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METROPOLITAN <br />C O U N C I L <br />June 26, 2025 <br />Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br />City of Lino Lakes <br />600 Town Center Parkway <br />Lino Lakes, MN 55014 <br />RE: City of Lino Lakes — Draft Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) — Lino Lakes Main Street <br />Metropolitan Council Review File No. 23082-1 <br />Metropolitan Council District No. 11 <br />Dear Michael Grochala: <br />The AUAR study area encompasses approximately 962 acres located in the City's northwest, bisected by Main <br />Street and between Pine Street and Carl Street. The AUAR proposes two scenarios. Scenario 1 is the city's existing <br />2040 Comprehensive Plan which focuses higher -density and commercial development along both sides of Main <br />Street, with lower -density residential development to the north and south. Scenario 2 centralizes higher- and <br />medium -density housing and commercial development near the Lino Lakes/Blaine border around the Main Street <br />and Sunset Avenue, with low -density prioritized on the eastern side of the study area Metropolitan Council staff <br />completed its review of the Lino Lakes Main Street AUAR to determine its accuracy and completeness in <br />addressing regional concerns. Staff conclude that the AUAR is complete and accurate with respect to regional <br />concerns and does not raise major issues of consistency with Council policies. However, staff offers the following <br />comments for your consideration: <br />Item 6 - Project Description, Forecasts (Todd Graham, 651-602-1322) <br />The AUAR presents two scenarios for planned land use and accompanying development. Scenario 1 has <br />an ultimate capacity of 3,400 housing units, 60,000 sq. ft. of commercial use, with intense mixed residential <br />and commercial arrays along Main Street. Scenario 2, the preferred scenario, includes 3,500 housing units, <br />62,000 sq. ft. of commercial use, with greatest intensity shifted 1/3 mile west of the Scenario 1 concept, at <br />Main Street & Sunset. Should future development result in ultimate levels of Scenarios 1 or 2, the result <br />would exceed citywide forecasts for Lino Lakes. The AUAR area includes parts of Transportation Analysis <br />Zones # 182 (south of Main) and 183 (north of Main). In its 2040 Comprehensive Plan the City expected <br />additions of 814 households, 2,120 population, and 18 jobs in these two zones during 2020-2040. Council <br />staff may recommend a different allocation at the time of the 2050 Plan update. <br />Item 7 — Climate Adaptation and Resilience (Shawn James, 651-602-1233) <br />The discussion of anticipated climate trends is adequate; however, the AUAR would benefit from <br />considering if different scenarios merit different adaptations. The list of adaptations is well suited to both <br />scenarios, but the project proposer should consider how the different scenarios lend themselves to different <br />street patterns and how adaptations like clustering development could reduce the impervious surfaces <br />associated with single-family residential uses. <br />Item 9- Permits and Approvals, Wastewater (Roger Janzig, 651-602-1119) <br />The City will need to amend their comprehensive plan to reflect the proposed land use changes, <br />development staging, and the corresponding wastewater flow projections before any MPCA sanitary sewer <br />extension permit applications can be recommended for approval by the Council. This information will allow <br />the Council time for the needed improvements, to ensure capacity is available for growth within the AUAR <br />project area. <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 />Page 561 of 617 <br />