The URL can be used to link to this page

05-15-14 Joint PC-EC-OSRC Agenda AGENDA Joint Meeting of the Planning Commission, Environmental Commission and Open Space and Recreation Commission Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road Council Chambers Thursday, May 15, 2014 7 pm 1. Accept public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Bottineau Transitway 2. Discussion regarding a recommendation to the Golden Valley City Council on the City's official comments 3. Adjournment This document is av�itable in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request.Please call 763-593-8006{1TY: 763-593-3968)ta make a request. Examples of alternate formats ' rnay'include large print,electronic,Braille,a'udiocassette,etc. G��1 +p� �".', ,�,,,;» � Plannin De artment � r 763-593-80951763-593-8109{fax) �-'"�a�8"u��iraiul��,�t.::: . !�'!��1V�uNlil��` . ':�'? +�i��r��;�, : ��iiiit;lll��y� �-.=:. „u�:�e.a�;va��:: : a��I�Iilhli7�ii1 r`::,:; i irt,a Date: May 15, 2014 To: Golden Valley Planning, Open Space and Recreation, and Environmental Commissions From: Jason Zimmerman, City Planner Subject: Joint Commission Hearing on the Bottineau Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) �:� -� ...��.�� Summary The Bottineau Transitway Project has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for review. The Draft EIS documents the purpose and need for the project, alternatives considered, and addresses the anticipated transportation, social, and environmental impacts, and defines appropriate mitigation measures. Public hearings have been held by Hennepin County to provide a forum for agency and citizen participation and comment. The City of Golden Valley intends to submit a letter summarizing its own concerns and requests about the Bottineau Transitway. Comments received by Hennepin County through May 29, 2014, will be responded to by the FTA and the Metropolitan Council as part of the Final EIS. An open house and public hearing were held by Hennepin County at Golden Valley City Hall on Wednesday, May 7. Many residents attended to ask questions and submit written comments. Approximately 10-12 members of the public representing the participating communities gave verbal testimony. The purpose of the Joint Commission Hearing is twofold:to receive any additional comments from Golden Valley residents about the Bottineau Transitway project, and to review and revise the DEIS Comment Letter in preparation for submission to the City Council. The Council will discuss the letter at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20. Attachment: DEIS Comment Letter to Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority (6 pages) May 20, 2014 The Honorable Peter McLaughlin Chair, Hennepin County Regiona) Railroad Authority A-2400 Government Center 300 South 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55487 ,, _;:: t - Mr. Chair; f`'E�� a�": Thank you for allowing the City of Golden Valley the appiirtunity to review and provide comments to the Bottineau Transitway Draft Envirv�mental Impact Statement (DEIS) Document. The City appreciates the opportunity to be a partner in the study process. The City supports alternate transportation modes and appreciates Hennepin County's commitment to building a robust transit corridor in the northwest�etro area. While the Bo#tineau Transitway would be an important component in��roviding mass�r'anspt�rCation to the regiQn,the City continues to have concerns surrount�cr�g the impacts ofth�,)ine that is proposed to cross through northeast Golden Valley alon'��h� ��rl�ngton North�rn Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad i �, : corridor. �',:. ��3= �4 � �' P� llc` � �� a ', The City has received f��`�f��ck�pfrqm several�o�its��,r�rrri��c��nrs, as'vvell as residents. Most of the comments pertai�stb concerns 4ver the pc��t��a�f impacts=th��at the Bottineau Transitway would have to natural ar�as in the�ity, as well"a� �otential impacts to surrounding properties. The City also has concerns reiatir��Cp th.�infrastructure within the vicinity of the proposed stations servir�g th� �ine—priiil�r�l�y the�ro�dway syste,m and the need for improved multi-modal faciliti�s to �erve the's��ns. ° i � ��r},�. Based upori �eview of the DE�I�S,;the City��quests that greater effort and attention be given to the following fiv�„areas during Ct�e upcorning Project Development phase: 1. Parking optic�ns and pasSeMger drop-off access at the proposed Golden Valley Road station. Consid��t�ort�I�vuld be given to the construction of a park and ride facility at or near the Golden �lalley Road station location. 2. Projected traffic impacts (during and after construction) and impacts to infrastructure on Golden Valley Road, Wirth Parkway, and surrounding local streets near each station location, and how those impacts might be addressed. Consideration should be given to a design of Golden Valley Road that incorporates multiple modes of transportation, including transit, bicycles, pedestrians, and the proposed Bassett Creek Regional Trail. 3. The mitigation of visual impacts as experienced from parks and residential areas, including the impacts from lights and lighting along the Bottineau Transitway and around potential station locations. 4. The mitigation of noise impacts for properties where noise barriers were not specifically identified in the Draft EIS. 5. The location of mitigation efforts for flood plain impacts along the corridor, especially in areas that may impact parks and nature areas. In its previous communications with the County regarding the Bottineau line,the City has raised a number of concerns. While some issues have been addressed in the work completed as part of the DEIS, the City requests that continued attention be paid to the following: Natural Resources The proposed alignment for the Bottineau Transi�way:(known as the Locally Preferred Alternative, or LPA) is to be located within and aclj'acent';tr�Theodore Wirth Regional Park, as well as the Mary Hills Nature Are��f�l� Glenview��r�`ace Park. These areas are invaluable and unique natural and rec��ti�'nal amenities to th��ity as well as the northwestern Twin Cities region.The Comprehensive Plan for ttie'City establishes clear goals that provide protection of these natur�;l,areas. The City requests that it be involved in all decisions that impact the parks. Any impacts to the floodway or flood;plain must be mitigated in accordance with the laws and policies of the regulatiF�g agencies, The City re�o�nizes that mitigation within the existing railro�d=corridor will b�.�hallerigin�, and it erncaurages the County to work closely with th��tty of�C�qlden Valley:�� he �assett�CK��Watershed Management '� Commission (B�WMC), a�i`d:�ther me�b�r�ities to�i��r�#ify potential flood storage areas outside of the rail�c�ad right�=of-way. � s, Nw >� � , �� . W��lartd im�rac�ts will r��ed to be�rnitigated in,�ccordance with the laws and policies of the regulatin'g�agencies.T��;City of�Golde�;Va�lley is the local government unit �� r�sponsible for admi�istrati�r�?�f the Wetland Conservation Act. The County is encaur:aged to work wtth its lac�l;partners to identify potential mitigation solutions outside:tk�e railroad ri'g�ht-of-way, if needed. ;j , ��, The Transitv�ay project �� need permits or approvals from all agencies regulating ��?�(��'� stormwater, mcluw�mg'��1�"not limited to the City, BCWMC, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. At�,�i.inimum, best management practices addressing erosion and sediment control will need to be implemented during construction. It is possible that rate control and stormwater treatment that reduces pollutants and runoff will be required, especially with the development of a transit station, park and ride facility, or other impervious surfaces. The natural areas located within the LPA Alignment are home to vast array of wildlife. Care should be taken to avoid impacts to the habitat and travel ways of all wildlife, including endangered,threatened, or special concern species. The City Council requests more specific information about the location of fencing along the LPA Alignment, as well as what type of fencing would be used. Movement of wildlife through the natural areas may be impeded by certain types of fencing. If fencing along the route is a requirement, the City Council would like to know if there are ways in which to waiver from the requirement. As the proposed project has the potential to impact areas within large parks and natural areas, and areas adjacent to Bassett Creek,the corridor has been studied for the presence of historic and cultural resources. Both the bridge over Basset Creek in Theodore Wirth Park (Bridge No. L9327) and the Grand Rounds Historic District have been identified as architectural resources that are eligrble:for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The City requests that i��a��i�ivolved in all decisions that impact these two resources. ; ,,� ��, ;: Station Location ; � ,'� p. , The DEIS has identified two potential station locations in the City of��olden Valley along the LPA and suggests that only one will be ��psen for;co,nstruction. ��th of the station locations—at Golden Valley R��ad near Wirth�P��rkwa�;��nd on Plymouth;Ayenue near Wirth Parkway—would pote��ly require the acquisition of property owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreatf�n Bo�r�� , �� , ��r�a � � �r� �' �� x,�. Prior DEIS inform�tiA�j i�ndicates t��f�the Gold��/alley Ro��rstation would serve mostly Golden Valley �`e5i�l�ents �nd business�s and t�e�f��rrrouth Avenue station would serve mostly Minneapolis residents, busine$s�s, and Wirth Park facilities. Golden Valley businesses in the i'mmediate area include regional destinations (Courage Kenney Rehabilitation Institute, M�nne�polis Clinic�f Neurology, Regency Hospital of � a „ a ��,, Minr��ap�l�i5, �� irth Par�� ncl�Io�Cal �ls��inat�xi`n� (Church of St. Margaret Mary, Unity Christ Churc�,T�ie��amil�i P�rtnershi�p} �Add:itional businesses that would likely use the �: Cvlden Valley Road ��tion v�a;additional transit connections include Honeywell and �� Ger��l Mills, amon��i�iers.� � ' � ,i M ��iz� �ti: ., P�rE_ rck�'s•�, �� k r ; While a station located `a.t Plymouth Avenue would likely have less effect on Golden Valley neighbo�hoods a�td community resources, the Golden Valley Road station would provide more di�ect access for Golden Valley residents and businesses. In addition, the Golden Valley Road lo��tion is on an existing bus line with potential feeder bus connections and has planned regional trail connections. As Metro Transit buses would not be allowed to use Theodore Wirth Parkway, a Plymouth Avenue station location would limit potential Golden Valley ridership. The City would like more detailed information about how buses would be incorporated into the station areas, including the amount and frequency of feeder buses serving the stations, and information about how bus drop-off and pick-up would function at the stations. As proposed, parking options at either station location are limited or non-existent. The location of both proposed stations within natural areas seems to preclude many possible parking options. The City would like more detailed information about how parking would be studied to function at the station locations, as well as potential costs that are associated with parkland acquisition for parking. The City would like to know how many parking spaces would be necessary at each location and whether or not parking ramps are being considered for the sites. If there were to be insufficient onsite parking at station locations, and transit riders park on the surrounding streets, an access and traffic management plan should be considered as part of the project. As the City understands it, there are no plans for a par.l�'and ride facility at either station location. Land use and zoning controls that are cu'rr�ntly in place at the proposed station location sites do not allow parking that is not associated with park uses. To allow for parking to be constructed, changes to land use and zonin�controls would need to be made by the City Council. The City request�athat funding be rr►�de available to allow for planning studies, which include consider��t�on for parking options St�rrounding landowners have expressed concerns abo��{�heir ew�t��g parkmg cc��tions so the integration of public and priva#e parking imprtiuem�nts'could be an o�'�i�rtunity for further study. � `� �'� �� `;b�� - ��l� �:, � �,�, �� _; The trip generation from the pro�apsed's��t�on or a futt�� park and ride facility may result in the need,t� modify, enhance, or exp��t�l��he near�y transportation system, which include$��q��is;�tr�if� and sideuu�lk fa�i�i��es��;;��cific�l'ly, Golden Valley Road as well as its int��- �ction wit�i.Theodore WirtI�,�Parkway�t�;i� expected that the Bottineau Transitway Pro��would pa�ner with fiF�s appropriate road authority to address and r: mitigate any traffic et�ncerTt�� : a � @ �� '�� p ��r�i�� & �_� -� t�E� �e. .. ; :6. ��i' �d' �C¢�� Si�d��ivalks curr��serv� f�oth statio�t��'�¢�tions. The existing sidewalk and trail system will require upgr�des;�nd/or-�xpansion to meet accessibility design requirements and the needs of the commwnity. It is expected that this would be accomplished as part of the site access evaluatiorr and implementation. The City of Golden Valley owns and maintains eoncrete sidewalks on both sides of Golden Valley Road at the intersection with the prop�sed Transrfiu+ray, though gaps in the sidewalk system exist on the north side of Golden��Il�y Ro��l to the west. In addition, Three Rivers Park District has identified the Gofd��Y�lley Road corridor for the proposed Bassett Creek Regional Trail 0 which would connect French Regional Park and the Medicine Lake Regional Trail to Wirth Regional Park and the trails along the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. This network of trails and sidewalks would also require year-round maintenance—especially for accessibility purposes—for LRT to succeed in this multi-modal transportation area. The City owns and maintains an asphalt trail near the BNSF Railway in the Mary Hills Nature Area. This trail provides an important north-south connection from Golden Valley Road north into Robbinsdale via Sochacki Park. It is anticipated that a new Transitway may impact this trail and the City requests that it be actively involved with any reconstruction or realignment of this trail. In addition, the City urges that the potential construction of a station at the Golden Valley Road location be done in a way that provides a trail connection between existing trails in Theodore Wirth Park and the Mary Hills Nature Area. The costs to reconstruct Golden Valley Road and the existing multi-modal facilities discussed above, in addition to any facilities deemed necessary to fully meet the anticipated needs, must be considered in evaluation of the potential station location. Property Impacts ��s The potential noise and vibration impacts from:t�Y,��B��neau Transitway are a significant concern. While current and possible f�a#ure f�'��t rail traffic also create noise, it is different from consistent nois�as�vciated witli`��regional transit system. ��.s�� . These effects should be studied in grea��i�etail.The City wo�iltl.also like to have more information about the presence of po�tn'tial sound walls and oth�.r:barriers that may cause visual obstructions to surrounding prop„erties. With high frequency transit servi�e, the potential''Transitway and transit station will have a visual impact on surrounding pro,perties. Most notably will be the addition of lights and lighting that does not��ist vvit��h�,current freight rail. The effects of lighting should be studie��ant�the screen�n�of adj�aC�n� r�eighbor�h��ds and park areas should be considered��'��a�r��Qf?this project;�� ,�t��„•` �� ! Q x3Si ��$��r � Community Resources` G' '' ' �� ' „ �;';� The:prc�pos�d Transitw�y �n�''transit stations;�vould likely require an increase in community resources such as police,'fir�, public works maintenance, and traffic management. Since;the proposed transit system is managed by the Metropolitan Cour��l� it is anticipat�d that I�til��ro Transit Police will be the primary law enforcement agency�t the station d �� ,, ��a �� lj�� _��;�; The City of�cil'den Valley s�iivns watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer facilities in the area of the praposei��route. Some of these facilities cross under the existing BNSF Railway. Record drav��ngs and other information are available in the City's engineering office to assist in the planning and design of the project. The City requests that it be consulted on all design and construction considerations and field decisions involving City-owned utilities. The City of Minneapolis owns a 48-inch watermain which passes under the BNSF Railway north of Golden Valley Road and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services owns a large sanitary sewer interceptor which parallels the BNSF railway in Wirth Park. The City requests that it be consulted along with the custodial agency on all design and construction considerations and field decisions involving these utilities. It has been estimated that as many as fifteen Xcel Energy transmission line towers may need to be relocated as a result of the proposed Transitway. The City's Right-of-Way Management Ordinance currently requires that any proposed reconstruction, relocation, or replacement of overhead utility lines over 300 feet be buried underground. This code requirement may apply to this situation. Many areas of Golden Valley have substandard soils which are unsuitable for construction without proper correction or engineering.A good portion of the Transitway corridor through Golden Valley is located within floodpl�in, lowland, or wetland areas. In addition, there are areas in Golden Valley that w�r��found to be filled with construction debris in the past. The presence o��aco�taminated material is likely. The City requests that a careful and detailed analysis of t�i`e�soil�Ebe included as part of the project. The City of Golden Valley respectfully requests th��t ese cor��erns be add�r��ed in a sufficient � manner, and that they become part c�f public record��ssoc�a��d with the Bott�n��u Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statem� �� s previously sta� d,the City recognizes the regional �!�� ;��z �� P; significance of transit in the northwes� i�e��r��rea, but rerr�atns concerned over the impacts the Bottineau Transitway project would hav�e�Qn ��t��Valley Tf��C you for continuing to work (?' ':� . �.t�tik with the City to address�hssg.concerns a5 the Fina1 Eriuironment�I.lmpact Statement is prepared. Respectfully, 'a�'�� ",;° � �i � d��r�Ee��e� �j� �_ � � " � ��- , ' a�� ,3��a � ��pr,;: Shepard��-ris, Mayor '�� , r � � � �,€ xl�'�� ` `�'f �, ,, �" � i�� ,. � �. Joanie Clausen, Council Member F Steve Schmidgall, Council Member � ��s� x�_ Larry Fonnest, Council Member Andy Snope, Council Member