08-04-25 - City Council Work Session Agenda

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Council Work Session AGENDA ITEM 4 STAFF ORIGINATOR: Tom Hoffman, Environmental Coordinator MEETING DATE: August 4, 2025 TOPIC: Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), Lino Lakes Main Street Final AUAR BACKGROUND In September of 2024, the City Council approved a professional services contract with Kimley Horn to prepare a master plan and complete an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). The study area includes 980 acres of the northwest portion of Lino Lakes. The process has included multiple community outreach opportunities, involvement of study area stakeholders and review by the City advisory boards and City Council. Three development scenarios originally emerged, one being the existing 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Each scenario maintained essentially the same residential unit count with a mix of land use types but provided for different design alternatives. Through the design process scenarios 2 and 3 merged into Scenario 2.1, which establishes a gateway into the City at the border with Blaine. Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.1 are proposed to be carried through the environmental review process. Resolution No. 25-51 authorized the preparation of the draft AUAR document. The development scenarios were analyzed for potential environmental impacts. A mitigation plan was created to address the environmental impacts. The draft AUAR became available for public comment on May 271h and closed on June 26, 2025. Five comment letters were received from government agencies and 12 comment letters were received from the public. Responses to those comments are included in the AUAR and copies of the comment letters can be found in Appendix F. Staff has completed the review process for the Final AUAR and is submitted for the 10-day objection period. No objections to the final AUAR were submitted The Environmental Board reviewed the AUAR at their July 30 meeting and recommended approval of the AUAR by City Council. Page 6 of 617