Residents urge ban on construction trucks, cite dust, safety and property damage on Lincoln Avenue

Several residents of Lincoln Avenue told the Saint Paul Park City Council on Sept. 2 that heavy construction truck traffic tied to nearby development is creating dust clouds, property damage and safety risks for pedestrians and schoolchildren and asked the city to restrict trucks on the street. Why it matters: Residents said the impacts are ongoing, include possible structural damage to homes and interrupted outdoor life for families, and they asked the council and staff to take enforcement or ordinance action to protect public safety and property. At the council meeting, residents described high hourly truck counts, visible dust accumulation, and fears for children who use a bus stop near the intersection of Lincoln and Gary. City staff said planning staff were taking notes and that the planning firm was present to gather information; the council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Resident Kent Anderson said he wanted Lincoln Avenue designated “residential traffic only” and an enforceable ordinance to ban trucks: “No trucks. And I’d like an ordinance passed to that effect and have the police be able to enforce that.” Resident Stuart Bowman said he counted “25 to 30 trucks an hour” and described heavy dust accumulation, furnace filters fouled and damage to landscaping: “My house is a pitfall. It’s full of dirt.” Bowman said he had observed what he estimated could be “another 2,000 trucks over the next 5 weeks.” Resident Walter Vontrecht described safety worries for children and motorists and urged continued police enforcement: “The safety for my children is another thing…. Kids walk. The roads are… where are the kids supposed to walk with all these trucks hauling up and down?” Resident Giulia LaValle, who said she lives two houses from the corner of Lincoln and Gary, urged intermittent police presence at the stop sign near a bus stop used for school pickups: “Almost all the trucks roll or run that stop sign, to the point where I have witnessed people almost getting hit. That is a bus pickup.” LaValle also asked why she had not received notice of the construction. City staff and council comments Mayor Franke and planning staff indicated they were collecting the residents’ concerns. Morgan, a city planning staff member who briefed the council on other items, said staff would “keep a close eye on it” and that an independent engineering firm included in a separate agreement would be used to evaluate road wear in the area shared with neighboring jurisdictions. Hugo, a city administrator, affirmed the planning staff would follow up on specific technical questions such as whether the material dumped on site had been sampled. No ordinance or formal action was taken at the meeting. Council members and staff repeatedly asked residents to stay after the meeting so staff could collect contact information and follow up. The council’s public remarks emphasized monitoring and enforcement as possibility areas rather than immediate regulatory change. Clarifying details and requests from residents included: counts of 25–30 trucks per hour (Stuart Bowman), an estimate of about 70 truck movements per hour when in and out trips are counted (Bowman), a resident request that dirt brought to the site be tested for contaminants (Tim Sandf), and an estimate by a resident that another 2,000 truck trips could occur over the next five weeks. Residents reported increased dust accumulation requiring more frequent furnace filter changes (one said every two days) and damage to outdoor pools and plantings. School start times and a bus stop at Lincoln and Gary were cited as heightened safety concerns because classes resumed the next day. Next steps and limitations Council members and staff said they would gather more information, coordinate with the city’s planning firm and public safety staff, and consider enforcement actions. Staff noted limits on the city’s authority where state aid road designation applies and said further evaluation will be required before legal or ordinance changes could be drafted. The mayor closed the public comment portion and asked staff to follow up with the residents who requested contact information.