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• • • It Metropolitan Council Smiting communities that work December 22, 2003 Michael Grochala, Community Development Director City of Lino Lakes 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Ickes, MN 55014 RE: Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)– Legacy at Woods Edge Metropolitan Council District II (Georgie Hilker, 651- 296 -4276) Metropolitan Council Review File No. 19065 -1 Dear Mr. Grochala: Metropolitan Council staff has reviewed the City of Lino Lake's Environmental Assessment Worksheet concerning the Legacy at Woods Edge development proposal. It is Council staff s understanding that this EAW involves a mixed -use project located on approximately 65 acres in the southeast quadrant of the I35 W and Anoka County 23 interchange. The proposal includes almost 350,000 square feet of office/retail commercial use, 450 multi - family residential units, and 38,000 square feet of civic uses. Council staff has reviewed this EAW to determine both its adequacy and accuracy in addressing regional concerns and its potential for significant environmental impact. Staff finds that the Draft EAW is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. An Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary for regional purposes. However, Metropolitan Council staff provides the advisory comments itemized below for your consideration when making subsequent project decisions. Item II – Fish, Wildlife and Ecologically Sensitive Resources Since virtually all of the stormwater is directed to the regional park there could be a regional system impact to the Regional Recreation Open Space System if the storinwater quality and or volume are such that they negatively impact the natural resources of the park. A number of stonnwater management techniques are listed in the EAW as potential ways to manage stormwater runoff. There are more ideas available in the Metropolitan Council's Urban Small Sites BMP Manual. The manual is available at http:// www. metroeouneil. ortt/environment /Watershed/BMP /manual.htm; Given the extent of wetland habitat adjacent to the site, Council staff recommends that surmountable curbing be required for the roadways to be constructed within the project. Item 17 —Water Quality– Surface Water Runoff In addition to the underground storm water chambers proposed to be utilized to infiltrate on -site runoff, Council staff recommends incorporation of rain garden bin- infiltration wwr:metnxamneil.org - Metro Into Lae 602.1898 280 Eat Fifth Street • St..Paut. Mtatu rota 55101.1026 • 16511602 -1000 • Fax 602.1510 • TTY 291.0904 Aa aq..+'014,00.9Y sa,Wnnr RESPONSE 1 The majority of the site will be developed at a high level of urban development. However, the City recognizes the extensive wildlife habitat east of the site and proposes to install surmountable curbing along the easterly side of the roadway located in the northeastern portion of the site. This would allow any wildlife that enters the urban area from the wetland complex to the east the ability to traverse the curb and retreat back to the east to undeveloped portions of the site and the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park.