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165TH STREET AUAR <br /> August 14, 2025 Open House <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) <br /> <br />What is an AUAR? <br />An AUAR (Alternative Urban Areawide Review) is an environmental review process that is used by the City <br />to understand how one or several development scenarios will impact the environment before development <br />occurs. It is a hybrid of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and Environmental Impact <br />Statement (EIS). These environmental review processes are described in Minnesota Rules 4410. An AUAR <br />analyzes potential issues in areas such as land use, traffic, water resources, fish and wildlife, historic <br />preservation, and compatibility with existing plans. <br /> <br />Why is the City doing the AUAR? <br />There is significant development interest in the 165th Street area and sewer and water access is becoming <br />available to several areas along 165th Street as development moves towards that area. This gravel street is <br />a critical connection between Everton Avenue and Highway 61. The AUAR will help the City identify <br />potential Land Uses, which will be used to plan for investment in sewer, water, roads, parks, and other <br />infrastructure. The AUAR will help to identify the potential for any significant environmental impacts and <br />develop strategies to mitigate for those impacts. This AUAR will analyze three different development <br />scenarios that compare land use, infrastructure, and environmental impacts. No specific projects are being <br />proposed or approved by this process. <br /> <br />Additionally, the work the City does now as part of the AUAR will be used to help kick off the 2050 <br />Comprehensive Plan update next year. State law requires cities to update their Comprehensive Plan every <br />10 years. The Comprehensive Plan is a long range planning document for the entire City that guides <br />location, timing, and intensity of types of development such as residential, commercial, industrial, parks, <br />and more. <br /> <br />What development scenarios are being considered? <br />The City has prepared three different land use options for consideration and is looking for feedback on the <br />different scenarios. The AUAR allows for analysis of multiple scenarios and one of those scenarios must be <br />the land use plan from the adopted Comprehensive Plan. We will finalize the three land use scenarios after <br />gathering feedback at this open house. <br /> <br />What improvements could happen to 165th Street? <br />Development is expected along 165th Street and with development the road will need to be improved. The <br />Comprehensive Plan identifies 165th Street as collector road and to be improved to an urban style street <br />with pavement including curb and gutter with a trail. The land use scenarios that are identified with the <br />AUAR process and the traffic study will determine the design of the road that will be required for the types <br />of land uses.