Agenda - Council - 11/27/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�oca1 Gouer�ment= Coordination o� p etitonstor • Environmental Reuiew: A $tep ay step Guide a decision — bringing the total to 30 days. In the event an RGU staff person has been delegated as the decision - making authority of the RGU, they also have the opportunity for a 15 day extension, but, according to the rules, they cannot grant it themselves and must request the extension from the EQB. Step S — Follow -up with the project proposer Once RGU staff have reviewed the petition and determined a likely decision date, it should again contact the project proposer (preferably within 1 -2 days of receiving petition) and explain the anticipated decision - making process. RGU staff should once again inform the proposer that, according to environmental review rules, a prohibition is automatically placed. on project approvals and construction when environmental review is requested by a citizen petition.. The project proposer should know that the prohibition will be lifted automatically if the petition is denied but.will continue if the local government orders an EAW. permits, etc. In the event RGU staff are unfamiliar with the environmental review process, and /or can't answer some of the project proposer's questions, they should recommend the proposer look at the EQB web site or contact EQB staff. For many local governments, environmental review occurs infrequently and it is common for local govermnent staff members to be unsure about procedures or process steps. In addition to the EQB, RGU staff can talk with zoning administrators in other local governments to see how they may have approached the citizen petition decision - making process. Step 9 — Determine the merits of the issues listed in the petition Regardless of who will be making the decision. on the petition (planning commission, department head, city council, etc.) RGU staff should review the petition contents and make a list of issues that will need to be examined. The list should include not only those issues listed in the petition, but all other environmental impacts that RGU staff believe could reasonably occur. from the project. The project proposer will probably have a lot of questions at this time about how the petition will affect the approval of their proposal, site plan, �plpr Tip ' ` ie proposers think the "sixty day rule" (MN, ute 15.99) continues to apply to projects According to Minnesota environmental review rules, the RGU is required to examine the following issues when determining whether an EAW should be ordered: "If the evidence presented by the petitioners, proposers, and other persons or otherwise known to the RGU demonstrates that, because. of the nature or location of the proposed project, the project may have the potential for significant environmental effects." When reaching a decision regarding a petition for environmental review, RGU staff should carefully review Minnesota Rules Chapter 4410 to evaluate whether or not to order an EAW. While not a comprehensive list, some definitions /issues that RGU staff may want to research are the potential 7. . —122—