PC-10-05-10
CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2010 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Geng called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Geng; Commissioners Ruoff, Vilett, Davis, Arnst, and Hasek; Planning Director Nielsen;
Council Liaison Woodruff
Absent: Commissioner Hutchins
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Director Nielsen said the Minutes for the September 14, 2010 meeting are not available at this time and
asked that reference to its approval be removed from the Agenda. Arnst moved, Hasek seconded,
approving the Planning Commission Meeting Agenda of October 5, 2010 as amended. Motion passed
6/0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 21, 2010
Ruoff moved, Davis seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of September 21,
2010 as presented. Motion passed 6/0.
TOUR OF SMITHTOWN CROSSING
Chair Geng noted, for the record, that prior to the start of the meeting the Commission completed a tour of the
Smithtown Crossing area. Commissioner Vilett commented that the area is a lot larger than how it appears on
paper. Council Liaison Woodruff asked if a computer-simulated graphic for the project had yet been
produced. Director Nielsen responded that he had not created anything, but is planning to get a copy of the
site plan of the Town Square in Golden Valley to see how that would work on the site.
1. EUREKA ROAD TRAFFIC INFORMATION
Director Nielsen reported that in the course of discussing the no-right-turn sign at Lake Linden Drive there
were questions raised about other streets in Shorewood, especially Eureka Road at its intersection with
Highway 7. He provided graphics showing traffic counts within the vicinity from 2009, accident history, and
information about MNDot’s requirements for traffic signals. Nielsen said he also consulted Chuck Rickart, a
Traffic Engineer with WSB and Associates. He said there are a number of warrants that might justify
signalizing an intersection such as accident experience and volume of traffic. Even though traffic volume is
measured in peak minimum, and four-hour minimum segments, Nielsen said Mr. Rickart told him that
MNDot prefers using eight-hour minimum volume because their goal is to keep traffic moving, rather than
interrupting it based on short periods of high volume.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
5 October 2010
Page 2 of 3
James Landini, City Engineer, said a warrant for a signal would be met if it could be based on the four-hour
minimum, but not the eight-hour. He said there is not a sufficient history of accidents at that location, nor is
there a school crossing – which would be other means of meeting a warrant.
Commissioner Davis said if the signal lights at the Rolling Acres Road and Highway 41 intersections with
Highway 7 were synchronized, trying to access Highway 7 from Eureka Road would be more feasible. As it
is now, once there is a gap occurring in the eastbound lane, there is a stream of cars coming in the westbound
lane. She also said the left-turn arrow at northbound Highway 41 to westbound Highway 7 only activates
every other time, so drivers just go straight across and use Yellowstone Trail unnecessarily.
Commissioner Hasek said perhaps the left-turn arrow timing could be intentional with the purpose of trying to
clear some of the local traffic.
Commissioner Ruoff said he has compared the time it takes to get to Excelsior via Smithtown Road to Co.
Rd. 19, versus using Eureka Road to Highway 7 and found it to be very close to the same. He suggested there
may be some value in pointing this out to the public.
Director Nielsen said he will try to get some information about the synchronization between the signal lights
and the reason for the intermittent left-turn arrow.
2. COMP PLAN – DISCUSS GALPIN LAKE ROAD/HIGHWAY 7 INTERSECTION
Director Nielsen explained that the Comprehensive Plan currently contains a plan showing a service road
connecting Chaska Road to a realigned Galpin Lake Road in order to consolidate a crossing area over
Highway 7. Since MNDot has made changes to the median and traffic patterns, the plan has become obsolete.
He said the Comp Plan should be amended to eliminate that plan.
Council Liaison Woodruff said residents have told him, due to housing growth in Chanhassen, how unsafe it
is to walk along Galpin Lake Road and try to cross Highway 7. He said pedestrian safety in this area needs to
be looked at. The Commission discussed the different problems associated with traffic and pedestrian safety
within the vicinity, including the fact that due to the lack of adequate highway shoulder there is no safe
pedestrian access to the crosswalk at Highway 7 and County Road 19; all of the streets (Galpin Lake Road,
Chaska Road, and Water Street) intersecting the highway are at sharp angles; and distances to the intersection
at County Road 19 are very short. There was consensus that the existing plan contained in the Comp Plan is
not a feasible plan for the area and needs to be improved. Commissioner Hasek offered to make some
concept sketches of alternative traffic pattern configurations for discussion purposes.
Director Nielsen said along with talking to MNDot about synchronization of the signal lights at the Rolling
Acres Road and Highway 41 intersections with Highway 7, the intermittent left-turn arrow at Highways 41
and 7, they will also be asked if there are any current plans to improve traffic patterns and pedestrian safety
around the Galpin Lake Road and Highway 7 area.
3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
None.
4. NEW BUSINESS
None.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
5 October 2010
Page 3 of 3
5. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA
Director Nielsen said that a Public Hearing for request of a C.U.P. by T-Mobile to locate additional antenna
on the S.E. Area Water Tower; and discussion regarding Zoning Code Amendments regarding
th
nonconformities and trash enclosures are slated for the October 19 meeting.
6. REPORTS
• Liaison to Council
Commissioner Ruoff reported on matters considered and actions taken by the City Council at their meeting of
September 27, 2010.
• SLUC
None.
• Other
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Arnst moved, Vilett seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of October 5, 2010 at
7:58 P.M. Motion passed 6/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Patti Helgesen, Recorder