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CITY COUNCIL <br />REGULAR MEETING STAFF REPORT <br />AGENDA ITEM 6E <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br />MEETING DATE: January 13, 2025 <br />TOPIC: Consider Resolution No. 25-06, Authorizing Professional Services <br />Agreement with WSB, 1-35E Corridor AUAR Five Year Update <br />VOTE REQUIRED: Simple Majority <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Staff is requesting City Council authorization to a contract with WSB and Associates to update <br />the 1-35E Corridor AUAR. <br />BACKGROUND <br />The 1-35E Corridor Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) is an environmental review <br />document that analyzed potential impacts of development within a study area of 4,660 acres. <br />The final document was originally adopted by the Lino Lakes City Council on October 24, 2005. <br />The AUAR serves as a substitute environmental review. If a development project is consistent <br />with the assumptions of the analyses in the AUAR, no additional environmental review is <br />required. To remain valid as a substitute form of environmental review, the AUAR must be <br />revised under certain criteria. One of the criteria is the passing of five years. <br />The AUAR serves as both an important economic development tool as well as a comprehensive <br />framework for mitigating possible environmental impacts of development. The AUAR was last <br />updated in May of 2020. Since that time new development has taken place within the corridor <br />including Otter Crossing commercial development, LTC expansion, and multiple phases of the <br />Watermark. Additionally, the update will allow for the City to accommodate any considerations <br />to further facilitate the Minnesota Technology Corridor along 35E. <br />WSB and Associates have prepared a proposal to complete the update in the amount of $25,572. <br />Funding for this project is included in the Professional Services line item of the Economic <br />Development, Planning and Zoning and Engineering budgets as well as the Water, Sanitary, and <br />Surface Water Management funds. The City does collect an AUAR fee of $325 per acre for all new <br />development within the corridor to offset the administrative costs associated with the document. <br />1 <br />