St. Cloud Council to Weigh Granite Monuments for 33rd Street South Roundabouts

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud City Council will consider three agreements Monday night that would bring granite gateway monuments to two roundabouts along 33rd Street South.

The proposal calls for stone features at the roundabouts at 33rd Street South and County Road 74, and 33rd Street South and Cooper Avenue. The monuments would use granite remnants from Coldspring’s Quarry 3, which sits adjacent to the corridor.

A community poll conducted in early April asked residents to rank three design concepts: an arch, two stones side by side, or three stones side by side. Each option would bear the city’s name. According to city staff, the multiple-stone natural design emerged as the preferred configuration.

Community Development Director Matt Glaesman submitted the items, which carry a staff recommendation for approval.

The gateway monument concept traces back to the city’s 2003 and 2015 Comprehensive Plans, both of which call for granite features at key community entry points.

According to the staff report, the roundabouts along 33rd Street South were originally designed with low ground cover and intentionally left unobstructed to allow for future placement of gateway features.

Staff says the design aesthetic chosen for the two roundabouts could be carried out at additional roundabouts along the 33rd Street South corridor. The natural granite look is also consistent with other community spaces such as Lake George and Eastman Park, as well as private developments along the corridor including Quarry Woods and Deer Creek Crossing.

The council is being asked to authorize three separate agreements.

The first is with Sunburst for stone fabrication and installation at a cost of $91,350. The second is with WSB for foundation engineering design services at $8,700. The third would authorize the mayor and city clerk to enter into an agreement with the low quote for foundation construction, which is estimated at $50,000. Quotes for that work will be solicited once the foundation design is complete.

The council has not previously taken action on the proposal. The resolutions can be approved by a simple majority vote.

The St. Cloud City Council meets Monday at 6:00 at city hall.

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