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Common Council wants traffic signals at Highway 10, Amber Avenue

The Stevens Point Common Council wants traffic signals installed on Highway 10 at Amber Avenue, east of Brilowski Road.

The council voiced its support unanimously for the signals, joining area businesses that want the lights.

The state Department of Transportation, which has the final say on the matter, is opposed to the lights, saying they're too close to lights at Brilowski so the lights can't be synchronized to permit a steady flow of traffic.

The council acted Monday night without discussion on the matter, endorsing the lights that had been identified in a study during the early days of development along 10.

A study by Earthtech Inc. earlier this year recommended that Amber be closed to left hand turns and signals be installed on Badger Avenue, which is farther east of Amber.

Then a second study by HNTB presented earlier this month suggested lights at Amber to provide an alternative exit from Wal-Mart and Copps Food Center and to reduce traffic on Brilowski.

For traffic from Wal-Mart and Copps to exit onto Badger, a street would have to link with an extension of Ellis Street in the town of Hull and traffic would then be routed through a residential neighborhood. The town of Hull opposes the extension of Ellis.

The council also acted on two other items related to the Highway 10 corridor, approving a resolution vacating a right-of-way along 10 between Amber and Badger and revising parking lot setbacks on 10.

That right-of-way was for another street, but the street won't be developed in order to limit additional access onto 10.

The parking lot revisions reduce front yard setback on lots fronting 10 from 30 feet to 20 feet and increasing front yard setback on lots not fronting 10 from 30 feet to 40 feet.

The council also approved the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Water and Polk streets, the new route of Highway HH. Ben Franklin Junior High School is located at the intersection.

In other business, the council:
-Issued Industrial Development Revenue Bonds for the YMCA in the amount of $2,150,000. The money will finance various renovations and additions to the facility.

-Adopted a truancy ordinance to handle truancy cases in the city.

-Reversed the Public Protection Committee and granted a liquor license to Jeff Kitzerow, 5434 Floral Lane, who will be the bar manager at the Elks Club. Kitzerow had been convicted twice for operating while intoxicated and failed to list the convictions on his application for a license.

-Amended conditional uses in the zoning ordinance to permit accessory buildings, such as garages, to be between 2 and 10 feet from the home if in the rear 35 percent of the lot and at least 3 feet from the side and rear lot line.

-Approved blacktopping an alley between Jefferson and Oak streets from Frontenac to California avenues.

-Authorized a 30-day trial period starting Sept. 1 to close East Avenue between Jefferson and Oak streets.

-Agreed to sell up to four city-owned lots to Habitat for Humanity or another agency to construct new homes.

-Increased the compensation for the Board of Review from $25 to $50 per day.

-Supported the painting of a crosswalk on Cleveland Avenue at Alice Court by McKinley School.



	Common Council wants traffic signals at Highway 10, Amber Avenue The Stevens Point Common Council wants traffic signals installed on Highway 10 at Amber Avenue, east of Brilowski Road. The council voiced its support unanimously for the signals, joining area businesses that want the lights. The state Department of Transportation, which has the final say on the matter, is opposed to the lights, saying they're too close to lights at Brilowski so the lights can't be synchronized to permit a steady flow of traffic. The council acted Monday night without discussion on the matter, endorsing the lights that had been identified in a study during the early days of development along 10. A study by Earthtech Inc. earlier this year recommended that Amber be closed to left hand turns and signals be installed on Badger Avenue, which is farther east of Amber. Then a second study by HNTB presented earlier this month suggested lights at Amber to provide an alternative exit from Wal-Mart and Copps Food Center and to reduce traffic on Brilowski. For traffic from Wal-Mart and Copps to exit onto Badger, a street would have to link with an extension of Ellis Street in the town of Hull and traffic would then be routed through a residential neighborhood. The town of Hull opposes the extension of Ellis. The council also acted on two other items related to the Highway 10 corridor, approving a resolution vacating a right-of-way along 10 between Amber and Badger and revising parking lot setbacks on 10. That right-of-way was for another street, but the street won't be developed in order to limit additional access onto 10. The parking lot revisions reduce front yard setback on lots fronting 10 from 30 feet to 20 feet and increasing front yard setback on lots not fronting 10 from 30 feet to 40 feet. The council also approved the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Water and Polk streets, the new route of Highway HH. Ben Franklin Junior High School is located at the intersection. In other business, the council: -Issued Industrial Development Revenue Bonds for the YMCA in the amount of $2,150,000. The money will finance various renovations and additions to the facility. -Adopted a truancy ordinance to handle truancy cases in the city. -Reversed the Public Protection Committee and granted a liquor license to Jeff Kitzerow, 5434 Floral Lane, who will be the bar manager at the Elks Club. Kitzerow had been convicted twice for operating while intoxicated and failed to list the convictions on his application for a license. -Amended conditional uses in the zoning ordinance to permit accessory buildings, such as garages, to be between 2 and 10 feet from the home if in the rear 35 percent of the lot and at least 3 feet from the side and rear lot line. -Approved blacktopping an alley between Jefferson and Oak streets from Frontenac to California avenues. -Authorized a 30-day trial period starting Sept. 1 to close East Avenue between Jefferson and Oak streets. -Agreed to sell up to four city-owned lots to Habitat for Humanity or another agency to construct new homes. -Increased the compensation for the Board of Review from $25 to $50 per day. -Supported the painting of a crosswalk on Cleveland Avenue at Alice Court by McKinley School.