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99-012 RESRESOLUTION 99- 12 CITY COUNCIL CITY OF ELK RIVER RESOLUTION REGARDING THE ENVIRONI~tENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET FOR THE ELK RIVER CROSSING PROJECT A resol~ ;ion of the City Council of the City o. Elk River regarding the environmental review process for the proposed Elk River Crossing Project; setting forth the City Council's findings of fact regarding the need for an Environmental Impact Statement; and declaring that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary WHEREAS, Associated Developers, Inc. are proposing a commercial development on 70 acres consisting of up to 406,375 square feet of a commercial/retail/office complex, and a 65 unit motel to be known as Elk River Crossing; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.4300, Subpart 14 (B.2) (EQB Rules) the Project requires the preparation of a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) under Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA); and, WHEREAS, the City of Elk River, as the responsible governmental unit (RGU) under EQB Rules, prepared an EAW as required by EQB Rules; and, WHEREAS, notice of availability of the EAW was published in the EQB Monitor on December 28, 1998; a press release was given to the Elk River Star News on December 10, 1998; posted notice was given at the Elk River Public Library, Elk River Municipal Utilities' building, and Elk River City Hall on December 10, 1998; and copies of the EAW were supplied to all persons and agencies on the EQB official EAW distribution list; and, WHEREAS, comments have been received on the EAW from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, by letter dated January 26, 1999, from Thomas Balcom; and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, by letter dated January 21, 1999, from Claudia Dumont; and, WHEREAS, aH substantive comments have been responded to appropriately by the City as RGU in the staff memorandum to the City Council, dated February 16, 1999, from Stephen Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator; and, WHEREAS, the environmental review process mandated by the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act and implemented through the EQB Rules has been followed and this resolution shall be the City's record of its compliance with the EQB Rules and decision in this matter; and, WHEREAS, the City, as RGU, shah order the preparation of an EIS if the Project has the potential for significant environmental effects; and, WHEREAS, in deciding whether a project has the potential for significant environmental effects, the City is to apply the criteria set forth in Section 4410.1700 subparts 6 & 7 of the EQB Rules. NOW, THEREFORE, BASED ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE EAW, THE COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THE EAW, AND THE RESPONSES THERETO FROM CITY STAFF IN THEIR MEMORANDUM TO THE COUNCIL DATED FEBRUARY 16, 1999, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER FINDS THE PROJECT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: A. The environmental effects of the Project are minimal. B. The project will be subject to ongoing regulatory authority of the City of Elk River and other state agencies. C. The project will not cause future development. D. Future development in the area of the Project will be subject to the requirements of the EQB Rules and will be subject to the ongoing regulatory authority of the City and other governmental agencies. The foregoing resolution was introduced by Council Member Farber and duly seconded by Council Member 14otin The following voted in favor of the resolution: Mayor Klinzing Councilmemb~rs: Dietz, Thompson, Farber, and Motin The following voted against the resolution: None The following were absent: None Whereupon the resolution is adopted. Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 16th day of February, 1999. ATTEST: ~andra A. Peine, City Clerk Stepl~anie Klinzing,~Iaydr