04-23-15 Bottineau LRT Planning Advisory Committee Minutes ��tyof
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Bottineau LRT Planning Advisory Committee
April 23, 2015
6:00 pm
Golden Valley City Hall
Council Conference Room
Committee Members Present: Chair Rich Baker, Vice Chair Sean Fahey, Tonia Golanska,
Dan Steinberg, Cathy Waldhauser
City Staff Present: Planning Manager Jason Zimmerman, Associate Planner
Emily Goellner
1. Approval of Meeting Minutes from February 5, 2015
Chair Rich Baker called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm and the minutes of the February 5,
2015, meeting were approved unanimously.
II. Update from Staff
Planning Manager Jason Zimmerman provided updates regarding the METRO Blue Line
Extension project, including recent Issue Resolution Team (IRT) meetings and the first meetings
of the Corridor Management Committee (CMC). Specifically, he discussed proposals by the
Project Office to coordinate with St. Margaret Mary Church to locate parking for the Golden
Valley Road station on their property.
Dan Steinberg asked about Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board involvement in the planning
process. Zimmerman replied that the Park Board had been very active and City staff had
recently met with Park Board leadership in order to discuss common interests. Steinberg also
inquired about the freight issue involving a potential new connection in Crystal. Zimmerman
replied that he had not heard much recently, but the Hennepin County had been pursuing
purchasing the land in order to prevent the new connection from being made.
III. PAC Review and Comment on Draft Station Area Planning Report
Baker indicated the group had been asked to review the most recent sections added to the
draft final report and provide comments back to the project consultants. Associate Planner
Emily Goellner gave a review of the improvements recommended for opening day at the
Plymouth station. The group suggested adding the following items:
• Completing the Wirth Chalet/Welcome Center sidewalk for opening day
• Consider adding a bus pull-off in the northwest quadrant of the Xerxes and Plymouth
Avenue intersection
• Address how drop-off vehicles might circulate through the neighborhood
• Install public art at the station for opening day
Baker asked who would pay for opening day projects if they were not included in the project
scope. Goellner replied that the City or county would be responsible. Baker suggested that this
be explicitly listed in the report.
Vice Chair Sean Fahey commented that the City should push for any amenities needed to
address impacts at the Plymouth station. Baker added that he felt the station was an important
piece in the system and the Theodore Wirth Park was associated with Golden Valley. Cathy
Waldhauser commented that a better park would benefit Golden Valley residents if even they
did not use light rail.
Zimmerman gave a review of the improvements recommended for opening day at the Golden
Valley Road station. The group suggested adding the following items:
• Constructing the bike trail "cut-off" along the west side of the tracks to connect the
Bassett Creek Regional Trail to Theodore Wirth Parkway
• Addressing parking at the station
• Providing sufficient bicycle parking
IV. Comments from Non-Members
John Fitze addressed the group and asked them to continue to keep in mind the concerns of the
neighborhood which is to limit the possibility of more intense development. He also asked if
there was any indication the cuts in transit funding would be likely at the state legislature.
Darla Pardo addressed the group and stated that parking on the streets in the neighborhood
should not be an option. She also expressed concern about the safety of a roundabout at the
Theodore Wirth Parkway and Golden Valley Road intersection.
Baker indicated that this would likely be the last meeting for the group, as the Station Area
Planning process was concluding.
V. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:28 pm.
*** Note:The work of the Committee was completed at the conclusion of this meeting and
therefore these minutes were not reviewed and approved by its members. ***