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• MPCA also notes that the discussion of avoidance alternatives is somewhat confusing, and that "investment -backed expectations" and "visibility from I -35W" are not appropriate criteria for a decision on an EAW. City response: The City agrees that investment -backed expectations of the applicant and visibility from the freeway are not issues to be considered in making a decision on the adequacy of an EAW or on the need for an EIS. • MPCA also recommends that the developer look for every chance possible to infiltrate storm water, and states that the major threat to the adjacent wetland and lakes is the increased volume of storm water from the project. City response: The project applicant has attempted to incorporate infiltration basins into the drainage design of the project. The Rice Creek Watershed District is the local surface water planning authority. The RCWD standards includes using infiltration when possible. The project will require a permit from RCWD. Increased runoff volume from development is a watershed -wide issue. Impacts are not limited to this project. Nor can the impacts of runoff from this project be considered to be significant, given the immense area that makes up the watershed that drains to the chain of lakes in the park reserve. The City does not consider the runoff from this project to be a major threat. The City has intended that the site be developed for extensive retail use and has planned and zoned it for such uses for many years. The site is within a larger City Center planning area intended for the development of a central business district, or "downtown." The project site is the best location in the City for extensive retail development such as the proposed project. The City recognizes that wetlands will be impacted on site, but does not consider this impact to be a threat to the regional park reserve. It is unlikely that the volume of runoff from the site will impact the vast acreage of lakes and wetland systems in the 2600 acre park reserve. especially with the size of the watershed draining into the chain of lakes. Also, site runoff will be collected and treated by stormwater ponding, runoff rates will not increase, and infiltration basins are incorporated into site design. The City also notes that the site is not actually "adjacent" to any lakes. The site is separated from the regional park reserve by the I -35W right of way, which is 260 feet wide. George Watch Lake, within the park reserve, is over 1000 feet from the freeway right of way, with wetlands in between. Responses to Comments On Lino Lakes Marketplace EAW page 4 of 11