Agenda - Planning Commission - 06/06/2013

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Regular Planning Commission 5. 6. Meeting Date: 06/06/2013 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Information Title: Review Draft of Alternative Urbanwide Area Review (AUAR) Update for The COR (formerly Ramsey Town Center) Background: In 2003, the City Council approved an Alternative Urbanwide Area Review (AUAR) for the development known as Ramsey Town Center at the time by adopting Resolution #2002-104. An AUAR is an alternative process to other potential required environmental reviews, such as Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAW) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). The AUAR is a tool to review environmental effects in advance of development, thus providing for a shorter review timeframe at time of development. Generally speaking, an EAW or EIS is prepared during subdivision or site plan review (at time of development). The AUAR provides a mechanism to reduce the amount of individual EAW or EIS needs (but does not negate the need for required environmental review). Environmental Review required by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB), a State agency provides an analysis of impacts and potential mitigation for items such as (but not limited to) surface water, traffic levels and levels of service, natural resource, and habitat impacts. A detailed analysis of impacts and mitigation techniques is included in the current update as well as the 2003 AUAR. Staff will also review the individual items of the Mitigation Summary and Update. The AUAR is in need of update for two (2) reasons: 1. An AUAR must be updated every five (5) years (expired in 2008) 2. Change in preferred land use plan It is important to note that not all development projects require the completion of an EAW or EIS. In review of the required thresholds for EAW or EIS review, none of the projects appear to have required preparation of an EAW or EIS that were approved and constructed within the review boundary since the 2008 update. As the City looks forward to potential future projects, it is likely that a number of these developments would require environmental review. Thresholds guiding types of developments that would require this review through the State EQB are governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 116D.04 and 116D.045 and administrative rules adopted by the EQB as Minnesota Rules, chapter 4410, parts 4410.0200 to 4410.7070. On February 28, 2012, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Ramsey (HRA) approved a contract with Landform Professional Services to prepare the update to the AUAR. This was being prepared simultaneously with a Comprehensive Plan Amendment specific to The COR. A requirement of the AUAR is that at least one of the development scenarios needed to be compatible with the Comprehensive Plan. As the Comprehensive Plan Amendment changed the preferred land use plan, this AUAR Update needed to wait until the completion of that process. The AUAR Update is now eligible to proceed, as the Comprehensive Plan Amendment has been approved by the Metropolitan Council. On April23, 2013, the City Council 'ordered' the AUAR Update, which starts an official comment period for applicable agencies. By ordering the AUAR, the required 120 day process for review begins. Staff is seeking feedback from the Planning Commission during this comment period in advance of the City Council adopting the final version. Under the current schedule, it is anticipated that the City could adopt the final version in July, 2013. Notification: