Laserfiche WebLink
METROPOLITAN <br />C O U N C I L <br />January 16, 2025 <br />Katie Larsen, City Planner <br />City of Lino Lakes <br />600 Town Center Parkway <br />Lino Lakes, MN 55014 <br />RE: City of Lino Lakes — Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) — North Oaks Mixed Use <br />Development <br />Metropolitan Council Review No. 23038-1 <br />Metropolitan Council District No. 11 <br />Dear Katie Larsen: <br />The Metropolitan Council received the EAW for the North Oaks Mixed Use Development project in Lino <br />Lakes on December 17, 2024. The proposed project is located north of Wilkinson Lake and west of <br />Centerville Road. The proposed development consists of 71 single-family homes, 56 townhomes, and <br />300 apartments along with approximately 178,000 square feet for a total of 120 acres. <br />The staff review finds that the EAW is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and does <br />not raise major issues of consistency with Council policies. An EIS is not necessary for regional <br />purposes. <br />We offer the following comments for your consideration. <br />Item 7— Climate (MacKenzie Young -Walters, 651-602-1373) <br />The EAW would benefit from a more robust consideration of anticipated climate impacts and <br />potential mitigation measures. For example, the identified warming trend is expected to increase <br />the number of freeze thaw cycles during winter months. Given the site's proximity to surface water <br />resources, developing a chloride management plan would be an appropriate adaptation to this <br />trend to help protect these water bodies. Similarly, the projected increase in the frequency of large <br />storm events may justify a more aggressive approach to stormwater management. Finally, native <br />vegetation could be used in landscaping to increase the site's resistance to drought and assist in <br />onsite stormwater management. <br />Item 9 — Permits and approvals required (MacKenzie Young -Walters, 651-602-1373) <br />The development appears to be inconsistent with the density ranges permitted by the city's <br />comprehensive plan. The provided site plan for the high -density portion of the development <br />indicates that 19.9 acres will be residential uses with 2.2 acres of public streets. This would result <br />in a proposed density of 16.1 units per acre which exceeds the 15 units per acre maximum <br />established for the Signature Gateway District and the 8 units per acre maximum established for <br />the High -Density Residential land uses assigned to the eastern portion of this project. The project <br />proposer should also verify that the single-family homes proposed for the area guided for Medium <br />Density Residential fall within the established 4 to 6 units per acre range. The final project must <br />fall within the density ranges established by the city's land use plan, which can be accomplished <br />Metropolitan Council (Regional Office & Environmental Services) <br />390 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55101-1805 <br />P 651.602.1000 1 F 651.602.1550 1 TTY 651.291.0904 <br />metrocouncil.org <br />An Equal Opportunity Employer <br />