Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-06 PACKET 04.L.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 10/06/10 .. V Engineering ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT Jennifer Levitt STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Approve the recommendation to proceed with the installation of a 10' wide shoulder on Ideal Avenue to accommodate pedestrian travel from 110`" Street to 113' Street. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval to proceed with the installation of a 10' wide shoulder on Ideal Avenue to accommodate pedestrian travel from 110th Street to 113th Street. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE REVIEWED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: Jennifer Levitt, September 29, 2010. ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ❑ OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS APPROVED DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ City Administrator d Date COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE MINNESOTA TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator FROM: Howard Blin, Community Development Director Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer DATE: September 29, 2010 RE: 2010 Pavement Management: Ideal Avenue Trail Easement Background /Discussion The City had received a petition from residents of the River Acres neighborhood for construction of a trail adjacent to Ideal Avenue from 110 Street to 113`" Street. As part of the feasibility report and the final ordered plans and specifications, an 8' bituminous trail was shown on Ideal Avenue between 110 Street and 113 Street to be constructed 5' off of the edge of the roadway. The embankment for the trail would require removal of some trees and an additional easement from the adjacent landowner, because the embankment area would be outside the prescriptive right -of -way. The City had been working with the adjacent landowner to seek an even better alternative for the trail, which was to install the trail 14' off of the roadway. This would require the removal of all the existing trees between 110 Street and 113 Street. The plan was to replace the trees to the east side of the trail at a healthier spacing to improve the life expectancy of the trees. Recently, negotiations on acquiring an easement along Ideal Avenue for a trail ended. This was due to the inability to reach a reasonable agreement with the landowner over compensation for the trail. It is now proposed to construct a paved shoulder to accommo- date pedestrians and bicyclists along this section of ideal Avenue. The background on the easement negotiations is as follows: After discussions with the abutting landowner, the option of acquiring an additional easement in which to move the trail further from Ideal was explored. Initially, the only compensation the landowner requested was payment for tree replacement and construction of a chain link fence. The landowner subsequently brought in an attorney and began requesting payment for the easement in addition to the trees and fence. ® The property across which the easement would run was appraised at $15,000 per acre. • The City eventually offered: o $10,000 for permanent and temporary easements, plus o $14,000 for tree replacement, o $14,000 for a chain link fence along the length of the property, and o $800 for crop damage. The total compensation offered was $38,800 which is the equivalent of about $59,000 per acre for the easement. • The landowner requested $87,000 and then $54,000 for the easement acquisition, which is equivalent to $130,500 per acre and $81,000 per acre respectively. It would not be responsible to accept this offer. The landowner in which negotiations were taking place is not being assessed for the roadway improvements. Below are costs and assessments for the two options: Residents have voiced their concern regarding the removal of the existing tree line, which they claim is a nice wind break. There was also concern expressed that a fence would interfere with the wildlife's travel pattern in the area. There was also concern about the cost of the trail assessment increasing due to the purchase of additional easement. Construction of the paved shoulder will greatly enhance the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in this area. The shoulder area will provide just as much square footage of asphalt surface as the grade separated trail. The shoulder area will wrap around the radius of 110 Street so pedestrians can safely cross the intersection and continue on the existing trail along Ideal Avenue. This option costs residents only $98 compared to $300. It should also be noted that an off -road trail can be constructed in the future when the abutting property develops. Recommendation It is recommended to proceed with the installation of a 10' wide shoulder on Ideal Avenue to accommodate pedestrian travel from 11 0 th Street to 113 Street.