HomeMy WebLinkAboutAfton Comments OW of Afton
Richard Bend,Mayor - —_
3033 St. Croix Trail S.—P.O.Box 219—Afton,MN 55001
Office (651)436-5090 Fax (651) 436-1453
Bill Palmquist-Ward 1 www•ci.afton.mn.us Stan Ross -Ward 3
Joe Richter-Ward 2 Randy Nelson-Ward 4
December 14, 2018
Emily Becker
Planning Director
City of Lake Elmo
3880 Laverne Avenue N, Ste 100
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
RE: Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan Comments
Dear Ms.Becker;
Thank you for providing the City of Afton an opportunity to review and comment on the draft 2040 Lake
Elmo Comprehensive Plan.
The City of Afton is generally supportive of the draft Plan, and is particularly supportive of the plan to
retain the rural character of the majority of the City,but does have concerns related to the following:
Interstate 94 Development. The draft Lake Elmo Land Use Plan directs a mixture of urban uses along
the north side of the Interstate 94 corridor. Concerns exist related to the impacts such urbanization will
have upon the City of Afton. Of specific concern are the impacts which additional traffic will have upon
the I-94/Manning Avenue interchange area and surrounding lands which lie within the City of Afton.
According to Lake Elmo's draft Transportation Plan,the preparation of an Interstate 94 corridor
management plan is expected to be developed in the near future which will examine existing operations
and determine future plans. It is assumed that such plan will specifically address long-term capacity
issues of the I-94/Manning Avenue interchange.The City of Afton formally requests an opportunity to
collaborate with the City of Lake Elmo,MnDot and other affected communities in this effort.
Beyond the I-94/Manning Avenue interchange area impacts,the City of Afton also has concerns that
new commercial use destinations near the interchange may result in increased traffic volumes within the
City's internal transportation network(business patrons who travel through Afton to and from new
commercial destinations located in Lake Elmo-along the Interstate corridor).Information related to
resulting volumes and likely transportation routes will assist the City of Afton in its future planning
efforts.
Water Supply. The City of Afton also has concerns related to the impact which planned urban
development along the Interstate 94 corridor will have upon the area's water supply.
It does not appear that the provided draft Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan includes a water supply plan
chapter. It is expected that such a plan includes or will include an examination of the impacts which
future urban development is expected have upon groundwater resources in the area.
Recognizing that land use planning decisions play an important role in protecting water resources,
additional information related to water supply impacts is requested.
Sincere i
Ronald J.Moorse
City Administrator