02/28/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. IV-B-l -- e with discussion to be held at a future Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. The motion carried unanimously, with all Council members present voting aye. G. Road Improvement--Royal Avenue to West 11th Avenue, Bertelsen Road Don Allen, Publ ic Works ~partment, stated this road improvement had been initiated by the City Council and in October 1975 had agreed to proceed with the preliminary design. He indicated that the proposed design ~uld be from West 11th to Elmira, 44-foot paving, curb to curb, providing two travel lanes and two bike lanes, from Elmira to Royal, 46-foot paving, curb to curb, pro- vidinQ two through travel lanes, a left-turn lane, two bike lanes, and sidewalks. He said the projected need included: 1) providing safe facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists; 2) to improve road- way surfaces and drainages; 3) to improve facility to handle ex- pected traffic increases due to development. He said the funding would be a combination of private owner assessments and city funds. He indicated a packet of materials had been sent to the City Council prior to the meeting and the City Council had toured the area on two different occasions. He said the procedure for the Council ~u1d be: 1) to stop the project and not go to final design; or 2) to proceed to the final design in which there would be one more public hearinq for awarding of the contract. Mr. Williams left the meeting. Public hearing was opened. William Wacker, 352 North Bertelsen Road, indicated he had moved to the area in 1947. He said where once the area was mostly farms and agricultural land, it has now been built up and that he was expressing a dislike for the heavy traffic going through on Bertelsen Road. He recommended that truck traffic be taken off Bertelsen, and that Beltline Road be blocked at the south end. Mr. Ralph Bratz, 783 North Bertelsen Road, indicated there would be a problem in getting in and out of the driveways and asked that the city consider doing away with the turn lanes and get rid of the truck traffic in the area. James Anderson, 5006 Blanton Road, spoke as an attorney representing Lane Ply~od Company. He said the property of Lane Ply~od abuts Bertelsen road and that the company opposes the paving project. He indicated reasons for the opposition were: 1) economic--that in paying for the improvements, the taxpayers will have to pay the city for its city costs; 2) a lack of need for paving and widening the street; and 3) if there were a ban on through truck traffic in the area, it would equate with an increased cost of time and gas, etc. for his company, which would be passed on to the tax- payers. He asked that the Council note an exception to the Staff Notes that Bertelsen is not an arterial through street. He urged opposition to the road improvement. 2/28/77--21 157