Agenda - Council - 12/11/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Exhibit A Diamonds. Petition for EAW December, 2007 Page 6 in the report. The traffic in 2008 was also projected in the Ramsey Crossings EAW. Projected 2008 traffic counts for TH 10/169 at Armstrong Boulevard NW (CSAH 83) were: Eastbound AM-peak 2,092 vehicles, PM peak 1,332 vehicles; Westbound AM peak 962 vehicles, and PM peak 2,047 vehicles. The events are scheduled to be held on a weekend evening, thus will not be part of the AM or PM peak traffic volume times. The development of the regional park and additional residential developments will increase traffic counts in this area, as well. Balanced Community This project provides additional entertainment options for City residents and will attract visitors from out of town who will likely patronize other area businesses, as well. The project furthers the City's goals for integrated live, work and play. areas. Cumulative Potential Effects of Related or Anticipated Future Proiects • The cumulative effects associated with related or anticipated future projects are essentially noise, traffic, and impact on wildlife. As the area surrounding the Diamonds property is developed, either into the regional park, the Ramsey Town Center, or residential development, traffic counts on TH 10/169 will increase. Noise generated from development and use of these properties will increase, as will the number of sensitive noise receptors. As people build houses and live in residential areas or utilize commercial areas in the Town Center, theywill be receptors of noise, but they will also be creating noise by increasing the number of people in the area. Also as people visit the regional park, they will be receptors of noise, but they will also be creating noise in near proximity to wildlife habitat. As additional undeveloped land is developed into housing, wildlife and plants that thrive in agricultural/undeveloped fields will be displaced and replaced with wildlife and plants that are adapted to typical residential settings. Similarly, as land is developed into the regional park, some land will be restored to native plant ecosystems, providing new wildlife habitat; but land will also be disturbed to build a visitor center, trails, picnic areas and parking lots, which.will disturb wildlife that used those areas for habitat. Summary The following section discusses the extent to which environmental effects can be anticipated and controlled as a result of other available environmental studies undertaken by public agencies or the project proposer, as well as the extent to which environmental effects are subject to mitigation by ongoing public regulatory authority. The proposed conditional use permit amendment does-not propose impacts that warrant a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet. Minnesota Rule 4410.4300, subpart 34, for Sports or Entertaimnent Facilities, states that the threshold is construction of a new sports or • entertainment facility designed for or expected to accommodate a peak attendance of 5,000 or more persons, or the expansion of an existing sports or entertainment facility by this amount. -251-