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February 14, 2017 Page 2 S:\1Council Meetings\2017\02142017\Memo - EIS.docx • Currie Park Lofts Redevelopment, Minneapolis o 2.41 acre site o Two six story buildings with 369 residential units • Dock Street Redevelopment, Minneapolis o 3.25 acre site o 400 residential unit building • Bennett Lumber Site Redevelopment, Minneapolis o Two residential buildings with 710 units In none of these cases did the city determine the need for an EIS. An EIS is a more extensive environmental review process. For a project at this scale, an EIS would not provide information which would not already be requested during the permitting, county review or preliminary plat phase of the project. The mandatory EIS categories for residential development are based on the proposed project’s location. Developments in an unincorporated area outside of the metro have different requirements than a project in the metro. The Village, LLC project is located in the City of Saint Anthony Village, which is a city in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. A residential development at the location of the Village, LLC project that exceeds 1,500 attached units would require an EIS. Below are examples of projects in Minnesota that have necessitated an EIS: • NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange (PolyMet mine) • Great Northern Transmission Line Project • Zavoral Mine and Reclamation Project • US Bank Stadium • TCF Stadium • Target Field • Metro Blue Light Rail Line Extension • Southwest Green Line Light Rail Extension Enclosed, please find the following items for your review relating to this EAW: • The Record of Decision and Findings of Fact on the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). • A summary of the review agencies comments received on the EAW and the responses to those comments. This section responds to each review agency issue. Summary of Major Comments The required public comment period for the proposed The Village, LLC Redevelopment Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) ended January 4, 2017. Comments were received from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Historical Society (SHPO), and Hennepin County. These comments were general in nature. The Metropolitan Council comments have either been addressed or will be addressed during the City of Saint Anthony Village’s Updated to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The Hennepin County comments have either been addressed or will be addressed during the revised traffic study or the preliminary plat review. The SHPO, MPCA, and USACE did not raise significant issues. City Council Decision Action The decision before the City Council regarding the EAW is to decide whether or not the project has the potential for significant environmental impacts that cannot be addressed through the permitting processes. If the Council determines that the project does not have the potential for these significant environmental impacts, the Council should issue a Negative Declaration of Need for an EIS. If the Council determines that the project does have the potential for significant environmental impact that cannot be addressed through the permitting and approval process, the Council should require an EIS. 16