9. Authorize Feasibility Study for Extension of Nez Perce Drive Through Owens Property to Pleasant Vew Rd 1 CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 Aotlon IIY Cky Admird tretor
lMdorted
MEMORANDUM iilod'died._..
Relecta —
TO: Charles Folch, City Engineer
Bete Submitted to Commission
1 FROM: Paul Krauss, Planning Directo19(— WV Submitted to CounoA
1 DATE: April 7, 1992
SUBJ: Authorization of Preparation of Feasibility Study for Extension of Nez Perce
1 Drive through the Owens' Property to Pleasant View Road
1 Over the past two to three years, the subject of providing a street connection from Nez
Perce to Pleasant View Road has been repeatedly dealt with by the Planning Commission
and City Council. During the review of the Vineland Forest plat in 1989, the City Council
1 adopted a concept that would provide a long term connection through adjoining properties
to serve this need. The road was constructed up to the west property line of Vineland
Forest, but ultimately must go across the adjacent Troendle property and Art Owens' parcel
to make the connection. Last year during the review of the proposed subdivision of the
Troendle property, this road connection proposal was again reviewed and upheld, and
appropriate right -of -way taken. During this review, area residents asked the Council to
1 make the connection to avoid local traffic impacts; however, this proved to not be possible
at that point in time since the adjoining Owens' parcel was in bankruptcy and was not
proposed for subdivision at that time. Consequently, the developer of the Troendle
1 Addition was required to place $10,000 on deposit with the city, which is the Troendle
Addition's share of completing the street across the Owens' parcel. This money is being
1 held by the city to be used towards the ultimate connection.
When the Troendle Addition was approved, the City Council asked that this item be brought
1 back up within 18 months and while this time period has not fully lapsed, recent events have
caused us to reconsider this condition. We have held discussions with a representative of
Frank Beddor, who is seeking to purchase a portion of the Owens' parcel. It is our
1 understanding that the Owens' parcel would be coming out of the bankruptcy protection.
What is not clear at this point is when the city would be in a position to take the right -of-
way through the subdivision process, in fact at the present time, it looks more and more like
1 we may have to go in and condemn the final piece of right -of -way. Based upon this, I think
it would be useful for the city to take a portion of the $10,000 fund and undertake a
feasibility study for the roadway extension. This would be highly useful in defining a
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Charles Folch 1
April 7, 1992
Page 2
which has never been done for this route, as well as engineering
centerline, g g and construction
requirements, and costs. At the very least, this would allow us to officially map the route
to protect it from development even if we do not proceed with construction immediately.
Secondly, the cost of the study would not be wasted since it is necessary to do one before
we could build the road however the right -of -way is acquired. I would urge the Engineering I
Department and the City Council to undertake this action as soon as possible so that we
may be in a position to assure that the final link of this road is constructed in a timely
manner. 1
CITY ENGINEER'S COMMENT 1
As Paul has expressed in his memo, it would be of great benefit for the City to define and
officially map the alignment for this last segment of Nez Perce Drive through the Owens
property connecting with Peaceful Lane and ultimately Pleasant View Road,, particularly
since there seems to be at least one party interested in purchasing this land./ It would be
appropriate to use the $10,000 dedicated from the Troendle Addition to perform this study.
I will be meeting with Bill Engelhardt later in the week to discuss a number of issues. It
is my intention to also provide him with the necessary information to prepare a cost
proposal for the sutdy which I can present to the City Council on Monday night. It is
therefore recommended that authorization be given to prepare a feasibility study for the
extension of Nez Perce Drive through the Owens property to Pleasant View Road at a cost
not to exceed $10,000 and that Engelhardt & Associates be assigned the project engineer. 1
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APR 13 199%
CITY „
April 10, 1992
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Randy L. Bauernfeind
6361 Fox Path
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Chanhassen City Council
Chanhassen Municipal Building
1 690 Coulter Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
1 RE: Connection of Nez Pierce Street to Pleasant View Road
Dear Chanhassen City Council Members:
I noticed that one of items on the April 13th Chanhassen City Council
agenda is a discussion concerning a feasibility study to connect Nez
Pierce to Pleasant View Road. As a resident of Chanhassen, I am writing
' this letter to express my concern with connecting Nez Pierce to Pleasant
View Road. Connecting Nez Pierce to Pleasant View Road would
significantly increase the amount of traffic on Pleasant View Road which
is already extremely over traveled. Pleasant View Road has become a
"shortcut" for getting from one side to the other side of Lotus
Lake /Christmas Lake. This "shortcut" mentality has caused many
commuters to travel at speeds in excess of the posted speed limit and at
' speeds which are clearly unsafe for this road.
As you are aware, Pleasant View Road is the only passageway from County
Road 17 to Highway 101 between Highway 5 and Highway 7. The road was
never designed to carry the amount of traffic that it is currently
handling. The road is very narrow with numerous blind curves, steep
drop -offs to Lotus Lake, and has no shoulder or walkway. In addition to
' the limitations of this road, the road surface has deteriorated a great
deal over past couple of years due to the amount of excess usage.
A tremendous amount of residential development has taken place on both
the east and west ends of Pleasant View Road over the past couple of
years. As a result of increased traffic generated by new development,
Pleasant View Road has become a very unsafe road to travel by vehicle
let alone trying to walk or bicycle on. In my opinion a four -lane
freeway would be a safer place to walk or ride a bicycle. Development
which is planned for the future will only generate more traffic on this
1 road if a plan is not developed which will reduce the usage of this
road.
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A plan for Pleasant View Road should be developed which would reduce the
amount of usage and which would give people who jog, walk and bicycle an
opportunity to enjoy this scenic drive and an opportunity for Chanhassen
to retain its small town atmosphere. The commuters that currently use
Pleasant View Road as a shortcut should be re- routed to Highway 5 and
Highway 7 that are designed to handle commuting traffic at commuting
speeds.
I would appreciate if the Chanhassen City Council would take my concerns
and suggestions under consideration before allowing additional access to
Pleasant View Road and for future planning discussions.
Sincerely,
Randy Bauernfeind 1
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