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Pequot Lakes Staff Report Pre-Meeting Discussion 3 - 1 March 19, 2015 NEW BUSINESS – RURAL ROAD STANDARDS Agenda Item: Pre-Meeting Discussion Background Information: At the January Planning Commission meeting Mayor Sjoblad and Public Works Supervisor Mike Loven took part in the Rural Road Standards discussion; a resident also attended who had drafted standards for rural roads. Key points from that discussion were: Current Road Construction Specifications are for 26-foot paved roadbed, two 12-foot driving lanes; As a minimum standard, Public Works Supervisor Loven requested pavement be required so the City doesn’t need to bring a road up to that standard at a later date; Trailside Estates was approved by the Planning Commission with much smaller requirements; Rural residential areas may not need a 24-foot roadbed; 20 feet may be acceptable; A 66-foot right-of-way may not be necessary in rural areas; The width could be reduced to 16-feet driving lanes or create road maintenance districts; Replacement and maintenance does not include snow plowing and mowing ditches. Maintenance is paving, filling pot holes and crack filling. Several factors need to be looked at when contemplating taking over an existing road: public safety, ingress and egress, bus accessibility and development concerns. In addition, the following must be considered: 1. Land Use; 2. Finance; 3. Traffic counts; and 4. Maintenance. It was the consensus that having the City take over and maintain rural roads is a benefit to the property owners along the roadway. An association of the property owners is a better answer for the City. The City needs to develop and meet a standard that serves the public and has tax base. Below is the draft language the Public Works Supervisor would like included.