MnDOT draws criticism

• MnDOT draws criticism

Loren Stevens (left) and his wife, Judy, discuss changes to the Stevenses driveway with Brian Bruckhoff and Marc Flygare of the Minnesota Department of Transportation during an open house Tuesday afternoon.

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — Loren and Judy Stevens, owners of Stevens Llama-Tique south of Worthington, took issue with Minnesota Department of Transportation officials over the proposed relocation of their driveway during an open house Tuesday afternoon in Worthington.

Armed with maps dating back to November 2007 showing their driveway access wouldn’t change, the Stevenses are not pleased with the latest MnDOT drawings that show their driveway will be routed directly through their llama pasture to the south of their home. The relocation allows for a crossover intersection aligned with U.S. 59.

An alternative proposed to the Stevenses was to keep their driveway in the same location, but only with a right-in, right-out access — meaning vehicles would have to make u-turns farther to the north to enter the farm. Judy Stevens said that option would leave people wondering how to get to their farm-based business.

Brian Bruckhoff, MnDOT transportation specialist, said the existing driveway won’t work for northbound traffic because the distance doesn’t meet the 600-foot requirement needed for a left-hand turn lane. The 600-foot length is hampered by the location of U.S. 59 and vehicle merging onto Minnesota 60.

Loren Stevens said he’s spent the last 20 years building up his business at the site, located at the intersection of the two highways, and he said MnDOT will ruin his business if they move ahead with the changes to

his highway access.

“How am I going to run my business?” he asked Marc Flygare, MnDOT traffic engineer. “You may as well buy the whole farm.

“I’m just screwed,” Stevens added. “You may as well ruin my life. You’re ruining my whole business.”

Stevens said he’s been fighting with MnDOT since last spring over the relocation of his driveway. His fight continued on Tuesday, although MnDOT didn’t appear willing to back down.

“Let’s put this to rest — there won’t be a crossover,” said Flygare at one point during their conversation.

The relocation of the driveway will mean a reduction in the amount of pasture land for the Stevens’ 200-plus llamas and alpacas. According to Loren, the proposed driveway will cut his pasture from 32 acres to 23 acres. He will also lose 6.6 acres on the outskirts of Worthington, where the new four-lane will intersect with the existing highway just east of Nobles Street.

Judy Stevens said the pasture closest to Worthington saved them about $15,000 a year in hay costs.

It isn’t just a matter of the value of the pasture land, but the available space for their animals to roam.

The proposed 20-foot-wide driveway would go through the center of their pasture. MnDOT has already agreed to blacktop the road due to the amount of truck traffic entering and leaving the farm.

With the proposed driveway considerably longer than what is currently in place at the farm, Loren asked who was going to pay for snow removal on the driveway.

“We won’t be giving you a check every year to plow your driveway,” Flygare responded.

The Stevenses also questioned why their business was being treated differently from other businesses along the highway.

“This isn’t some Mickey Mouse business out there,” Loren said.

“You avoided all those other businesses,” added Judy. “Why do you think you can plow through us?”

Flygare’s response was that this “isn’t a popularity contest.”

Tags: news, stevensllama-tique, lorenstevens, judystevens, worthington, minnesotadepartmentoftransportation, mndot, brianbruckhoff, minnesota60, marcflygare, pastureage