10-02-2017 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 2, 2017 APPROVED 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : October 2, 2017 5 TIME STARTED : 6:00 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 9:55 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Rafferty, Kusterman, 8 Maher, Manthey and Mayor Reinert 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 10 11 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Safety Director John 12 Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; Finance Director Sarah 13 Cotton; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; City Planner Katie Larsen; City 14 Engineer Diane Hankee; City Clerk Julie Bartell. 15 16 1. City of Columbus Asphalt Plant Update - Community Development Director 17 Grochala reviewed his written report and specifically information on the site of the 18 proposed development. He displayed an aerial view of the vicinity, pointing out 19 activities and uses in the area of the proposed plant. He explained the timeline for 20 receipt of an application by the City of Columbus. The traffic impacts are mainly to 21 Anoka County roadways and so the county has reviewed the proposal and submitted their 22 requirements. The Columbus City Council and Planning Commission have jointly 23 discussed the project. There was a citizen petition submitted requesting an 24 environmental assessment worksheet. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has 25 since determined that no worksheet is required. The site is currently zoned light 26 industrial and a rezoning would be required to heavy rezoning; a zoning text amendment 27 is being considered that would not require a rezoning for the development. The 28 Columbus council will be considering that text amendment in the coming weeks, and 29 vote on it at the earliest on November 8. If the text amendment were to go through, a 30 proposal for the project will follow. Mr. Grochala noted receipt of a plant evaluation 31 submitted by Running Aces Casino and Racetrack prepared by a professional real estate 32 consultant and indicating negative issues relating to the proposed development. Mr. 33 Grochala noted that the City of Columbus obviously has authority over land within its 34 boundaries; the City of Lino Lakes' purview would mainly lie in the need for screening 35 and traffic issues. A formal letter could be submitted identifying the city's concerns. 36 37 Council Member Kusterman confirmed that no utility connection through the City would 38 be required; Mr. Grochala added that the development is proposed to include a septic 39 system. The council discussed the resident feedback from the City of Columbus. 40 41 Mayor Reinert asked if there will be 500 trucks trips created each day and Mr. Grochala 42 reviewed the County traffic analysis that indicates about 300 trips on a high use day. 43 Mayor Reinert noted that it seems that a majority of the traffic would head south (through 44 Lino Lakes) from the plant. 45