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Metropolitan Council (Regional Office & Environmental Services) <br />390 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55101-1805 <br />P 651.602.1000 | F 651.602.1550 | TTY 651.291.0904 <br />metrocouncil.org <br />An Equal Opportunity Employer <br /> <br />August 1, 2025 <br /> <br />Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br />City of Lino Lakes <br />600 Town Center Parkway <br />Lino Lakes, MN 55014-1182 <br /> <br />RE: City of Lino Lakes – Final Alternative Urban Areawide Review (FAUAR) – <br />Lino Lakes Main Street AUAR <br />Metropolitan Council Review File No. 23082-2 <br />Metropolitan Council District No. 11 <br /> <br />Dear Michael Grochala: <br /> <br />Council staff has conducted a review of this Final Alternative Urban Areawide Review (FAUAR) and <br />Mitigation Plan to determine its accuracy and completeness in addressing regional concerns. Council <br />staff commented on the draft AUAR in its June 26, 2025 letter. The study area includes 962 acres located <br />in the City’s northwest, bisected by Main Street and between Pine Street and Carl Street. The staff review <br />has concluded that the FAUAR addresses previous comments and is complete and accurate with respect <br />to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. The Council does <br />not object to the FAUAR but is providing the following advisory comments. <br /> <br />Item 6 - Project Description, Forecasts (Todd Graham, 651-602-1322) <br />Should future development result in ultimate levels of Scenarios 1 or 2, the result would exceed <br />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 <br />expected additions of 814 households, 2120 population, and 18 jobs in these two zones during <br />2020-2040. Council staff may recommend a different allocation at the time of the 2050 Plan <br />update. The City acknowledges this comment and will coordinate with Met Council staff (p. 79). <br /> <br />Item 7 – Climate Adaptation and Resilience (Shawn James 651-602-1233) <br />In Table 2 Climate Considerations and Adaptations, the proposer notes that a minimum tree <br />canopy coverage is required for commercial parking areas per City Zoning Ordinance 1007.049. <br />To ensure that trees reach maturity and their potential canopy coverages, Council staff <br />recommend that adequate soil volumes be provided for root system growth. The Minnesota <br />Buildings, Benchmarks & Beyond (B3) Guidelines recommend minimum soil volumes of 400 cubic <br />feet (c.f.) for small trees, 800 c.f. for medium trees, and 1,200 c.f. for large trees. Mature tree <br />canopies are necessary for effective stormwater runoff reduction and urban heat island mitigation. <br /> <br />Item 9- Permits and Approvals, Wastewater (Roger Janzig 651-602-1119) <br />The AUAR also correctly identifies a future Metropolitan Council project that will be required to <br />provide additional capacity for this area of the City. There is adequate reserve capacity in the <br />existing system to accommodate the projected growth until the aforementioned project is <br />completed. Coordination between the City and the Council will be necessary to identify the <br />specific location and elevation of the local forcemain improvements identified in the AUAR, that <br />Page 593 of 679