Politics & Government
Hunter Lane Reconstruction Fast-Tracked to 2013, Neighborhood Opinion Split
The worst roads in the city are on the fast track again after a five-year delay was granted in 2009.
Lemay Lake Road wasn’t the only controversial street reconstruction plan up for discussion last week at Mendota Heights City Hall.
As part of an update to the five-year street improvement plan, the council also approved bumping the Hunter Lane neighborhood project up a year from 2014 to 2013.
That project includes reconstruction of Hunter Lane, Orchard Place, Culligan Lane and Glenhill Road. Reconstruction of Victoria Road will be moved from 2013 to 2014 to accommodate the project.
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When the Hunter Lane neighborhood was originally scheduled to be redone in 2009, residents rallied to move the project to the end of the list, citing the rapidly declining economy at the time.
But now a group of residents say that the streets have fallen into disrepair and it’s time to do the work.
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Potholes, Drainage Problems
Hunter and Orchard have been deemed the worst streets in the city by the engineering department.
“We have breaks in the water mains. We have water running over the roads. We have holes, we have repairs,” Hunter Lane resident John Apitz told the council. “It’s time to get on with this.”
Charles Campion said they were talking about installing curb and gutter when he built his home on Hunter Lane 18 years ago. “The roads have been terrible the whole time I’ve lived there. They need to be repaired.”
While no one present at the meeting spoke against moving the project, City Engineer John Mazzitello said he fielded a number of phone calls from residents who did not want to move the project.
His rough tally from the phone calls and the residents present at the meeting was 10 calls opposing the move and eight in favor.
“Most of the people calling me in favor of moving it forward are from Glenhill and Culligan. Most of the people calling me against moving it forward are from Hunter and Orchard,” said Mazzitello.
Council member Liz Petschel said this was the first issue she’s dealt with for which she has received a number of irate phone calls. She said that residents would perceive the move as a betrayal of the agreement made in 2009.
Mayor Sandra Krebsbach, who lives on Culligan Lane, said she disagreed with that. The council had agreed to delay the project, but not to pin it specifically to 2014, she said. “I don’t see moving this up one year as a betrayal.”
“I’m surprised with all the support. I got calls from people that seemed very annoyed that this was resurfacing,” said council member Jack Vitelli.
Council member Mike Povolny said he was also receiving calls that reflected something of a split within the neighborhood.
The Tipping Point
Not everyone will be happy with the decision.
Resident Jon Mathisrud is a resident opposed to the project. He was not aware of the decision to change the schedule. He said that the road was in poor condition this summer, (“I kept asking them for a road sign that said Ho Chi Min Trail,” said Mathisrud) but since the city patched the streets, he’s satisfied with its condition.
“If you know anything about Hunter Lane, it’s not going to change the property value one iota if there’s a curb out front. That not the charm of the place,” said Mathisrud.
Four major streets in Mendota Heights don’t yet have curb and gutter: Lemay Lake Road, Hunter, Orchard and the frontage road in front of Henry Sibley.
Installing curb and gutter strengthens the road, delays repairs, and prevents stormwater problems on surrounding properties, according to Mazzitello.
Council member Jack Vitelli said that it came down to the condition of the roads, and emphasized that the change was only being considered because of resident feedback.
“We do have street standards in the city and all the residents help pay for the street improvements, including the residents that live on the street, and its obvious that Hunter doesn’t meet the standard,” said Vitelli.
Council member Ultan Duggan also said that with the residents being almost split, the condition of the road was justification to move it up.
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