Planning commission backs county plan to reconstruct Viking Boulevard through Scenic River district

The Oak Grove Planning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 20 to recommend that the City Council approve a conditional use permit for reconstruction of Viking Boulevard NW between the Grama River Bridge and Orchid Street NW, a project the agenda described as submitted by Anoka County.

The commission’s motion, made by Commissioner Farah and seconded by Commissioner Hall, approved the staff report as presented and forwarded the application to the council for final action. Chair Johnson called the vote and recorded the motion as carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The road work runs through the city’s Scenic River District, which triggers design and construction review to limit impacts along the river corridor. Commissioners and members of the public pressed for more detail about tree removal, shoulders and whether the project is being planned to allow a future separated regional trail connection.

Commissioners and staff said the county had coordinated closely on an earlier nearby bridge project and had worked with homeowners about tree removal in at least one location. Planner Claire Stickler, the consultant who prepared the staff report, presented the application materials that were included in the commission packet and said the documents on screen matched what had been submitted.

During public comment, Tom Daley of MnDOT, identifying himself as a MnDOT civil engineer, urged the commission to consider safety tradeoffs associated with roadside trees. “Something that’s a little lost sometimes, when you’re doing project planning is that road departures, hitting trees is a typically a big reason for fatalities,” Daley said, adding that tree clearing in some right-of-way areas is done to reduce crash severity.

Commission discussion focused on three technical points: whether the plans include preparation for a future separated trail between the new roundabout and the bridge; the width and treatment of shoulders (one commissioner asked whether an 8-foot shoulder would be provided that could later serve as a bike path); and how the contractor will stage traffic so the road can remain open to two-way traffic during construction. Staff and county representatives said the current project scope is to reconstruct the roadway and that additional trail connections would require property acquisition and future work.

Staff said the county has discussed shoulder width and traffic-control sequencing in its bid documents and that some tree clearing shown in the packet relates to making room for temporary lane flips that keep two-way traffic open during construction. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether plans include specific preparations for a separated trail; Lauren (city staff) said she would double-check the submitted drawings and report back.

The application also required notice to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources because the work lies within the Scenic Rivers District. Commissioners noted the prior bridge project’s successful coordination with homeowners and the county’s responsiveness to address tree concerns.

What’s next: Because the planning commission’s recommendation was unanimous, the item will appear on the city council consent agenda at an upcoming meeting for final action, unless a council member or a member of the public asks for it to be pulled for discussion.