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<br />WS – Item 3 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 3 <br /> <br />Date: September 3, 2019 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Re: Minnesota Technology Corridor (35E) Update <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />City staff has been working with neighboring communities along the I-35E Corridor to develop a <br />strategic marketing campaign to promote the 35E Corridor for business and industrial <br />development. <br /> <br />The Minnesota Technology Corridor campaign, sponsored by Connexus Energy, Anoka County, <br />and Washington County, kicked off with a website launch in August. The corridor has been <br />drawing interest over the past year and we expect this to increase as promotional activities <br />continue through both our Tech Corridor partnership and the Anoka County Regional Economic <br />Development (ACRED) partnership. <br /> <br />The City’s primary role, from an economic development standpoint, has been to improve our <br />ability to respond to inquiries. Project readiness is one of the driving factors in accommodating <br />new business opportunities. Over the past year staff has worked on multiple projects to obtain <br />information, assess infrastructure capabilities and needs, and streamline entitlement processes for <br />development along the corridor. These activities include: <br /> <br />• Comprehensive Plan Amendment to re-guide land use and adjust utility staging to <br />accommodate development opportunities within the corridor. Metropolitan Council <br />approved the amendment on February 14, 2019. <br />• Facilitated an agreement between property owner and energy providers to cost share a <br />site assessment and wetland delineation. <br />• Reviewed Alternative Urban Area-wide Review (AUAR) environmental documents for <br />consistency with corridor objectives and possible development scenarios. Developed an <br />AUAR checklist for to assist prospective users with evaluating mitigation requirements. <br />A required update of the AUAR is due in 2020. <br />• Began infrastructure needs planning for both road, sewer and water extensions to service <br />the area as proposed in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />Staff is currently proposing to work with WSB and Associates on additional studies to model <br />possible demands on water and sewer infrastructure and verify capital needs. Information <br />gathered will assist with adequately sizing infrastructure and determining system needs for any <br />proposed project. This will also be used for the AUAR update.