2003-109 Council Resolution - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• AGENDA ITEM 7.H STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala C. C. MEETING DATE: July 14, 2003 TOPIC: Resolution 03-109 Approving Distribution of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the Lakes Business Park ACTION REQUIRED: 3/5 vote BACKGROUND Glenn Rehbein Companies is proposing to develop a 32 acres Business Park, east of Lake Drive to create a site for a potential light industrial user, and three additional lots for future development. The size of the development, which could potentially exceed 300,000 square feet of light industrial development, triggers the need to prepare and Environmental Assessment Worksheet. • The City retained the services of Short, Elliott, Hendrickson, Inc., (SEH) to prepare the EAW. The EAW was reviewed by the City's Environmental Board on July 9, 2003. The Environmental Board recommended approval of the EAW for Distribution with the changes outlined in the attached letter from SEH, dated July 10, 2003. • Rules written by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board describe the requirements for the environmental review. These rules were written to implement MN Statute 116D, the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act. Environmental review starts with an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW). An EAW is defined as a brief document which is designed to set out the basic facts necessary to determine whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) is necessary. The EAW form was created by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB). It is a list of questions that must be completed based on the project specifics. Approving the EAW for distribution means that the City is comfortable that the document is accurate and complete to the best of its knowledge. Approving the EAW for distribution does not mean that the City is approving the project. On the contrary, once the EAW process has been initiated, the project cannot be started and no governmental entity can make a final decision on the project until the environmental review process is completed. After the public comment period, the City decides if it has enough information to determine if the project will cause significant environmental effects. If it will not cause such effects, the City makes a "negative declaration" meaning that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not necessary. If the review process reveals, in the judgement of the City, that the project will cause