Resident Efforts to Delay Eagle Lake East Street Rehabilitation Project Fails

Two street rehabilitation proposed to begin in 2012 will move forward as planned, despite opposition from 31 Maple Grove residents.

The Golden Pond area road project received quick approval and little public comment at the March 19 Maple Grove City Council meeting.

Several residents located in the Eagle Lake East street rehabilitation area spoke both against and in favor of the project, also asking questions about project detail during the public hearing portion of the March 19 meeting.

The Maple Grove City Council received letters of objection from 31 property owners in the proposed Eagle Lake East project area - focused most heavily of residents in the Kilmer Way North and Lancaster Lane North neighborhoods.

A representative for the group of 31 residents who signed a petition spoke before the City Council expressed opposition to the project, citing assessment costs to neighborhood homeowners as well as timing and necessity of the project.

"Complete removal and replacement, in addition to disrupting our neighbor for an extended period of time, is a drastic and costly measure that should be reserved for non-repairable streets. We commute on streets and highways outside of our neighborhood that are in much higher need of replacement than ours," the representative said during the public hearing. "...We need to live within our means and spend out spend our money wisely, this does not include ripping up streets prematurely before their useful life has ended."

Councilmembers, excluding LeAnn Sergent who was absent for a personal matter, heard public comment on the Eagle Lake East street rehabilitation project for more than an hour before weighing its option.

Initially discussion came from Councilmember Phil Leith, suggesting possibly tabling the decision for two weeks for addition staff evaluation of the project area. Councilmember Erik Johnson discussed the possibility of delaying the project, suggesting to residents the project cost for residents and the city "could go up" if delayed a few years.

Mayor Mark Steffenson agreed with Johnson, stating the project costs would likely increase if the project delayed. After talking about the current road conditions in the area, Steffenson asked for an informal show of hands who supported or opposed the project -- which was equally split among community members present at the meeting.

Johnson made a motion to proceed with the Eagle Lake East street rehabilitation project to begin in 2012, but proposed deferring the assessment to impacted property owners for an additional 12 months so it wouldn't appear on the tax roll until May 2014. 

The motion earned quick support from the other Maple Grove City Council members, passing 4-0 and was met by a round of applause from the audience.

Steffenson reopened the Golden Pond area road project and the City Council approved extending deferring the special assessments for an additional 12 months as well.

Resolutions adopted for both projects included not only adopting the special assessment, but moving forward with ordering plans, approving plan and authorizing advertisement for bids.

For more on the Eagle Lake East, Golden Pond street rehabilitation projects, road the previous council meeting story below.

Construction is anticipated to being May 2012 and be completed by October 2012. Read project details from the Feb. 21 Maple Grove City Council meeting below.

Original article Feb. 24:

Maple Grove City Council Receives Feasibility Report for Eagle Lake, Golden Pond Street Projects

The area street rehabilitation projects took another step forward at the Feb. 21 Maple Grove City Council meeting.

The council adopted receiving the feasibility report for each project, including setting a public hearing date, declaring costs to be assessed, ordering preparation of assessment roll and ordering a special assessment hearing.

Both projects propose a partial street reconstruction with curb and gutter replacement, replacement of bituminous pavement and installation of storm sewer as needed, according to a memo provided to the City Council.

The Eagle Lake East project is estimated to cost $3.416 million, with about $1.708 million in proposed assessments to “benefiting properties,” according to the memo. The Golden Pond project is estimated to cost $1.565 million, with $770,800 in proposed assessments to “benefiting properties.”

The city’s portion of the project is expected to be funded by the Maple Grove’s street reconstruction program funding and trunk funds.

A public hearing will be scheduled for March 19 at the on the proposed Eagle Lake East and Golden Pond area street rehabilitation projects.

If all moves forward as proposed to the City Council, the Eagle Lake East Area project would start in early May and finished in October, according to Assistant City Engineer Terry Muller.  The Golden Pond area project would start in early June and completed in October.

Within the proposed Eagle Lake East street rehabilitation project area, there are 299 single-family homes, 238 town homes, 10 twin homes and three commercial properties. In the Golden Pond area, there are 188 single-family homes.