09/27/2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 APPROVED Economic Development Assistant Divine summarized the Staff report, indicating Staff is requesting 04429 30 approval of the resolution. 431 432 The Council questioned the difference between an AUAR, an EAW and an EIS in scope and cost. 433 Community Development Director Grochala advised an EAW usually starts the process, while an 434 AUAR usually covers more area than just the specific site being developed that is covered in an EIS. 435 He stated an EIS can cost $250,000 just for a small project and go up from there, whereas in this case 436 they are trying to keep the cost of the AUAR down to $250,000. 437 438 Councilmember Reinert moved to adopt Resolution No. 04-138 authorizing application for a 439 Metropolitan Council Planning Assistance Loan. Councilmember Stoltz seconded the motion. 440 441 Councilmember Carlson expressed her opposition based on concerns surrounding the size of this 442 study and some projects that may be included in the study. She stated with several large projects 443 coming through she thinks these funds should be coming from the developers and not from the City 444 or a loan from the Metropolitan Council. 445 446 Economic Development Assistant Divine advised there are some large projects that would have to do 447 an EIS or an EAW that would contribute to the cost of this AUAR. She explained the advantage of 448 an AUAR is that it covers a broad area versus several smaller areas being looked at separately without 449 considering what is happening outside their specific area. 450 451 Community Development Director Grochala added the City has a unique opportunity to be proactive Aig52 to lay things out on a broader scale. He thinks the Council will be very happy with the level of detail 53 of the AUAR. He stated they will not be ordering the AUAR until they are three or four months into 454 this, and will use that time to set up possible development scenarios that will be reviewed. He 455 indicated it is a cumulative study area and would include many development sites that would not 456 require an EIS or EAW on their own. 457 458 Economic Development Assistant Divine noted the AUAR would replace an EAW or EIS in the 459 instances where the development fits the approved development scenario of the AUAR and the 460 mitigation plan. 461 462 Mayor Bergeson stated in preparation of an AUAR, the 'what ifs' that are reviewed do not give 463 someone the inherent right to put a shopping center or anything else on the property. He indicated the 464 City needs to be proactive and take this approach. 465 466 Councilmember Stoltz agreed this is a proactive step and it is in the City's interest to look globally at 467 the area. He indicated from a finance perspective a $75,000 loan at 0% is a good deal for the City, 468 and it is really semantics if the developers pay up front for the study or after the fact. 469 470 Councilmember Dahl expressed concern with accepting money from the Metropolitan Council, 471 indicating she does not like to give anyone else control. 472 473 Mayor Bergeson reiterated the City is usually in a reactive mode, and this gives them an opportunity 474 to be proactive and show leadership with planning on the east side. He stated their neighbors to the M.475 east and west are leaving Lino Lakes behind, and the best opportunities are not coming here. He 76 thinks they have to move from being reactive to being ready for opportunity. 10