10/26/2005 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 12, 2005 required. This plan addressed how each piece fits into the entire region, and how to mitigate the issues that would arise. Chair O'Dea questioned if the next step would be to wait to see who would want to develop in the region. Grochala responded that they would, and address it against the plan. He added that Hardwood Creek wanted a change that required a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Chair O'Dea inquired if a Comprehensive Plan change was discouraged. Grochala answered that property owners often requested changes and the Metropolitan Council required an update every ten years. Since 2002, there had been 2 -3 amendments approved. He indicated the Comprehensive Plan was a living document. Staff noticed two years ago that it was necessary to address the traffic issues. O'Connell mentioned how traffic was to be addressed in light of Hardwood Creek. Grochala responded MNDOT indicated they could not handle the volume of traffic. There was not enough infrastructure with the existing Comprehensive Plan. Hardwood Creek was only a component of it. County Road 14 and Interstate 35E was already not functioning well. There was a joint effort with Anoka County to begin the project. A monitoring program would be implemented. If there was no interchange, there would be no Hardwood Creek project. He indicated the City had applied for federal funding for an upgrade at Lake Drive and Interstate 35W, but explained the situation was highly competitive. The Hardwood Creek could be begun with development money, but local participation would also be necessary. The question remained would the system be able to handle the traffic when the entire region was fully developed. Hardwood Creek wanted an environmental assessment, so the City expanded the projections into the AUAR. Chair O'Dea stated that three communities converge at the intersection. Grochala stated the model took it into account. Without a regional document such as this one, decisions would be made on a micro - scale. He indicated that sanitary sewers were easy, but the real issues were stormwater management and traffic. Asleson commented on the quality of the analysis in the restoration and management plans. Grundhofer indicated the volumes of the recent rains have brought the issue of stormwater management to the forefront. Bauman noted that the AUAR could help with efficiently giving the developers the knowledge of the City's expectations. 2 DRAFT MINUTES • • •