Res 2010- 48 Comments to Dakota Co Regional Roadway System Visioning StudyCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA ,COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 10 -48
A RESOLUTION DISCUSSING THE REGIONAL ROADWAY SYSTEM
VISIONING STUDY
WHEREAS, Dakota County partnered with the Minnesota Department of
Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, the Federal Highway Administration, the City
of Eagan, the City of Inver Grove Heights, the City of Mendota Heights, and the City of
Sunfish Lake to conduct a transportation study in northern Dakota County with the goal
of developing a long -term roadway system vision that is supported by all jurisdictions
and balances land use and transportation improvements for the study area based on
projected growth in Eagan and Inver Grove Heights; and
WHEREAS, the City of Mendota Heights has participated in this study process
with staff representatives, elected officials and interested residents at all stages of the
study; and
WHEREAS, the City of Mendota Heights has continually stated its objection to
an interchange at Delaware Avenue and I -494 and expressed concerns about related
issues; and
WHEREAS, the City of Mendota Heights has participated in all three public
open houses and the two neighborhood meetings held on this study; and
WHEREAS, the City of Mendota Heights formed an ad -hoc committee that
included membership from the city council, city staff, residents, Sunfish Lake and a
contract professional to track the progress of this study and ensure that the city's position
was made clear; and
WHEREAS, the City of Mendota Heights fully supports the need to undertake
planning in order to prepare for and respond to future growth.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Mendota Heights offers
the following comments to Dakota County's draft recommendations on the Regional
Roadway System Visioning Study:
1. Supports the recommendation of a future interchange being placed at Alternate E,
approximately 1/4 mile east of the current Delaware Avenue interchange. Any
potential future interchange at Delaware Avenue will not be supported by the City
of Mendota Heights.
2. Any future improvements to Delaware Avenue must be driven by the City of
Mendota Heights. The character of Delaware Avenue is unique and best
understood by the city and our residents. The local government unit is best suited
to determine any future changes.
3. Mendota Heights supports the right of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights to develop
their infrastructure within the Metropolitan Council's approved growth limits
while at the same time we encourage them to develop the transportation element
of this planning totally within their city limits. It has been represented to the City
of Mendota Heights by Dakota County staff that the growth projections in Eagan
and Inver Grove Heights are based on their approved 2030 comprehensive plans
and Mendota Heights is relying on these projections in its decision making
process. The study should be flexible enough to accommodate up or down the
level of infrastructure and financial investment needed as the growth occurs. The
development and investment should be based on actual growth to avoid both
overinvestment and underinvestment.
4. Priority should be given to transportation projects that take place within Eagan
and Inver Grove Heights to internalize traffic flows within the new growth areas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that while the City of Mendota Heights
understands that this is a traffic study, the information that has not been studied
including the environmental factors and financial implications, all of the information
needs to be studied before final decisions can be made on all of the recommendations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Mendota Heights intends to
stay fully engaged with this issue in the future to ensure that any plans changes do not
negatively impact the city and its residents. Mendota Heights has enjoyed a positive
relationship with the neighboring cities and the county and believes it is important to
be a part of the decision making process. The transparency in government decision
making that we have experienced with the county and the visioning study is important
to Mendota Heights now and in the future.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this Sixth day of July 2010.
ATTEST
By
Nancy Bauer, Acting City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS