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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/06/2020 EDAC PacketCITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, February 6, 2020 8:00 A.M. Community Room AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 14, 2019 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Centerville Road/CRJ/35E Interchange B. Wetland Bank Credits C. Updates i. Board vacancies/reappointments ii. Lyngblomsten Update iii. Birch Street Reconstruction iv. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update 4. ADJOURN 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MEETING DATE: November 14, 2019 MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Schueller, Andrew Cravero, Chad Wagner, Thomas Colgan, Julie Jeffrey-Schwartz, Nathan Vojtech, MEMBERS ABSENT: Patrick Kohler, Don Johnson, Michael Ruhland OTHERS PRESENT: Mike Grochala, Mara Strand, Katharine Dowlding APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Mr. Cravero to approve the minutes from September 5, 2019. The motion was seconded by Mr. Vojtech, passing unanimously. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. I-35E AUAR Update Mr. Grochala, Community Development Director, presented the staff report. An Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) was done for the entire corridor that composes 4,600 acres and stretches from Birch Street to the north corporate limits. The purpose of this AUAR was to evaluate several different development scenarios, identify the potential impacts of those scenarios cumulatively, and then develop a mitigation plan. There was three development scenarios produced; one based on the existing comprehensive plan (scenario 1), one with more of a commercial angle (scenario 2), and one with more of a residential emphasis (scenario 3). Looking at multiple scenarios allows for the manipulation of different factors. The AUAR serves as an economic development tool and an environmental mitigation document. The AUAR is updated every five years and a 2020 update is scheduled. The City Council authorized this update of the AUAR. Ms. Jeffrey-Schwartz asked about an interchange at 80th Street. Mr. Grochala stated that phasing is identified in the AUAR that includes thresholds regarding when an interchange would be required. Mr. Vojtech questioned the density of Watermark. Mr. Grochala stated that the Watermark project land will be revised to medium density in the AUAR. Mr. Grochala explained that a lower density can be implemented if the project is under the thresholds of what it was guided for. Ms. Jeffrey-Schwartz questioned if the Met Council is okay with the City implementing a lower density when the area is guided for a higher density and how this would affect affordable housing. Mr. Grochala responded AUAR scenarios are not directly 2 tied to the comprehensive plan. Met Council will expect the area to develop in accordance with the density planned. Mr. Colgan asked if there are any tracks of land available for a single-family builder. Mr. Grochala responded that there is available land for developments with 400-500 homes. The City of Lino Lakes is about 1/3 developed. Staff is expecting the north side of Birch Street, west of 20th Avenue to develop in 2020. B. Otter Lake Road Extension Plan Mr. Grochala, Community Development Director, presented the staff report. The City has requested WSB to put together a preliminary concept plan for the extension of Otter Lake Road, north of Main Street. . The alignment of the road between Main Street and Elmcrest needs to be determined so the City can provide feedback to property owners for their planning purposes. The goal is also to complete the preliminary planning now to expedite the process when a project comes in. The road alignment options were outlined and discussed. C. Updates i. October BRE visits There has been recent business retention visits. Bramstedt Surgical Inc., a medical supply company, has been successful and growing within the metro area. Terra Technologies, an engineering firm, assists utility companies with relocation services as part of road construction projects. Relay Networks, is a computer hardware recycling company. ii. Lyngblomsten Update A plan has been submitted but it was deemed incomplete. Infrastructure plans need to get updated and storm water management designs are still being worked on. The first phase will be the infrastructure and the independent assisted living building. The skill component will come at a later date once everything is established. The Villa Homes will be part of the first phase. iii. Birch Street Reconstruction The County is planning for reconstruction of Birch Street from Ware Road to the S-Curve. This will be a 2021 project. There was an open house in October, which was well attended, and there will probably be another one in early 2020. Water tower number # 3 is under construction but work will halt for the winter season. 3 iv. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update The City is wrapping up the 6 month adjacent jurisdiction review. The plan will go to City Council on November 25th for authorization to distribute to the Met Council. The Met Council will review it for conformance, and then the City can adopt it sometime in 2020. This will open up land for development. The board discussed the dates for the next couple of meetings. The December meeting was canceled and the January 2020 meeting moved to January 14. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 A.M. 1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM 3A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director EDAC MEETING DATE: February 6, 2020 TOPIC: 35E and County Road J improvements BACKGROUND The Centerville Road and County Road J intersection experiences poor operations and congestion in both the a.m. and p.m. peak periods. In cooperation with the North Oaks Development Company, Anoka County, Ramsey County and the City North Oaks an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) was prepared in 2017. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the traffic control and intersection lane geometry needed to address the current congestion and accommodate future planned growth. The study showed that under existing conditions the southbound approach and the westbound right turn movements were having unsatisfactory levels of service. The study used the City’s existing traffic (2018), and projected traffic based on future land use (2038), to determine acceptable levels of service. The analysis concluded that either a traffic signal system or roundabout would address the current a.m. or p.m. peak periods of unsatisfactory levels of service, and provide adequate levels of service through 2038. Upon completion of the study Mn/DOT began reviewing operational problems with the northbound I- 35E off-ramp which experiences P.M. peak period back-ups onto 35E mainline. As a result the parties have been working towards a solution for the entire corridor. A federal funding application, submitted in 2018 was unsuccessful. However, the communities and area businesses have continued to pursuing funding opportunities. On Wednesday, January 29, 2020, community representatives met with the Mn Senate’s Capital Investment Committee to seek $1,500,000 in funding for preliminary design and environmental documentation. The preliminary design would include consideration of a northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at CRJ. Ramsey County has been the lead agency in the project and the interchange project is one of their top four priority projects for funding. The City is working with Ramsey County to complete additional transportation modeling to support the request. EDAC CONSIDERATION Staff is seeking EDAC input on the need for corridor improvement and a recommendation supporting $1,500,000 bonding request for preliminary design. ATTACHMENTS 1. 35E and County Road J Flyer I-35E and County Road J Reconstruction • Ramsey County (Lead agency) • Minnesota Department of Transportation • Anoka County • Lino Lakes • North Oaks • White Bear Township Existing businesses and area chambers of commerce also support the need for improvements, including: • White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce. • Metro North Chamber of Commerce. • Schwing America. • The Specialty Manufacturing Company (SMC). • North Oaks Company. • Presbyterian Homes. Project Overview The existing I-35E and County Road J interchange – and the surrounding area – has several safety, congestion and access issues that impact motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The project is located on the border between Ramsey and Anoka counties and includes three different areas targeted for improvement: 1. The I-35E and County Road J interchange. 2. County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter Lake Road. 3. Centerville Road from County Road J to Ash Street. These three areas work in unison with each other; addressing just one area will not resolve the issues in the other two areas. Additional development is expected near the interchange in the next five years, which will increase traffic and worsen safety issues. Community Partners Assuming funding is identified in 2020, design and environmental analysis will take place from 2021-2023 and construction will begin in 2024. See reverse for large scale and project details. Next Steps Project Area I-35E and County Road J Reconstruction Project Area 1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM 3B STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director EDAC MEETING DATE: February 6, 2020 TOPIC : Wetland Bank Credits BACKGROUND The Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) requires replacement of any construction related wetland impacts on a per square foot basis. Minnesota's wetland banking program includes both private and state-sponsored wetland banks which have "credits" that are used to offset (mitigate) authorized wetland impacts. The banks are subject to approval of both the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). The City currently has two banks in place. Bank No. 1122 (Otter Lake) is located east of I-35E and south of CSAH 14. 1.482 acres of credit are available. This bank is not ACOE approved. Credits can only be used for wetland impacts not under ACOE jurisdiction. Bank No. 1601(Wollan Park) is located west of Lake Drive and north of Main Street. 5.12 acres of ACOE approved credit is currently available in this bank. The bank also includes an additional 1.02 acres of non ACOE credit. Credits from both these banks are available for sale on the open market, much like a real estate transaction. Typically developers and/or government agencies, that have projects with wetland impacts, purchase the credits to meet mitigation requirements. The City prepared a Natural Resource Revolving Fund Plan in August of 2017. One of the overall goals of the plan was the establishment of the wetland banks to serve as a funding source to implement the City’s greenway system and assist with economic development projects. Proceeds from any sale are proposed to be used in the following way: 1. Repay establishment costs including restoration activities and monitoring. 2. 10% set aside for future maintenance of established banks. 3. New land acquisition and restoration. The City Council has approved two sales in 2020 totaling 1.789 acres for approximately $167,000. These sales have allowed us to recoup our initial investment costs and begin searching for additional bank sites. Staff is promoting the availability of credits as an economic development tool to aid with new commercial/industrial projects within Lino. Current sale prices have been 1.85 square foot for 2 Non ACOE credits and $2.35 square foot for ACOE credits. Future sales will likely reflect a higher credit price. EDAC CONSIDERATION None required. Discussion Only. ATTACHMENTS 1. Wetland Bank Location Map Acct. No. 1122 Acct. No. 1601 %&d( %&c( City of Lino Lakes City of Centerville EnGH E¦GH EwGH Lino Lakes Existing Wetland Bank 0 1Miles¯Figure 5: Existing Wetland Bank LocationsNatural Resources Revolving Fund PlanCity of Lino Lakes Document Path: K:\02988-470\GIS\Maps\Fig5_ExistingBankSites.mxd Date Saved: 7/18/2017 12:37:15 PM1 inch = 1 miles