Officials seek to ease fears on Cedar Avenue remake in Apple Valley

They say they made changes in a rapid bus transit plan that had sparked concerns among Apple Valley businesses.

By DAVID PETERSON, Star Tribune

Last update: May 6, 2008 - 10:15 PM

Dakota County is not planning to turn Apple Valley's main commercial corridor into a freeway and will do everything it can to keep traffic flowing to its stores and offices, a phalanx of top officials promised late Tuesday.

"I am willing to sit down with anyone at any time," project manager Kristine Elwood told a group of unhappy Apple Valley business leaders. "I know there are concerns."

She was addressing a group that has organized under the label Save Downtown Apple Valley. Members of that group pleaded late last month with city officials to intervene and protect their interests from the effects of a plan to ease traffic on Cedar Avenue and launch a system of rapid bus transit.

The group fears that elements of the plan to reshape the roadway and its cross streets will force customers to go out of their way to reach them. And it fears that light-rail-like transit stations will cut into their property, bring commuters into their parking lots and block visibility of their businesses from passing traffic.

Chamber of Commerce President Ed Kearney opened Tuesday's meeting by assuring the group that the county already has tweaked its plan.

"We see results coming in," he said. "All the stars are lining up. We're seeing progress and hoping for a happy outcome for everyone."

Planners agreed to cut down on medians that would have prevented left turns, for example, and to move one transit station north of County Road 42.

Auto dealer Jim Paul, who has been one of the more outspoken critics, said he thinks "we've made tremendous headway in two weeks," though not every issue is resolved.

The unhappiest participants were those with businesses south of County Road 42, where fewer changes have been made so far.

But participants on both sides pledged to work together to try to find solutions.

'This is not just a 'feel-good' meeting," Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland told one businessman who suggested that's all it was. "We want to get it right."

David Peterson • 952-882-9023

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