HomeMy WebLinkAboutMetropolitan Council EAW Comments for Royal Golf November 21,2016
Stephen Wensman, Planning Director
City of Lake Elmo
3800 Laverne Avenue North
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
RE: City of Lake Elmo Royal Golf Club Residential Development Environmental Assessment
Worksheet(EAW)
Metropolitan Council Review No. 21630-1
Metropolitan Council District No. 12
Dear Mr. Wensman:
The Metropolitan Council received the EAW for the Royal Golf Club Residential Development project in
the City of Lake Elmo on October 21,2016. The proposed project is located 222.2 gross acres located
between I Ot"Street North and 20°i Street North, and bounded by Manning Trail on the East and by Lake
Elmo Avenue on the west. The proposed development includes 292 single-family detached homes
connected to municipal water and sanitary sewer on approximately 198.3 net acres, with approximately
90.8 acres reserved as private open space.The proposed project is located on the site formerly owned by
3M and previously a part of Tartan Park golf course.
The staff review finds that the EAW is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and does
not raise major issues of consistency with Council policies. An Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)is
not necessary for regional purposes.
We offer the following comments for your consideration.
Item 8—Permits and Approvals Required (LisaBeth Barajas, 651-602-1895)
As of the date of this review letter,the City's overall planned density(including all previous
amendments)is 3.25 units per acre. The proposed development brings the City's overall density
down to 3.05 units per acre,which remains consistent with the Council's density policy of 3 units
per acre for Emerging Suburban Edge communities.
As noted in the EAW, a comprehensive plan amendment will be needed should the City decide to
move forward with the proposed development.The proposed amendment should make any
necessary changes to land use to support the ultimate development concept,as well as provide
updates to the wastewater and MUSA sections of the comprehensive plan to show this area as
within the service area as well as projected flows from the development. As City and Council
staff have discussed,a comprehensive plan amendment will need to be submitted to the Council
for review and authorization to before moving forward with this development.
In accordance with Minnesota Statute Section 473.513, at the time the project proposer makes
application to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency(MPCA)for a permit to construct each
segment of sanitary sewer for the proposed project, a copy of the plans, design data, and a
location map of the project will also need to be submitted to the Metropolitan Council.The
Council's Environmental Service Municipal Services staff will need to review,comment, and
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recommend issuance of the construction permit by the MPCA before connection can be made to
the City's wastewater disposal system.
Forecasts(Todd Graham. 651-602-1322)
Forecasts by Transportation Analysis Zone(TAZ)are not discussed in the EAW, but this
information would be helpful as part of the City's comprehensive plan should they move forward
with this development. The Metropolitan Council has prepared a draft set of TAZ forecasts for
2040, which is available for local government review.
The Royal Golf Club site is within TAZ#2403. The zone is currently forecasted to gain +36
households during the period from 2010-2040. Council staff recommend adding+250
households, +700 population to the TAZ#2403 forecast. Balancing adjustments can be made to
the TAZs elsewhere in the community. The City can update the TAZ forecast through
correspondence with Metropolitan Council staff.
Council staff opinion is that the proposed development fits within the community total forecast
prepared by the Council' no change is needed to the community total forecast.
This concludes the Council's review of the EAW. The Council will not take formal action on the EAW.
I f you have any questions or need further information, please contact me at 651-602-1895.
Sincerely,
LisaBeth Barajas, ManaJer '
Local Planning Assistance
CC: Steve O'Brien, MHFA
Tod Sherman, Development Reviews Coordinator, MnDOT-Metro Division
Harry Melander. Metropolitan Council District 12
Raya Esmaeili, Reviews Coordinator
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