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Residents urge council to reconsider Monarch/Buffalo Trail roundabout and improve project communication
Summary
A resident urged the council to reverse or reconsider the approved roundabout at Monarch and Buffalo Trail, citing safety, sight-line, snow/ice handling and poor communication; council acknowledged concerns and residents requested earlier notification in future projects.
During the public‑comment portion of the Aug. 19 meeting, resident Lindsay (Lizzie) Caldwell raised safety and communication concerns about the roundabout planned at Monarch and Buffalo Trail. Caldwell said she did not recall the plan being communicated in the relevant phase‑construction pages, questioned the timing of traffic studies and noted the council packet lists a project cost of $2.5 million. She asked that residents be pulled into the decision process on major changes to thoroughfares and raised specific safety concerns about winter conditions, sight lines and bicycle visibility.
"I do not recall hearing about this plan in the phase construction page...that was a big surprise to many," Caldwell said. She also asked whether the traffic study pre‑dated construction and urged council to prioritize other crumbling infrastructure if necessary.
Council acknowledged the comment and the meeting record shows staff will continue with the project schedule; no reversal or formal next step was decided that night. The council also heard related public comments opposing a fee rebate to a private developer (Lifetime Fitness) during the same public‑comment period.
