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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-20-1968Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council • of the City of Rochester, Minn., February 20, 1968 1 • 1 1 • 1 Minutes of an adjourned regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, held in -.'the Council Chambers in the City Hall, in said City, on February 20, 1968. President DeVries called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P. M., with the following members being present: President DeVries, Aldermen Day, Ellison, Folkert, Larson, Perry, Postier. Absent: None. President DeVries then welcomed the people attending this meeting, he said he expected to see more but welcomed the ones that were here (about 75 attended the meeting); he said this is not an official hearing; It is not the purpose of this meeting to accept or reject a program of urban redevelopment; It is not the purpose of this meeting to discuss the pros and cons of government assisted• -:redevelopment or renewal projects; It is not the purpose to discuss problems of financing a project, or problems of dislocation and the steps necessary to protect businesses in the redevelopment area in the event a project -is under- taken; The only purpose tonight is hear and consider your comments on the two illustrative plans which have been submitted by the planners to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority; The Council would like to hear your views and opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of the plans proposed; We would like to hear your views on the merits and objectionable features of the plans; Whether or not the City undertakes a renewal or redevelopment program must be decided later when further details are submitted by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority as to financing, the proposed stages or phases of the redevelopment plan, the protection and preservation of businesses in the area and the plans for relocation of residents in the area; Whatever decision is ultimately taken on•a renewal program, the decision should be based on the best possible plan and this is our purpose here tonight; We are anxious to hear your views on these plans. Mr. Nicolas Trkla of Barton Aschman & Associates presented slides and outlined the two illustrative planning concepts designated "Broadway Open" and "Broadway Closed". Mr. Dennis Peterson, Chairman of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority, stated that they recommended the same original Broadway Open concept with a few revisions, (a) North Broadway to be extended two blocks to 2nd Street but maintaining a closed effect at the northern terminus with a tee intersection requiring a right or left turn before a vehcile can procced (b) South Broadway closed from the south at 4th Street with through traffic diverted onto an extension of 1st Avenue Southeast and local Broadway traffic allowed into the downtown core via a diagonal street off Ist Avenue Southeast, the original semi -open concept showed South Broadway open to one way traffic southbound stragith-through the 4th Street and Broad= way intersection; he said the diversions of traffic is a solution to the heavy travel on Broadway while still allowing local traffic and cited the results of a planning study showing that 36% of the traffic on Broadway does not want to be there as reason for diversion of traf traffic to a proposed one-way pair of streets around the downtown; he said with preliminary approval it would take between 45 and 60 days to finalize the plans for submission to Housing is • fI Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., February 20, 1968 • and Urban Redevelopment ADministration (HUD) and it would take their approval before the Council can hold a public hearing; he said the project is now estimated to cost a total of about seventeen million dollars, with the city's share to be about three million seven hundred thousand, the project has a $4.5 million cash reservation with HUD but will be asked for more than $10 million to complete the project when plans are submitted. A letter from the Board of Directors of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce stating that they firmly believe that the expansion and revitalization of the central business district will be accomplished through the•use of the "Broadway Open" plan and strongly recommend this concept, was read. A letter from the Total Community Development Action -Committee on Downtown recommending that the "Broadway Open" concept be seclected by the Redevelopment Authority as the basis for the redevelopment of the downtown core area of the City of Rochester because they feel it best accommodates the community's immediate and long-range needs and needs of persons already located in the area, and suggest that in implementing the plan (1) Broadway be narrowed and restricted to local traffic only (2) all-weather facilities 'should be incorporated into the "Broadway Open" plan for pedestrian traffic by means such as tunnels, enclosed cross walks, malls or arcades, and that (3) Pedestrian and vehicular traffic should be separated wherever possible, and in particular, at least one separated, pedestrian way across First Avenue West between the core area and the medical center must be, provided, was.read. A letter from the Board of Directors of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce unanimously endorsing the report of the -Total Community Development Action Committee on Downtown, which recommends the "Broadway Open" concept as the basis for the redevdopment of the downtown coare area of the City of Rochester, was read. A letter from the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority submitting a resolution which urges the acceptance of Barton Aschman Associates Renewal Plan with the Broadway closed concept, was also read. President DeVries ordered the letters placed on file. Mr. Charles Pine, President of Board of Trustees of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, was present and urged the acceptance and endorsement of the "Broadway Open" concept as stated in their letter. Mr. John J. Hunt, Jr. Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, was present and stated that they still advocated the Broadway Closed concept but that the "Broadway Open" concept was acceptable. Mr. Harold Payne, Chairman of Total Community Development Action Committee on Downtown, was present and stated they approved the open plan but would probably be back with some detailed alternatives before the final determination but felt that with the approval of this plan we would see some real action in the downtown area. Mr. Tom Wolf, representing the Library Board, was present and requested that the location of the library be at the location of 2nd Street and 1st Avenue Southeast. Mr. Robert Martin of 212 - 20th Avenue S. W. was present and inquired (1) how do they propose to connect with the medical complex to the west (2) how 1st Avenue will be connected again with T. H. 63 both on the north and south, will the cost be part of this will it take part of Soldiers Field and project or will it be extra cost to the City and/(3) why does the alleyway remain on all of 1 1 • 1 • Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council • .of the City of Rochester, Minn., February 20, 1968 6 5 of the plans behind the Chateau Theatre. Mr. Peterson explained that the alley was shown because it serves the Northwestern Bank facility and if you take traffic off Broadway you must still provide an access to that facility, the exact alignment of the alley is subject to revision; he 1st Avenue West would be operated as part of a one-way pair and would be operated as.T. H. 63 and whether 1st Avenue would meet Broadway inside or outside the project area would be decided by the Council and there was no program that takes Soldiers Field property. A recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission favoring the "Broadway Open' Plan with the following exceptions, was read: 1. Broadway be closed at 4th Street South in lieu of the one-way southbound traffic as shown on the plan. • 2. Two-way traffic be allowed on Broadway using one lane in each direction. 3. No on -street parking be permitted on Broadway. 4. Abandon alleys where not needed by the project developers. 5. Proper signs should be placed on South Broadway at 6th Street South and Fourth Street South intersections to direct people to the medical center area. 6. The site for the Multi -Purpose Exhibition Hall be as shown as Area 4 on the Pkan and as an alternate choice they recommend Area 7 and all of Area 6 lying south of Second Street N. E. 7. Building height limits be eliminated andthat height limits be left to the discretion of the Rochester Housing & Redevelopment Authority. 8. A climatized mall be included in the redevelopment of First Street S.W.-S.E. extending from 1st Avenue East to Broadway and from Broadway as far as possible toward First Avenue West. 9. The traffic flow on South Broadway from Sixth Street South to Fourth Street South be one way northbound. President DeVries ordered the recommendation placed on file. After hearing those present and further discussion, a motion was made by Alderman Perry that the "Broadway Open" -concept plan be approved and that the Council adjourn until 1:00 P. M. on Friday, February 23, 1968, at which time the "Broadway Open" concept. plan will be confirmed by resolution and further recommendations on detail will be incorporated; Aldermai Folkert seconded the motion and all voting in favor thereof, except Aldermen Day and Postier who voted "nay", President DeVries declared the motion carried. Upon motion by Postier, second by Ellison, and all voting in favor, the meeting was adjourned until 1:00 P. M. on Friday, February 23, 1968. City Clerk