What's the issue with the Wall St. Road improvement project?
It's about the oak trees. Some residents are concerned that the project is a done deal and that the oak trees are doomed.
(This post was part of our preparation for a new phase of Northfield.org. We started experimenting by publishing a few news posts to the NCO Facebook page in early October 2023. Even though this post is somewhat outdated, we’ve replicated it here on our Substack to give newcomers an idea of what we’re planning.)
Video introduction (1 minute, 39 seconds):
Links:
KYMN Radio’s Rich Larson interviewed Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig on Sept. 14 about the "dismissed lawsuit regarding a petition and a referendum on street project funding." It included a segment towards the end about the Wall St. Road project and its trees. Drag the audio slider to the 15:25 mark to listen. Screenshot:
Item 11 on tomorrow's Oct. 3rd City of Northfield, Minnesota Council meeting agenda is "Discuss Preliminary Design for Wall St. Improvement Project." Screenshot:
Next Wall St. Road Community Engagement Opportunity is Wed, Oct 25, Neighborhood Meeting #3
The City of Northfield’s Wall Street Road Improvements Project web page has much more, including this overview:
"The Wall Street Road Improvements Project includes the reconstruction of Wall Street Road from Fourth Street to the easterly corporate line, approximately 560 feet east of the intersection of Rosewood Road. This portion of Wall Street Road is also designated as Rice County Road 79. The purpose of this project is to improve this transportation corridor, safety and mobility along the corridor including pedestrian and bicyclists needs that are in line with the current City of Northfield’s adopted plans most notably the Complete Streets Policy and the Pedestrian, Bike, and Trail System Plan. This is a cooperative construction project between the City of Northfield and Rice County."
Updates, Nov. 1, 2023-Jan. 22, 2024
At the Oct. 17 meeting, the City Council approved Option 3B (4-foot shoulders and a 10-foot paved trail on the south side of Wall St. Rd ) along with the removal of the sidewalk on the north side.
KYMN Radio news report by Rich Larson: “Council approves scaled back, tree preserving plans for Wall Street Road”
KYMN Radio interview with Jeff Johnson, “Mayor Rhonda Pownell and Ben Martig review Northfield City Council Meeting”
Northfield News photo with caption by Pamela Thompson, “Wall Street Road community thankful for saving trees”
Video clip ( 3 minutes, 6 seconds) of Wall St. Rd neighbor Diane Pearsall addressing the Council at the Oct. 17 meeting:
Photo of the January 17, 2024 open house at the Northfield Golf Club:
City of Northfield Wall Street Road Improvements Project page