Item 3.2 Wright County Comments for Costco
An Equal Opportunity Employer – www.co.wright.mn.us/189/Highway
Wright County
Highway Department
3600 Braddock Ave NE
Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763)682-7383
Email:
HwyAdmin@co.wright.mn.us
CHAD HAUSMANN, P.E.
Highway Engineer
SARA BUERMANN, P.E.
Assistant Hwy. Engineer
CODY SEDBROOK, P.E.
Traffic Engineer
NATE HELGESON
Maintenance
Superintendent
BRIAN JANS
Shop Maintenance
Superintendent
JEREMY CARLSON, P.L.S.
Right-of-Way Agent
VACANT
Accounting Mgr. – Hwy.
VACANT
Construction Engineer
VACANT
Design Engineer
February 2, 2024
Adam Flaherty
Otsego City Administrator
13400 – 90th Street NE
Otsego, MN 55330
RE: Preliminary Comments for Commercial Development, Costco, CR 137
Plat No. 24.## (Application not received)
Dear Mr. Flaherty,
Preliminary discussions have begun with a potential commercial development along Wright County
Road (CR) 137 in Otsego. Wright County has not received a preliminary plat review application for
this development. Wright County will have additional comments once the preliminary plat
application is made to the Wright County Highway Department, prior to signing the plat, and as the
project progresses to the permitting and construction phase.
1) CR 137 is a current and future Major Collector roadway with an Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
of 11,137 (2022). Preliminary design plans proposed reconstructing the roadway as a 2-lane
divided urban section, 10 ft Blvd. with separated multi use trail. Planning level capacity for a
2-lane divided urban roadway segment is 14,000-17,000 ADT.
2) A final traffic study will determine the scope of proposed improvements and roadway section
carried to final design.
3) The Wright County Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) shows future volumes over
15,000 between I-94 and Maciver and assumed commercial development for this parcel.
4) The proposed right in/right out will not be allowed as it does not meet the county highway
access spacing guidelines. The primary full access point is Maciver Avenue and the secondary
access is Lymon Ave. The proposed highway improvements address the existing non-
conforming access at 62nd St NE. It is not the desire of the highway department to introduce a
new non-conforming access point to a newly reconstructed roadway.
5) In initial meetings, the developer relayed concern with internal left turning traffic at the T-
intersection with the potential development of the proposed outlots. Rather than a right in/right
out, traffic concerns related to the internal operations could be mitigated within the site by
constructing a mini roundabout. This suggested improvement would have less site impacts
than the proposed right in/right out and result in no decrease in parking. This option would
alleviate the concern with heavy future lefts within the site and is a better option then non-
conforming access spacing along the county highway that will contribute to congestion and
driver confusion.
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Preliminary Comments for Commercial Development, Costco, CR 137
6) An access permit will be required for the Lymon Ave NE access. A right and left turn lane
will be required.
7) A cooperative agreement between the City of Otsego & Wright County addressing issues
related to the proposed highway improvements, must be in place & approved prior the
Highway Department issuing any access and/or right-of-way permits for the above-mentioned
development.
8) Right of way sufficient to accommodate the final roadway section as determined by the traffic
study shall be dedicated as part of the plat.
9) The preliminary grading plan shows overland flow/drainage swales adjacent to CR 137. Storm
water pipe will be required move to facilitate the drainage along the urbanized roadway and
ensure the proper use of the drainage/utility/trail easement as well as minimize the right of way
needed to be dedicated by the developer.
10) The proposed development drainage must not exceed existing drainage rates (i.e., the rate at
which storm water is discharged from the site must not increase) into the county right-of-way.
The city or project developer will need to verify that all existing drainage patters and system
affecting Wright County Highway right-of-way will be perpetuated.
Please contact us at 763-682-7383 if you have any questions or need further clarification.
Sincerely,
Sara C. Buermann, PE
Wright County Assistant Highway Engineer
Attachments: Wright County Access Spacing Guidelines
Cc: Chad Hausmann, Wright County Highway Engineer
Cody Sedbrook, Wright County Traffic Engineer
D. Daniel Licht, Otsego City Planner
Ron Wagner, Otsego City Engineer
Future System Analysis
5-30
(1) Subject to Access Committee staff review
(2) Any spacing deviations shall have a detailed traffic study completed by the requesting agency, and approved by the county engineer
(3) Conditional secondary access is defined as right-in/out (with raised median)
Table 5-12: Recommended Access Spacing Guidelines MnDOT Access Spacing Guidelines Functional
Class
Category
Area or Facility Type (1)
Typical
Functional
Class
Intersection Spacing (2) Signal
Spacing Private Access Primary Full Movement
Intersection
Conditional Secondary
Intersection (3)
1 High Priority Interregional Corridors
1F Freeway
Principal
Arterials
Interchange Access Only
1A-F Full Grade Separation Interchange Access Only
1A Rural, Exurban & Bypass 1 Mile 1/2 Mile Interim Only
By Deviation Only By Deviation Only
2 Medium Priority Interregional Corridors
2A-F Full Grade Separation
Principal
Arterials
Interchange Access Only
2A Rural, Exurban & Bypass 1 Mile 1/2 Mile
STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED
By Deviation Only
By Exception or
Deviation Only
2B Urban
Urbanizing 1/2 Mile 1/4 Mile
STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED
By Deviation Only
By Exception or
Deviation Only
2C Urban Core 300 - 600 feet dependent upon block length 1/4 Mile Permitted Subject
to Conditions
3 High Priority Regional Corridors
Access Category Not Applicable for Study Area Wright County Access Spacing Guidelines 4 Principal Arterials in Primary Trade centers
Access Category Not Applicable for Study Area
5 Minor Arterials
5A Rural/Urban Mobility Corridor
Minor
Arterials
1/2 Mile 1/4 Mile 1/2 Mile Permitted Subject
to Conditions
5B Urbanizing Arterial 1/4 Mile 1/8 Mile 1/4 Mile By Exception or
Deviation Only
5C Urban Core Arterial 300 - 600 feet dependent upon block length 1/4 Mile Permitted Subject
to Conditions
6 Collectors
6A Rural Collector
Collectors
1/2 Mile 1/4 Mile 1/2 Mile
Permitted Subject
to Conditions
6B1 Rural/Urbanizing Collector 1/4 Mile 1/8 Mile 1/4 Mile
6B2 Local Collector 1/8 Mile NA 1/4 Mile
6C Urban Core Collector 300 - 600 feet dependent upon block length 1/8 Mile
7 Specific Access Plan
7 All All By Adopted Plan