County Road 19. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 22 City of Shorewood Hennepin, County, Minnesota TONGA '— 1 BAY D,r, eav IYaq I/w�. - WA .. _ R W.. •c [RR __ una Al I Project ��IF 3D 6 Location �PflOJECI LOCAL ION COUNTY: HENNEPIN DISTR IC I: METRO_ PROJEC LpCeT HENNEPIN COUNry Legend M :,p ace Roadway ED lnPlace waterway Cl Proposed Roadway Built Over Inplace Roadway O Proposed Roadway O Proposed Islands I M—ans M Proposed BRUninous Pain Proposed Concrete Walk Proposed Retaining Walls O Proposed Dnveways O Proposed Seed W Sod EM Proposed Gravel Should — +Ir Proposed Traffic Directional Arrows CO Proposed Median Islantl Paint — — Proposed Right of Way - -- E—Ong Right of Way Note Typical Commercial Enhance shall have T 5' Radius a CITY OF SHOREWOOD C.S.A.ILNO. --_]Q _LAYOUTNO. I - ,PROIECINO._ _ VACINITY 1997 ADT FROM $-0IjTH-tZ[(;S,L•N_RL) TO SH(7R C�1S)p L ANC_ DAT E'1 /2g /QI SCAT F' 1_59 STAFF APPROVAL__ REV1510NS OESiGM SPEED bWeN' OW 0]' Oe t! ,e• _ -r 2 n•rsr — — _ I to 1 � 1 Hennepin �R 3 fir I r — I - - — -\ r l Uel R / 1997 ADT CI M X17;000 2022 ADT OW 0]' Oe t! ,e• _ -r 2 n•rsr — — _ I to 1 � 1 1 Y • r0.0, O +H r -. 4 I C }t �Ir larN! ConfA,7ura0W I ><x - Ase a (%1() -PM C / r - _.. 1 .. -,I t r I C R I I 1 � r I ]sxe.es r_ L LIRpILY � I .. m - 'roslss• 0 CSAH 19 Improvements - County Project No. 9821 From South of (3/en Road to Shorewood Lane Preliminary Layout No. 4 Revised November 20, 2003 J \ I II15,000 1997 ADT X17;000 2022 ADT W N vir �= Smithtown Road O +H r -. 4 Ixgcnd C }t �Ir larN! ConfA,7ura0W �c ><x - Ase a (%1() -PM C / I • % I l / I �I s.e • ,mno.x - [ I or m•Wao• I of � t PI s,P . 11444. / I _ I x • O]• >'ee- i I[,J�i • E. r.• ,a•x•az III / [; �„ I c iuJi 14,2 O 1997 ADT x r.•srl.x I - �F! W • z]•a•:r '. rx.m t ex . I) .+ C ]es. e) � �,J - -I — ' � _ y 18,0 O 2022 AD DTI �w/J9 I 15(7C C0ICi1ETE RETAINING WALL � I RI tN eRNA,e NELL RA IL INL rrm I I \ R.n I CON[RE rE RE iAIN • LN ORN4ENi/L \ I INL WALL INL I \ � I ]0 _ i �._ 'A �— \ .. F �A— (f t•a- � -O_ L 1� A 2L1NE t FRI - I � L •rre. 1 - - 2 L t,5 _ ��' I �- � __ i I I I Sm Road ithtbwn r. '�_ - 5 4,600 1997 ADT 8,500 2022 ADT I I I _ I I- I I I I I I I r L 7 / O. I II % I I [ . A.— I .�• . t eeu.r[ I . rr•u'aY L :.n cc I U I I I II I I I I I �I -�— .I ;I it ll I 1997 Peak Hour Volumes With Proposed Lane Configuration t W N vir �= Smithtown Road O +H r -. 4 Ixgcnd C }t �Ir larN! ConfA,7ura0W �c ><x - Ase a (%1() -PM C I' 2022 Peak Hour Volumes With Proposed Lane Configuration 3 ~ . IN Smithtown Road y' e of a y t.CgCI V fir Ease ConspWatian X.Ae O ()LX) PU U I\ AB .,�a.R sea Figure 5 i 0 ------- - - - - -- I It 1 Ij I 1 j I t I� � j i jl i.- l rjz i m t I� ( I j 40 II � II U i I I 'r I P II Sta = 499+03-24010, I N1= 139885.89 I EI= 446647.76 S I 11= 27 °15'23 "L (� - I CIIRCULAR r� ba = 19 °0 5" rt I be = 19° 1 ' 17" I IT =72.7 j/ co IR = 300. 0 142. 1 OZ =14117 -8:69 Q Figure 6 � \co �� , , PI Sta 98 +84.34 N = 139968.8` I �� \I E = 446641.30 - ` =' -- I CIRCULAR ; �- �Da = 19 °05 ",55" J =-t 9 1* 17 T 120.01; 4 p ! I R - 300.O : L j 228.32; C 222.85' a C) E = 23.11 ' M ( 21.46 r j� I It 1 Ij I 1 j I t I� � j i jl i.- l rjz i m t I� ( I j 40 II � II U i I I 'r I P II Sta = 499+03-24010, I N1= 139885.89 I EI= 446647.76 S I 11= 27 °15'23 "L (� - I CIIRCULAR r� ba = 19 °0 5" rt I be = 19° 1 ' 17" I IT =72.7 j/ co IR = 300. 0 142. 1 OZ =14117 -8:69 Q Figure 6 � \co �� Landscaping at the front and sides of the facility was started this year. Additional work will continue in 2004 as the City continues to work with surrounding neighbors. The rear of the site should be landscaped in a prairie style, which takes approximately three years to become established. As explained in the next section (Concept Plan), a trail is planned along the east side of the site, connecting the sidewalk on County Road 19 with the H.C.R.R.A. (LRT) trail. Storm Water Management The Gideon Glen property provides a solution for much of the Study Area. The grit chamber and NURP pond to be constructed in conjunction with the intersection will also provide detention and treatment for runoff from properties surrounding the site. The City has also commissioned its consulting engineers to prepare a more comprehensive management plan for the area north of the intersection. This plan is also intended to address problems in the Glen Road area. Recommendations set forth in the plan should be incorporated into the review of all development and redevelopment requests within the Study Area. Overhead Utilities One of the more significant improvements that can be made within the Study Area is the undergrounding of semi- public utilities. As part of the intersection reconstruction the City has committed to having all overhead power, telephone and cable lines placed underground. The City should continue to work with the owners of the Tonka Village Shopping Center and the City of Tonka Bay to also get the utilities on the Tonka Bay side of the road undergrounded. Any future roadway work within the Study Area should include plans for eliminating overhead utility lines. Street Lighting Although street lighting has at times been controversial in Shorewood, there are certain locations within the Study Area that should be designated for lighting. The new intersection itself should be lit for safety purposes. Similarly, the common commercial access points to the north and to the east of the intersection should have street lights. The City has already approved a street light request at the intersection of Glen Road and County Road 19. Serious consideration should be given to lights at all of the side street intersections with the county road. Consistent with Shorewood's past policy, input from residents within 500 feet of those intersections should be County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 26 ' solicited before the City rders the lights. The design of the lights will be Y g � g ' discussed further in the next section of this report. Streetscape Concept Plan ' One of the oals of this stud is to give the County Road 19 Corridor a g Y g tY "sense of place ". Streetscape design is key to establishing an identity for the Corridor. The City contracted with Brauer & Associates, Ltd. to prepare the concept plan shown on Figure 7. The various design elements of the plan ' are summarized as follows: � County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 27 Landscaping The consultant points out that the road improvements use up most of the County Road 19 right -of -way, leaving very little room for landscaping treatment. Consequently, it is very important to maintain ' existing vegetation wherever possible. Such opportunities exist adjacent to the twinhomes north of Glen Road, on the Gideon Glen property, and to the ' east of the Southshore Senior Community Center. It is worth noting that the front third of the Gideon Glen property will be altered to construct the drainage improvements. To the extent possible, trees adjacent to the street ' should be preserved. ' There are several areas where room is available for landscaping: 1) the southwest corner of County Road 19 and the LRT trail; 2) the east side of the street adjacent to the Xcel Energy site; 3) the base of a retaining wall on the north side of the roadway; 4) the public safety facility site; and 5) the excess right -of -way on either side of Smithtown Road west of County Road 19. Additional landscaping within the Study Area will rely on private property owners. Landscape plans associated with any type of zoning request should be consistent with the examples included on Figure 7. As mentioned in the ' Land Use section of this report, commercial properties should be required to plant evergreen trees along rear property lines as a backdrop to the commercial uses and as a buffer for adjoining residential properties. � County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 27 Pedestrian Circulation The Concept Plan recommends pedestrian/bicycle routes within the Study Area. The route along County Road 19 is consistent with the Trail Concept Plan that is part of Shorewood's Comprehensive Plan. Three additional trail segments are proposed to create loops within the Study Area. One connects the sidewalk on County Road 19 with the H.C.R.R.A. (LRT) trail and extends along the east side of the public safety site. Another connection between County Road 19 and the LRT trail is shown on Timber Lane. Finally, a trail has been shown through Badger Field. A significant portion of the trail along County Road 19 will be constructed as sidewalk in conjunction with the intersection reconstruction. This segment is relatively easy to extend northward to the LRT trail. The segment east of the public safety facility will be more difficult. Residential properties along the county road have established vegetation to buffer their properties from the roadway. These buffers would have to be relocated in some cases. This segment should be subject to the trail planning process set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. Street Lighting Locations of street lights have been discussed in the Community Facilities /Services section of this report. It is recommended that the design of the Study Area lighting should be somewhat unique from other street lighting in Shorewood. The fixture shown at the right has a distinctive decorative appearance with a downcast light pattern. This fixture should be used wherever street lighting is approved along the corridor. Intersection Semaphore Rather than the standard yellow pole and fixture for the semaphore at the new intersection, it is recommended that it be painted dark brown to compliment the bronze color of the street light fixtures. County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 28 RELOCATION OF GIDEON MONUMENTALONG LRT • TRAIL, SHOREWOOD ENTRANCE SIGN COUNTY ROAD 19 STREETSCAPIE PROJECT IHF.PARM R BRAUER&ASSOCIATES, LTD. 10417 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD, SUITE.1 HOPKINS, MINNESOTA 55343 PHONE: (952)238 -0831 VAX. (952)238 -0833 Cej t7 � INTERPRETIVE NODE / GIDEON GLEN SIGN OVERLOOK WETLAND REHABILITATION INTERPRETIVE DISPLAY O a u 0 z u SOUTHBEST LRT TRAIL IAND USE KEY COMMERCIAL / RETAIL - PUBLIC Q MULTI-FAMILYRESIDENTIAL 0 SINGLE FAMRY RESIDENTIAL 8 O , r' 7 z Q z 0 u w CONCEPT PLAN CITY OF SHORIEWOOD CONCEPT PLAN KEY PEDESTRIAN ROUTES EXISTING & CURRENTLY PLANNED MOM PEDESTRIAN ROUTES PROPOSED EM CREATE GREEN SCREENING © WOODLOTMANAGEMENT • REMOVE INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES • PLANT & PROMOTE NATIVE FOR STABLE CLIMATIC COMMUNITY STRUCTURAL SCREENING GRADE - SEPARATED CROSSING ,*wf If ' AT -GRADE CROSSING ♦� O PROPOSED MONUMENT SHOREWOOD YACHT CLUB SHOREWOOD Q ENTRANCE SIGN a v� U SHOREWOOD NURSERY � p GARDEN PATCH 3 • 24' MIN. 3 ' 3' G MIN. R.O.W. 9' 9 1 4' MIN MIX'T'URE OF HARDY SHOREWOOD CITY HARDY NATIVE PLANT NATIVE EVERGREEN & STANDARD 42" DECORATIVE SPECIES AT 50% DECIDUOUS SPECIES ROADWAY + OPACITY MASONRY SCREEN WALL PARKING AREA Y MIN. WITH 50% OPACITY 3' MIN. STRUCTURAL SCREEN GREEN SCREEN MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS • FOR SCREENING OF COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS WHERE LESS THAN 24' • MINIMUM 24' REQUIRED -MAY INCLUDE R.O.W. BEHIND CURB AS AVAILABLE FOR GREEN SCREEN AUTHORIZED BYAGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR R.O.W. • MINIMUM 10' REQUIRED • ARTICULATION OF MASONRY DESIRABLE Street Name Signs Street identification signs should be somewhat oversized for all intersecting streets on County Road 19. If possible, they should have white lettering on a brown background. Retaining Walls Reconstruction of the intersection will necessitate a relatively large retaining wall on the north side of County Road 19, east of the Public Works driveway. Rather than a plain white concrete wall, it is recommended that the wall have a stamped concrete surface treatment, stained to look like stone (see Figure 8). The fence at the top of the wall should have the same bronze/brown finish as the street lights. The wall will be broken up with pilasters, with landscaping at the base of the wall to diminish its height. Community Identity Given how Shorewood wraps around the other four South Lake Minnetonka cities, it is difficult to identify where one community begins and another ends. County Road 19 is considered to be the main north entry into Shorewood. As such, a very logical place for some community identification is in the southwest corner of the County Road 19 /LRT trail intersection. During a recently completed visioning exercise, it was suggested that future entry signs into the city would contain the phrase "...a South Lake Minnetonka Community ", in addition to the city's name. Early on in the preparation of this study, it was suggested that the City design entry signs with an arched arbor, perhaps with a stonework base. For the north entry, this would include a landscaped backdrop. This entry treatment could also be used on the east and west entries to Shorewood on Highway 7 and at the south entry at Highway 41 and Highway 7. Smaller versions of this entry treatment could be located throughout the community (e.g. Minnetonka Boulevard, Apple Road, Vine Hill Road, etc). Another space that deserves some attention is the excess right -of -way that remains after the intersection is reconstructed. The drawing on Figure 9 illustrates some alternatives for how this area might be landscaped. It has also been suggested that the corner be identified as "Smithtown Crossing ". IJ i County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 31 (blank page) County Road 19 Corridor Study Page 32 ' I rt957 -� -es Sla 7 �J d i 7 iii ili il1(. I L . LI. I Iry 17 1�1 it II 11 u. V m h �i �u� l� �k 4 . �3? t �,. 'S _ FROFOSEC GRACE �f �'���i� _fi y4 ri -��F- AT Q GSAH 19 Q RETAINING WALL NO. t - ELEVATION SCALE: 1" " 70' i z L : .... ... 02 -,0 2 a 4. 4 6 I ti'"el' �' YNt tlN pY� P'MN 14' ^r�WV Y �t Umf2zff APCWm ��•NINNESDTA ng oti .. � I i i ! I i 7� N 00 � z O Z 0 ci J J v� Q g v � � Z O e a e LV e � Z i I TYPICAL PILASTER / FENCE ELEVATION rigs SCALE, 1" " 1' -0 ire 8 TYPICAL RETAINING WALL / PILASTER / FENCE ELEVATION L SCALE: 1" - 1' -O BOULEVARD TREE EVE BACKDROP r (DECIDUOUS) (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) VERTICAL ELEMENT TO PROVIDE INTEREST - LOW GROWING SHRUBS — AND PERENNIALS BOULEVARD TREE (DECIDUOUS) ELEVATION'A' SCALE: 3 = 1' COUNTY ROAD 19 STREET$CMIR PROJECT ENLARGEMENTS &ELEVATIONS FLAG POLES EVERGREEN BACKDROP (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) VETERANS LOW - GROWING SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS r Ai ""i BRAUER,&ASSOCIATES, LTD. 10417 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD, $UffE 1 HOPKTN$, MINNESOTA SSW PHONE: (952)238 -0831 PAX- (932)238-0833 EVERGREEN BACKDROP (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) LOW - GROWING S1 AND PERENNIALS CITY Of SHOREWOOD VERTICAL ELEMENT TO PROVIDE INTEREST r • : — I s . `te — /. _ \ ' L — SIGHTLIlVE SAFETY SETBACK EVER.CREEN BACKDROP ELEVATION'A' (ALTERNATE) (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) SME: 3n6" =1' BOU TREE PLAN ENLARGEMENT & ELE VATI ONS OF SMITHTOWN COMMONS (D E CID UOUS) SCA�,�: 1" = 30' SCALE VARIES �— COUNTY ROAD 19 AT SCALE: 1" = 10' / NORTH ENTRANCE OF SHOREWOOD LOW - GROWING SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS A SHOREWOOD CITY ENTRANCE SIGN EXISTING VEGETATION — EVERGREEN BACKDROP (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) CITY ENTRANCE SIGN LOW - GROWING SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS EXISTING VEGETATION EVERGREEN BACKDROP (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) s I. � $t t CITY ENTRANCE SIGN • r : y 1' " LOW- GROWING SHRUBS f AND PERENNIALS• fill A one ELEVATION'B' ELEVATION W (ALTERNATE) EXISTING EVERGREEN BACKDROP SCALE: 3n6" =1' SCALE: 3/16° = 1' VEGETATION 1 (SALT TOLERANT SPECIES) PLAN ENLARGEME & ELEVATIONS OF CITY ENTRANCE (TYPICAL) SCALE VARIES Figure 9