03-30-1981 SpecialCITY OF RICHFIELD
SPECIAL MEETING
March 30, 1981
The city council of the City of Richfield met in special session in the
conference room of the city hall on March 30, 1981 at 5:15 p.m.
Present: I3unce, Collins, Hassenstab, Ludeman, Priebe
Also in attendance were the City Manager, Karl Nollenberger, Director of;
Co~mnunity Ser~•ices Fondrick, City Engineer Mike Eastling;and representatives of
the engineering fir•,n of Orr-Schelen-Mayeron.
The Lyndale Avenue development project was considered between Lakeshore Drive
and 78th Street. I't~e engineers presented six alternatives for improving Lyndale
Avenue. Tt~c first three addressed Lyndale Avenue from Lake Shore Drive to 74th
Street -
A. Fift;~-two toot wide street, (estimated cost $903,000). This alternative
meets state-:aid standards for width of a roadway. Some trees will be lost
on the west ,idc of Lyndale Avenue, as well as three trees on the east side.
The sidewalk .along [food Lake Nature Center would not be constructed because
of the steep bank.
B. Forty-seven foot roadway (estimated cost $890,000). This does not meet the
state roadwav width. Instead of four twelve foot lanes there will be four
eleven foot lanes. Preliminary inquiries at the district state-aid office
indic:~te that they would be receptive to a variance of 52 foot roadway
requirement, ibis width would allow the sidewalk constructed along the
roadway past ttie tdood Lake Nature Center. No trees would be lost on the
west side of Lyndale with this plan; only three trees on the east side of
Lyndale Avenue will be lost.
C. This plan calls for a thirty-six foot roadway, i.e., one lane of traffic
in each direction (estimated cost $790,000). The roadway will be widened
at intersections to-allow traffic to proceed to the right of those cars
waiting to make a left turn. It was the opinion of the consultants that
this roadway design would not meet the needs of the city.
Present traffic counts in excess of 13,000 cars a day dictate a four lane
design. In addition, the state-aid would not fund such a project because it
falls far stlort of the standard roadway width.
The following three alternatives refer to the section of Lyndale Avenue
between 74th Street and I-494: '
Special Council Meeting -2- March 30, 1981
D. This alternative would allow protected left turns on both north and south
bound Lyndale Avenue with storage lanes (estimated cost $492,000). The
alternative would also maintain a parking lane along the west side of Lyndale,
in addition to two south bound traffic lanes. Parking would also be allowed
on the east side of Lyndale from 77th Street to between 75th and 76th Street.
E. This alternative would eliminate on-street parking near 76th Street intersection,
(estimated cost $360,000). A parking lane would be constructed between 74th
Street and 75th Street on the west side. This line of the roadway near 77th
Street would be off one lane to the east of the center line of right-of-way
to accommodate parking on the east side of Lyndale near 77th Street.
F. This alternative would leave the curb south of 77th Street in place, (estimated
cost $298,000). Parking would be restricted south of 76th Street to allow the
left turn lane to be painted into the middle of the street with driving lanes
on either side. North of 76th Street tha curb would be removed to form the
same configuration as south of 76th Street.
After extensive discussion on each proposal, the city council decided on
Alternative B to a public hearing. The city manager indicated that a resolution
initiating the public hearing and special assessment process would be on a future
city council meeting.
Date Approved: August 10, 1981
Sy a K. Bergh City C1
Karl Nollenberger City Manager