DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS - Dan Schluender, City Engineer
Title
Title
Authorizing Submittal of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for Park Construction (Carlson Group LLC) to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) (Case File No. 22-0076)
end
Executive Summary
The Carlson Group LLC has prepared and submitted an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed Park Construction Office, Warehouse and Storage Development. The EAW is intended to determine if an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required. This industrial development is proposed to be approximately three buildings with associated parking areas, gravel surface process areas and storage areas on approximately 20 acres.
Schedule of Actions
|
City Council (Authorizing EAW Submittal) |
12/05/22 |
|
EQB Publish Date |
12/06/22 |
|
Review Comment Period Ends |
01/06/23 |
|
City Council (Negative Declaration-Tentative) |
01/23/23 |
Background
The Park Construction development is a proposed industrial development covering approximately 20 acres of land at 10101 Naples Street NE. The development is proposing to build, own, and operate a construction operations facility that includes an office, warehouse and storage for equipment owned by Park Construction. A second warehouse will also be constructed in the future.
Per Minnesota Rules, for projects that will cause an impact to a total of one acre or more of wetlands, regardless of type, excluding public waters wetlands; if any part of the wetland is within a shoreland area, a delineated floodplain, a state or federally designated wild and scenic rivers district, the Minnesota River Project Riverbend area, or the Mississippi headwaters area, a mandatory EAW is required. In this instance, more than one acre of wetland fill is proposed within a delineated floodplain, therefore the proposed wetland fill requires the preparation and processing of an EAW under MN Rules 4410.
In order to initiate the formal environmental review process for the proposed Park Construction development, the City of Blaine needs to authorize the EAW submittal and publication. Once released and published by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB), the official public comment period will begin. The comment period for Park Construction is expected to open on December 6, 2022 and will closed on January 6, 2023.
The EAW outlines and describes the potential development and assesses the potential impacts on a wide variety of environmental issues. The EAW document prepared by the Developer’s planning consultants, has been reviewed by staff and is considered to be complete and appropriate for submission to all of the regulating agencies.
Tentatively, on January 18, 2023, the City Council, acting as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU), will be able to review any agency or public comments that have been submitted and consider whether the EAW is adequate and determine if an EIS is required.
Strategic Plan Relationship
Not applicable.
Board/Commission Review
Not applicable.
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Public Outreach/Input
As part of the EAW review period starting on December 6, 2022, comments can be submitted from various agencies and the public. Those comments will be reviewed at the January 18, 2023 meeting.
Staff Recommendation
By motion, approve the resolution.
Attachment List
EAW Document and Summary
(All supporting studies and documents are available in the City Planning or Engineering Department)
Body
WHEREAS, Park Construction has proposed to develop approximately 20 acres into an industrial development to operate a construction operations facility that includes an office, warehouse and storage for equipment; and
WHEREAS, the project, based on the proposed filling of wetland area requires the preparation of a Mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) under MN Rules 4410; and
WHEREAS, the Blaine City is the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU); and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) has been prepared and the City Council has reviewed the EAW.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the submittal of the EAW to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) for publication, which initiates the public comment period and distribution to required agencies and organizations together with required press release and legal notice.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 5th day of December, 2022.