Minutes of the special meeting of the Georgetown Township Board, Planning Commission, and ZBA held Tuesday, August 1, 2006 for the purpose of a Context Sensitive Solution Workshop for the I-196 at Chicago Drive/Baldwin Street interchange construction project

Meeting called to order by Art Green, MDOT, at 6:00 p.m.

Present from the Township Board: Bill Holland, Del South, Dale Mohr, R. J. Poel

Present from the Planning Commission: Greg Honderd, Ron DeGood, Del South, Cornelius Huizinga,

Michael Pearson, Ed Stasiak

Present from the Zoning Board of Appeals: Carl DeVree

Present: Representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation, Ottawa County Road

Commission, Georgetown Township, and Benesch

Present: Approximately 70 members of the public

The following took place:

• A formal presentation was given regarding the project which involves the reconstruction of I-196 from Chicago Drive (M-21) easterly to M-11, including the construction of a new weave/merge lane along EB I-196, from the loop ramp at the I-196/Chicago Drive Interchange easterly to the M-11 (28^th Street) ramp. The work includes reconstruction and realignment of Baldwin Street, from Main Street easterly to I-196, to a five lane urban section with two new ramps accessing I-196. A new drive to the Waste Water Treatment Plant will also be constructed as a part of this project.
• Round table discussions were held for gathering input on specific topics, including maintaining traffic during construction, aesthetics for retaining walls and bridges, pedestrian/non-motorized access, and landscaping.
• A summary of the round table discussion was given.
• An open comment period concluded the meeting.

The following is a summary of the round table discussion/information gathered:

1. Maintaining Traffic and Access During Construction

· Access throughout the construction to residences and business

· Temporary access east end of Baldwin

· Access to Grandville bike path

· Focus on Main to Cottonwood

· Eliminate left turns

· Phase A most important to finish and open (expedite)

· Keep east RR open off Baldwin

· Temporary cross lot drive east end to service businesses at railroad tracks

· When signal added at Main

· Continuous access

· Main/Cottonwood first

· School buses turn around-lane in and lane out

· Big trucks for deliveries need access between Main and wherever construction is

· Impact on school-get done during summer

2. Overall Aesthetics/Visual Appearance of Walls and Bridges:

· Fancy bridge with metal railing

· Staggered brick for retaining walls

· Some color good-white is bright

· M-6 and S-curve color good

· Red brick color scheme looks rich

· Decorative lamp posts

· 2008 work add under-bridge lighting for trail

· Consensus treatment similar to M-6 or S-curve

· Utilities underground

· Grass between sidewalk and road

· Walk-ability of corridor-old mill-school kids look at history

· Colors-local high schools

3. Non-Motorized Pedestrian Facilities/Streetscape Facilities:

· Lighting up to trail, on street, tie all in

· Trail use weekends and nights

· Unique to GT when coming off ramp-sign let people coming into a residential/business area-slow down

· Pedestrian access from Cottonwood to Main St., put in sidewalk

· Safe Baldwin/Cottonwood

· Count-downs for pedestrians

· Access points

· Coordination with T for bike paths

· Wide sidewalk on north side of Baldwin

· Support access under Buck Creek to provide access to Grandville

· Support streetscape along Baldwin

· Driveway to Waster Water Treatment

· Pocket park

· Gateway to GT

· Materials for walkways

Noise concern-earth berm, trees and shrubs by apartment complex

Cars going fast off ramp and not slowing down-use signage

Entire interchange-Chicago Dr.-tie all in together and see same type of thing

Boulevard?

Concern cast iron water-main

Main St. four lanes? Left turn lane?

Signal phasing

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.