Loading...
10. FLHL Project Suggestions FinalFRIENDS OF LOG HOUSE LANDING PROJECT SUGGESTIONS - 2/4/15 When considering the suggestions below, please keep in mind that the overwhelming response from your constituents, the SCRA, and the NPS is a desire to keep this road as close to its natural, narrow and rustic state as possible. Adopting these suggestions will go a long way toward responding to your community's wishes, as well as making this project more in keeping with the Comprehensive Plan and Viewshed goals. 1. Eliminate curb and gutter from the upper section of 2051" west of Quint. • It is not needed for water quality. The County identified this section, with its gentle slope, as not needing curb and gutter. Just proper crowning is needed. • The committee did not address this section of road, other than to agree to pave it. Curb and gutter was not discussed (committee ran out of time.) • Saves money on elaborate storm water infrastructure that is not necessary. • Preserves much more of the natural vegetation. • Saves two additional mature trees. • Aesthetically, better entry to this road/landing — more rustic and rural without curb/gutter. • Helps to minimize the volume of water being transported via gutter. Provided this section of the road is crowned, the road will shed water gradually and it will be naturally absorbed by the vegetation on both sides of the road. 2. Use alternative surface for parking. • The Committee recommended that only the pull-outs be paved in addition to the 13' driving lane. This means that any additional paved surface width would be kept to less than 20% of the lower road (east of Quint.) If the parking lane is paved, then over 60% of this lower road will have 23'-wide sections of pavement. This is a significant change from the committee and Planning Commission recommendation. It will completely change the aesthetics of the site. • The County engineers did not feel the transition from asphalt to gravel or another surface in these low usage areas would be a problem. • Direct the City and Watershed engineers to research and present alternatives to asphalt. Suggestions based on our research: - Option 1. Bound Aggregate - The County suggested that we use the bound aggregate mixture that Gravel expert, Ken Skorseth recommended. If properly installed, should result in 75% less erosion and 75% less maintenance. - Option 2. Permeable Pavers / Cellular Confinement Grid with clean gravel. - Option 3. NaturalPAVE Resin Pavement (appearance of gravel with performance of asphalt.) This product could also be used for pull-outs. It is commonly used for historic sites. - Other Options that the engineers suggest. 3. Reduce the parking and pull-out area width from 10' to 8.5'. • This is another item that the committee did not address. (Ran out of time.) • The County put in 10', but commented that it could be less. • 8.5' is minimum legal driving lane per the County. • The original City plan allowed for an 8' parking lane. • The original Watershed concept plans suggested 8'-10'. • Reduces cost. • Improves aesthetics by reducing overall width and possible paved areas. • 8.5' for parking and pull-outs, a 13' driving lane plus 1' for gutter still allows for a 22.5' width at pull-outs and parking, for safe passage. 4. Stagger the bottom pull-out and parking lane to avoid being directly across from one another. • This will help significantly to keep the rural narrow feel by preventing this section of road from being 3 lanes across (pull-out, driving lane, parking lane.) • The existing pull-out is already further west than it is shown to be on the County map. • The committee's recommendation allows for 300' of parking along the road. The engineer can likely figure out how to divide parking between the two sections of the road to avoid this 3 lane width scenario. 5. Minimize curb and gutter to areas actually needing it. Start the curb and gutter as far down the road after the Quint intersection as possible. • The farther east the curb/gutter starts, the better from viewshed perspective. • Less curb/gutter = less cost. • Less curb/gutter = better aesthetics. 6. Make curb and gutter as rustic and inconspicuous as possible (as recommended by the committee.) • Use a color coat over concrete curb and gutter to minimize visual impact. County commented that colored concrete mixes don't do well in MN temps, but the architect on our committee said that a color coat could be applied as the concrete is drying. • Consider minimal curb profile to minimize visual impact. 7. Designate an area for picnic table on the landing near the fireplace. • This will be next to the proposed signage about history of the landing. • Will prevent parking at this location. • With no parking on the gravel landing, the area will feel more like a park setting and lend itself to a recreational amenity. • The community could work to get the picnic table donated. 8. Maintain the gentle curved opening at the intersection of 2051" and Quinnell. • Improved accessibility. • Better aesthetics than squaring off the entrance. 9. Use Cable Concrete boat ramp solution, such as product made by International Erosion Control Systems: • http://iecs.com/cable-concrete/ - Go to "boat ramps" in the "Gallery" section of the website.