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J�,c�+p <br />WSB <br />540 Gateway Boulevard I Suite 100 I Burnsville, MN 55337 1 (952) 737-4660 <br />Memorandum <br />To: Chris Anderson, City of Ramsey <br />From: Alison Harwood, WSB & Associates, Inc. <br />Date: April 19, 2018 <br />Re: Ramsey COR AUAR Update <br />In 2003, the City of Ramsey completed an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) for the COR. The <br />AUAR process is a hybrid of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and Environmental Impact <br />Statement (EIS). The AUAR process is designed to allow Responsible Government Units (RGUs), such <br />as the City of Ramsey, to understand how different development scenarios will affect the environment, <br />assess the cumulative impacts of each scenario, and outline necessary mitigation for any identified <br />impacts. An AUAR is valid for 5 years and then must be updated to qualify as the required environmental <br />review. The COR AUAR was last updated in 2013 and is due for an update in July 2018. <br />There are several benefits to completing an update of the COR AUAR, which are summarized below: <br />1. The AUAR process allows for review of various development scenarios for an entire geographical <br />area, rather than a specific project. This allows RGUs more flexibility with regard to changing <br />development needs. <br />2. The AUAR process serves as a substitute for other state environmental review processes, such <br />as an EAW or EIS. As long as the proposed development fits within one of the development <br />scenarios reviewed by the AUAR, additional environmental review is not necessary. <br />3. It provides an opportunity to review the cumulative impacts resulting from several different <br />projects occurring within a given area, rather than just focusing on a single development at a <br />time. <br />4. The AUAR process enable planners to better integrate environmental review into their <br />comprehensive planning process, and allows them to evaluate how much development can be <br />accommodated by an area. <br />5. The AUAR process can address both public infrastructure and private development at once. <br />6. The AUAR process allows planners to review the cumulative impacts of projects that are <br />expected in the immediate future as well as potential development scenarios that are not <br />expected for several years later, at the same time. <br />7. Updates of the AUAR need only revise the information that has changed since approval of the <br />original document. <br />If an AUAR is not updated within 5 years, any specific project that is proposed within the AUAR area that <br />would otherwise exceed the threshold for EAW or EIS review cannot be approved until either the <br />necessary EAW or EIS review has been completed or the AUAR has been updated. <br />If you have any questions regarding the AUAR Update process, or benefits of completing the AUAR <br />Update, please contact me at aharwoodawsbena.com or 763-231-4847. <br />Building a legacy — your legacy. <br />Equal Opportunity Employer I wsbeng.com <br />G \Group Data\EPNR\Proposals\Ramsey \COR 2018 AUAR Update\Memo - CAnderson - AUAR Benefits - 041918 docx <br />