11/01/2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Noise levels • Impacts on other city infrastructure and service capabilities This would be a multi jurisdictional project that would include the Metropolitan Council, MnDOT, Anoka County, Washington County, Rice Creek Watershed District and the bordering Cities of Columbus, Hugo and Forest Lake. The current Comprehensive Plan and zoning does not accommodate a sports facility. The land is guided in the draft Comp Plan as Urban Reserve and is zoned rural. The Comprehensive Plan would need to be amended and the land would then have to be rezoned. Since the city's zoning ordinance does not contemplate a large sports facility, the zoning ordinance would likely have to be amended. Through this entire process there would be ample opportunities to assess the actual impacts of the facility, study impacts on other cities with similar facilities, get public input and weigh the economic benefits versus any negative impacts to the city. The developers are requesting a show of support from the City Council for the concept of a motorsports facility in Lino Lakes before they begin the costly and time consuming EIS process. While that is understandable, it is clear that the City Council cannot provide IMEDC with a concept approval that is binding at this early stage of discovery, and financial risk is inherent in any project of this scope. Some points the Council may want to consider if the Council chooses to give a nonbinding preliminary nod to the idea of a motorsports facility in Lino Lakes are: • The City Council set goals in 2007 to promote economic development to increase jobs and tax base. • The I -35E Corridor has been identified in the draft Comp Plan as having potential to develop major projects that serve the region because of the availability of land and access to major freeways. • International Motorsports Entertainment Development Company (IMEDC) has approached the City with a concept for a motorsports facility to encompass approximately 400 acres in the northeast corner of Lino Lakes abutting the Cities of Columbus and Hugo. • IMEDC has declared that local public funding is not requested for assistance in financing this proposed project. • An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is mandatory according to state law, which will analyze the potential for significant environmental, economic, employment and sociological effects resulting from the facility. • An EIS analyzes appropriate alternatives to the proposed action and explores methods by which adverse environmental impacts of an action could be mitigated. • The city cannot by law make any final project approvals until the EIS is complete.