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04-10-14 Bottineau LRT Planning Advisory Committee Minutes cityof golden valle Y Bottineau LRT Planning Advisory Committee April 10, 2014 6:00 pm Golden Valley City Hall Council Conference Room Committee Members Present: Vice Chair Sean Fahey, Erv Heim, Dan Steinberg, Jim Stremel, Debra Yahle, Alison Pence, Cathy Waldhauser, Andrea Wiley City Council Present: Council Member Andy Snope City Staff Present: Community Development Director Mark Grimes, City Planner Jason Zimmerman, Public Works Specialist Eric Eckman Also Present: Father Paul Moudry, Linda Gallant, Jennifer Ringold, Bruce Chamberlain, Andrew Gillett, Denise Engen I. Appraval of Meeting Minutes from January 9, 2014 Vice Chair Sean Fahey called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm. Introductions were made, including new Committee member Alison Pence representing the Courage Center. The minutes from the January 9, 2014, meeting were approved unanimously. II. Update from Staff City Planner Jason Zimmerman updated the group on the status of the Bottineau DEIS document, which is completed and will be open for public comment beginning April 11. He outlined the process for receiving public comments for both Hennepin County and the City. He also gave the group an update on the Southwest LRT process. III. Update from Hennepin County/Project Consultants Andrew Gillett gave an update on the DEIS process and handed out information sheets to the group. He reported that the station area planning consultants were examining previous studies and collecting data in preparation for beginning work on the station areas. The Planning Advisory Committee will be involved as part of the working group for the Golden Valley stations. Engineering Specialist Eric Eckman commented that parking around the stations would need to be looked at closely. Dan Steinberg asked if the charette work done in the summer of 2013 would be incorporated into the station area planning. Gillett replied that all previous studies and planning efforts were being reviewed by the consultants. IV. Q and A with Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Jennifer Ringold spoke to the group, representing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and responded to questions the group posed at their January meeting. She began by reminding the committee that the LRT line would not located within Theodore Wirth Park, but would be adjacent to it on rail right of way. The potential for physical park impacts would be greatest at the station locations. The Park Board will weigh in an the DEIS in the areas of cultural/historic impacts, as well as noise, vibration, etc. Ringold referred the committee to the idea book that was generated out of the forum held last summer and said it would be used as a reference in station area planning. She commented that the greatest pressure to use park land for parking is likely to occur at Golden Valley Road, while a Plymouth Avenue station would most likely use existing parking. Fahey asked if there was a preference for a station location. Ringold replied that there was no preference but both locations were being explored. Community Development Director Mark Grimes asked if shared parking could be a possibility for the LRT and other events in Theodore Wirth. Ringold replied that since Theodore Wirth is a regional park, the Metropolitan Counci) set certain restrictions on parking and would need to decide those questions. Ringold also commented that although the track will not be within Theodore Wirth Park, there may be construction impacts from the LRT. Ringold reviewed the Theodore Wirth Master Plan and give the committee and update on what it covered and where the Park Board was in the process of approving the latest update. She pointed out that policies are in place for handling the potential need for park land for parking and those policies would not be changing as part of the update. Ringold responded to a question about potential changes to the use and construction of the parkway and indicated that there would be no change in the policy of not allowing buses and that the width and layout of the parkway was not expected to change. The parkway is part of the Grand Rounds and the policy is to minimize the number of stops that vehicles must make and to protect the cultural landscape and viewsheds from the roadway. Steinberg asked if North Memorial Hospital would be adding a shuttle bus to a potential Golden Valley Road station. Gillett replied that they currently do operate a bus but have suggested they will increase the frequency when the line opens. Eckman asked if the bridge on Golden Valley Road would need to be rebuilt to allow the LRT to pass underneath it. Bruce Chamberlain, from the Park Board, stated that he did not believe so. Eckman wondered if the possibility existed to move the station to the Theodore Wirth Parkway bridge and possibly create more opportunity for parking. Ringold discussed the relationship between the stations and the park and stated that the Park Board was interested in maximizing the opportunities for the public to get into the park. Fahey asked about connections to Mary Hills Nature Area and Steinberg wondered about extending existing cross-country ski trails into Mary Hills. Ringold and Chamberlain asked about what concerns Golden Valley had with respect to the Bottineau line and Theodore Wirth Park. Fahey stressed the community interest in trail connections. Steinberg mentioned a potential mountain bike connection and wondered if the Golden Valley Road station could become a trail hub. Eckman brought up concerns with traffic and parking at the Golden Valley Road station. Father Paul Moudry from St. Margaret Mary Church mentioned the potential "pinch point" on the sidewalk in front of the Courage Center. V. Other Business Father Moudry spoke about the position and concerns of St. Margaret Mary Church, including the following: the church is not for sale, the church supports transit for those who need it, they are concerned about use of their parking lot by others, they are concerned about the safety of seniors/children/pedestrians in the area, they are worried about the increase in congestion at the intersection, and they are worried about the noise generated by bikes/pedestrians/cars/trains/station. Fahey asked if there are any special provisions for cultural protection for churches within the DEIS. The committee discussed ways to model or test predicted noise levels within the corridor and at the station locations. Due to the looming deadlines with the DEIS and the focus on the public comment period, the May meeting was cancelled. VI. Comments from Non-Members Linda Gallant mentioned her concerns about the noise impacts to Theodore Wirth Park and stated that even though the LRT would not run within the park, it would have a huge impact. VII. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.